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16K views 19 replies 14 participants last post by  handsawgeek 
#1 ·
Toolbox Restore

My tool picking has been rather slow and uneventful for a while. About a month ago, I ran up on this tool box for $3 at a yard sale. Cramer Products, Inc. is a 90+ year-old Sports Medicine equpiment company. I am guessing the toolbox originally belonged to one of their service people.

The toolbox had been sitting in a barn for years, in about two inches of water part of that time.

Product Box Gas Electronic device Rectangle


Brown Amber Gas Rectangle Natural material


Grey Tints and shades Symmetry Rectangle Road surface


The first thing, I washed the toolbox with a grease cutting car wash and dried completely.

Drilled the rivets out and removed the hardware. Soaked hardware in vinegar for about an hour to remove loose chrome and some rust. Then put the hardward in an electrolysis bath for about three hours to remove the remaining rust.

Wood Font Art Sculpture Auto part


After removing all the rust, sprayed the hardware with Silver Aluminum enamel.

Sanded all of the rusted areas of the box smooth. The original exterior had a texture in the paint. To blend the texture, after sanding rusted areas, I sprayed with some "hammered finish" spray paint as a undercoat. Then sprayed the entire box with two-coats Gloss Black enamel.

Riveted all of the hardware using aluminum pop rivets.

Paid $3 for the toolbox and about $3 for supplies. It took me about five hours, Saturday, to complete the restoration.

This toolbox will be the new storage home for my Beall Pen Wizard ornamental lathe.

Product Luggage and bags Rectangle Bag Eyewear


Musical instrument Rectangle Bumper Luggage and bags Musical instrument accessory
 

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#2 ·
Toolbox Restore

My tool picking has been rather slow and uneventful for a while. About a month ago, I ran up on this tool box for $3 at a yard sale. Cramer Products, Inc. is a 90+ year-old Sports Medicine equpiment company. I am guessing the toolbox originally belonged to one of their service people.

The toolbox had been sitting in a barn for years, in about two inches of water part of that time.

Product Box Gas Electronic device Rectangle


Brown Amber Gas Rectangle Natural material


Grey Tints and shades Symmetry Rectangle Road surface


The first thing, I washed the toolbox with a grease cutting car wash and dried completely.

Drilled the rivets out and removed the hardware. Soaked hardware in vinegar for about an hour to remove loose chrome and some rust. Then put the hardward in an electrolysis bath for about three hours to remove the remaining rust.

Wood Font Art Sculpture Auto part


After removing all the rust, sprayed the hardware with Silver Aluminum enamel.

Sanded all of the rusted areas of the box smooth. The original exterior had a texture in the paint. To blend the texture, after sanding rusted areas, I sprayed with some "hammered finish" spray paint as a undercoat. Then sprayed the entire box with two-coats Gloss Black enamel.

Riveted all of the hardware using aluminum pop rivets.

Paid $3 for the toolbox and about $3 for supplies. It took me about five hours, Saturday, to complete the restoration.

This toolbox will be the new storage home for my Beall Pen Wizard ornamental lathe.

Product Luggage and bags Rectangle Bag Eyewear


Musical instrument Rectangle Bumper Luggage and bags Musical instrument accessory
Wow, Nice job.
 

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#3 ·
Toolbox Restore

My tool picking has been rather slow and uneventful for a while. About a month ago, I ran up on this tool box for $3 at a yard sale. Cramer Products, Inc. is a 90+ year-old Sports Medicine equpiment company. I am guessing the toolbox originally belonged to one of their service people.

The toolbox had been sitting in a barn for years, in about two inches of water part of that time.

Product Box Gas Electronic device Rectangle


Brown Amber Gas Rectangle Natural material


Grey Tints and shades Symmetry Rectangle Road surface


The first thing, I washed the toolbox with a grease cutting car wash and dried completely.

Drilled the rivets out and removed the hardware. Soaked hardware in vinegar for about an hour to remove loose chrome and some rust. Then put the hardward in an electrolysis bath for about three hours to remove the remaining rust.

Wood Font Art Sculpture Auto part


After removing all the rust, sprayed the hardware with Silver Aluminum enamel.

Sanded all of the rusted areas of the box smooth. The original exterior had a texture in the paint. To blend the texture, after sanding rusted areas, I sprayed with some "hammered finish" spray paint as a undercoat. Then sprayed the entire box with two-coats Gloss Black enamel.

Riveted all of the hardware using aluminum pop rivets.

Paid $3 for the toolbox and about $3 for supplies. It took me about five hours, Saturday, to complete the restoration.

This toolbox will be the new storage home for my Beall Pen Wizard ornamental lathe.

Product Luggage and bags Rectangle Bag Eyewear


Musical instrument Rectangle Bumper Luggage and bags Musical instrument accessory
As a retired teacher and coach, I was around boxes like this for many years. They were used by schools athletic teams to hold medical supplies. The one you have is likely from 60's or 70's or even more recent since Cramer is still using the same logo. I happen to have one just like it on my shelves holding scrap chains and tubing. The white residue that was on the face was from athletic tape. The shelves in the lid were sized to hold the rolls of athletic tape. Most often they put a piece on the box and wrote the school name on the white tape. Nice job in restoring the box. The company sold and still sells medical supplies and equipment - http://www.cramersportsmed.com/.
 

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#4 ·
Toolbox Restore

My tool picking has been rather slow and uneventful for a while. About a month ago, I ran up on this tool box for $3 at a yard sale. Cramer Products, Inc. is a 90+ year-old Sports Medicine equpiment company. I am guessing the toolbox originally belonged to one of their service people.

The toolbox had been sitting in a barn for years, in about two inches of water part of that time.

Product Box Gas Electronic device Rectangle


Brown Amber Gas Rectangle Natural material


Grey Tints and shades Symmetry Rectangle Road surface


The first thing, I washed the toolbox with a grease cutting car wash and dried completely.

Drilled the rivets out and removed the hardware. Soaked hardware in vinegar for about an hour to remove loose chrome and some rust. Then put the hardward in an electrolysis bath for about three hours to remove the remaining rust.

Wood Font Art Sculpture Auto part


After removing all the rust, sprayed the hardware with Silver Aluminum enamel.

Sanded all of the rusted areas of the box smooth. The original exterior had a texture in the paint. To blend the texture, after sanding rusted areas, I sprayed with some "hammered finish" spray paint as a undercoat. Then sprayed the entire box with two-coats Gloss Black enamel.

Riveted all of the hardware using aluminum pop rivets.

Paid $3 for the toolbox and about $3 for supplies. It took me about five hours, Saturday, to complete the restoration.

This toolbox will be the new storage home for my Beall Pen Wizard ornamental lathe.

Product Luggage and bags Rectangle Bag Eyewear


Musical instrument Rectangle Bumper Luggage and bags Musical instrument accessory
Thanks, socrbent.

I googled the name after I got the box home. All I saw on their website was canvas and plastic. That is why I thought maybe technician.

My Pen Wizard is 1/4" too long for the box. (No, I did not measure.) I have a nice toolbox for something anyway.
 

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#5 ·
Toolbox Restore

My tool picking has been rather slow and uneventful for a while. About a month ago, I ran up on this tool box for $3 at a yard sale. Cramer Products, Inc. is a 90+ year-old Sports Medicine equpiment company. I am guessing the toolbox originally belonged to one of their service people.

The toolbox had been sitting in a barn for years, in about two inches of water part of that time.

Product Box Gas Electronic device Rectangle


Brown Amber Gas Rectangle Natural material


Grey Tints and shades Symmetry Rectangle Road surface


The first thing, I washed the toolbox with a grease cutting car wash and dried completely.

Drilled the rivets out and removed the hardware. Soaked hardware in vinegar for about an hour to remove loose chrome and some rust. Then put the hardward in an electrolysis bath for about three hours to remove the remaining rust.

Wood Font Art Sculpture Auto part


After removing all the rust, sprayed the hardware with Silver Aluminum enamel.

Sanded all of the rusted areas of the box smooth. The original exterior had a texture in the paint. To blend the texture, after sanding rusted areas, I sprayed with some "hammered finish" spray paint as a undercoat. Then sprayed the entire box with two-coats Gloss Black enamel.

Riveted all of the hardware using aluminum pop rivets.

Paid $3 for the toolbox and about $3 for supplies. It took me about five hours, Saturday, to complete the restoration.

This toolbox will be the new storage home for my Beall Pen Wizard ornamental lathe.

Product Luggage and bags Rectangle Bag Eyewear


Musical instrument Rectangle Bumper Luggage and bags Musical instrument accessory
Beautiful save! Looks like new and ready for the next 60 years of use. Thank for sharing it with us.
 

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#6 ·

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#7 ·
Derusting and Restoring a Skil HD-77 Saw

From this:

Motor vehicle Gas Machine Nut Metal


To this:

Saw Abrasive saw Vehicle brake Rim Automotive tire


The entire post was a little picture heavy, so here is a link to my blog post: http://timharvey1.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/woodworking-derusting-and-restoring-a-skil-hd-77-saw/

Thanks for letting me share.
How does the electrolosys compare to using a product like Evaporust? I have recently used Evaporust and was really pleased with the results. A nice feature is that it's reusable, so I just pour it back in a jug and wait for the next time. Electrolosis sounds cheaper, however.

The black stuff, as I understand, is black iron oxide Fe3O4 - the same oxide (also called magnetite) which is used on recording tape. It's not a bad thing to have on a piece of steel in general.

-Paul
 

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#11 ·
Sharing One of My Tool Cleaning Hacks

It is no secret, I like old tools. Like many of you, I find tools in yard sales and thrift store with marks and decals that just don't belong.

A few years ago, an antique dealer told me about something he used to remove permanent marker and decal residue from most metals and enameled surfaces. It safely removes the ink or glue residue without damaging enameled surfaces.

I have used it to remove unwanted permanent marker inks, label adhesives and even latex/acrylic paint splatters. I find it a lot friendlier than acetone for cleaning steal, enamel, and even glass surfaces for restoration. It is a non-abrasive solution for many surface cleaning needs.

It has become one of my main "go to" items when I bring home old tools. Don't laugh, but here it is:

Hand Liquid Plant Bottle Automotive tire


Pour a little on a paper towel or soft cloth and wipe over stained area. Marker ink comes off quickly with a little swipe. Adhesive residue and latex paint splatters sometime require a little elbow grease and a few applications.

Here are before and after pictures of marker ink on the tool chest I brought home yesterday.

Handwriting Wood Fender Gas Font


Wood Rectangle Tints and shades Hardwood Automotive exterior


Just thought I would share a little something from my bag of tricks. What are some things you have found helpful with cleaning and restoring tools?
 

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#12 ·
Sharing One of My Tool Cleaning Hacks

It is no secret, I like old tools. Like many of you, I find tools in yard sales and thrift store with marks and decals that just don't belong.

A few years ago, an antique dealer told me about something he used to remove permanent marker and decal residue from most metals and enameled surfaces. It safely removes the ink or glue residue without damaging enameled surfaces.

I have used it to remove unwanted permanent marker inks, label adhesives and even latex/acrylic paint splatters. I find it a lot friendlier than acetone for cleaning steal, enamel, and even glass surfaces for restoration. It is a non-abrasive solution for many surface cleaning needs.

It has become one of my main "go to" items when I bring home old tools. Don't laugh, but here it is:

Hand Liquid Plant Bottle Automotive tire


Pour a little on a paper towel or soft cloth and wipe over stained area. Marker ink comes off quickly with a little swipe. Adhesive residue and latex paint splatters sometime require a little elbow grease and a few applications.

Here are before and after pictures of marker ink on the tool chest I brought home yesterday.

Handwriting Wood Fender Gas Font


Wood Rectangle Tints and shades Hardwood Automotive exterior


Just thought I would share a little something from my bag of tricks. What are some things you have found helpful with cleaning and restoring tools?
I can dig it. Thanks for the heads up.

Blade close, electric smooth.
 

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#17 ·
Plane Cap Screw Screwdriver

This is not exactly a restore. This is really more of a tool build. This is the process I followed to make my plane iron cap screw screwdrivers.

Wood Art Metal Serveware Artifact


The blog is a little picture heavy. Here is a link to my blog post on my wordpress blog site.

https://timharvey1.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/shop-blog-cap-screw-screwdriver/

Feel free to add any comments, suggestions or questions.

Thank you for visiting my shop blog.
 

Attachments

#18 ·
Plane Cap Screw Screwdriver

This is not exactly a restore. This is really more of a tool build. This is the process I followed to make my plane iron cap screw screwdrivers.

Wood Art Metal Serveware Artifact


The blog is a little picture heavy. Here is a link to my blog post on my wordpress blog site.

https://timharvey1.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/shop-blog-cap-screw-screwdriver/

Feel free to add any comments, suggestions or questions.

Thank you for visiting my shop blog.
Thanks for the blog, Tim. One of these is on my To Do List!
 

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