Garage Gazette

TOOLS AND THE SHOP => GENERAL TOOL AND MACHINE DISCUSSION => Topic started by: bonneyman on January 04, 2023, 03:49:05 PM

Title: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 04, 2023, 03:49:05 PM
John K gifted me a pair of S-K socket boxes for the cost of shipping. They arrived today. They are in really good shape.
I plan to use the 3/8" box to house my deep metric S-K socket set (if I ever find them). The 1/2" box needs a purpose - perhaps big ratchet storage?

I'll put 'em into the restoration line and post pics when they are finished.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Lookin4_67GalaxieConv on January 04, 2023, 04:19:37 PM
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: muddy on January 04, 2023, 06:51:28 PM
Keep posting! Can't wait to see the turnout!

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Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 11, 2023, 05:04:18 PM
OK, the restoration project is proceeding.

The small box is painted and drying - just needs reassembly and hardware installed. The large box is about half sanded - lots more area to prep and significant rust. Supposed to have the next few days warm and sunny before another front moves in Sunday. Hopefully I can get things moved along.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: nelstomlinson on January 11, 2023, 10:38:58 PM
Sounds good. Lets us know what kind of paint you're using. Definitely looking forward to the pictures.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 12, 2023, 11:16:06 AM
Here's the two colors I'm using up. Bought them after trying out several types, and these are what's left. Not perfect, but nice greens and way better than rust!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Lookin4_67GalaxieConv on January 12, 2023, 02:20:20 PM
I'll be curious to see how good that comes out. 
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Uncle Buck on January 12, 2023, 05:03:56 PM
I look forward to seeing those boxes after you shoot them.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: hickory n Steel on January 12, 2023, 05:05:14 PM
Have you tried the Duplicolor stuff they sell at auto parts stores ?
I've heard that stuff is generally a good choice for metal.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 12, 2023, 05:28:55 PM
Well I leapt before I looked! Seems like the first coat on the smaller box revealed some shortcoming in the prep. A bit thin in spots, surface imperfections showing through, and overall not very much gloss. Not a deal killer - sometimes you gotta go over spots again. So I'll have hit it with some 320 grit paper and reshoot. I'll take some more prep time with the large box and see if I can minimize the mistakes.

There's some greasy residue on the inside of the big box so I need to de-grease with acetone, then sand, then wipe dust free with some more acetone.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 12, 2023, 05:30:04 PM
Have you tried the Duplicolor stuff they sell at auto parts stores ?
I've heard that stuff is generally a good choice for metal.

Hmm, I didn't know the auto parts store sold hammered paint finishes. Is that a new thing?
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: john k on January 12, 2023, 09:15:25 PM
I found Hammertone paint to redo a Kennedy box  at Ace hardware.   Good color match.  Good going on the SK boxes.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 12, 2023, 10:22:32 PM
I found Hammertone paint to redo a Kennedy box  at Ace hardware.   Good color match.  Good going on the SK boxes.

Glad you chimed in, John. I've got a wicked idea for the large box, hoping I can pull it off right. I think you might like it.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: hickory n Steel on January 13, 2023, 09:58:12 AM
Have you tried the Duplicolor stuff they sell at auto parts stores ?
I've heard that stuff is generally a good choice for metal.

Hmm, I didn't know the auto parts store sold hammered paint finishes. Is that a new thing?
Oh I forgot about the hammertone part, I don't think they have hammertone paint.
That would be cool on a car though.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 13, 2023, 02:19:46 PM
Final touch up sanding and painting on the smaller box. Current condition of the large box as well.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 13, 2023, 02:21:23 PM
And totally by accident, last weekend while the boxes were enroute I found two rolls of drawer liner in dark green for 50 cents each. Perfect for this project!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: hickory n Steel on January 13, 2023, 02:32:45 PM
Perfect color for these boxes.

They're definitely coming along nicely.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: skfarmer on January 13, 2023, 05:43:49 PM
I found Hammertone paint to redo a Kennedy box  at Ace hardware.   Good color match.  Good going on the SK boxes.

Glad you chimed in, John. I've got a wicked idea for the large box, hoping I can pull it off right. I think you might like it.

looks good!

how long you going to keep us waiting?
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 17, 2023, 05:15:14 PM
OK guys, your patience has been rewarded. May I present the 3/8" socket box!

The hardware was lightly sanded and sprayed with hi-temp silver, with the box itself in hammered green. The lid pivots are stainless steel socket cap screws. They look nice, work well, and approximate the OEM rivets closely. I think I will use these from now on for this type of resto. And the drawer liner matches perfectly.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Lookin4_67GalaxieConv on January 17, 2023, 05:31:21 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: slip knot on January 17, 2023, 06:41:58 PM
Thats pretty sweet looking. Nicely done.  :bravo_2:
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: The Magic Ratchet on January 17, 2023, 07:30:21 PM
Great job!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: muddy on January 17, 2023, 09:01:47 PM
Absolutely beautiful!

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Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: hickory n Steel on January 18, 2023, 02:00:54 PM
Looks great.
I don't have the paint drying patience to pull off such a job.
I did a 1/4  Thorsen action box awhile back that came out pretty good because I forgot about it and had to work a bunch of extra days but thats the only time I've done a decent job.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: wantedabiggergarage on January 18, 2023, 05:56:23 PM
Just missing the  chrome, your not done yet. :P
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: oldnslo on January 18, 2023, 07:23:46 PM
Noooooice!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: fatfillup on January 20, 2023, 01:49:52 PM
Well done and those screws do look good
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on January 20, 2023, 05:28:56 PM
Well done and those screws do look good

I've done boxes with different fasteners, whatever odds and ends I have in my junk bins. But these have been so nice I might go back thru my box restores and replace all the screws with them.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 12, 2023, 06:19:48 PM
Finally got the larger box done. Not 100% happy with the finish. Perfectly acceptable for a working box, but far from a pristine beauty queen. Probably should have used a better lint-free cloth and solvent for the final wipe down. Oh well, she will go back to work.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 12, 2023, 06:21:26 PM
And a final presentation of the pair. Side by side you can see the subtle differences of the colors. The big box is hunter green, the smaller box is hammered.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: slip knot on February 12, 2023, 07:50:07 PM
Really nice work Bman.  :bravo_2:
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 12, 2023, 09:00:43 PM
Thanks to John K for gifting the boxes to me.

The smaller one will be holding my S-K metric deep sockets as I find them, and the larger box will hold my overflow ratchets
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: john k on February 12, 2023, 11:48:03 PM
I think they look great, you put more time into them than I would have invested.  Now,  I have a Snap-On carry box, big and rusty,  naw , the shipping would be too dear.  Too many tools not enough time.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: fatfillup on February 17, 2023, 10:56:17 AM
Turned out real nice

Now put them to work :))
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Uncle Buck on February 18, 2023, 10:23:22 PM
Those boxes turned out beautiful!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 19, 2023, 08:52:42 AM
Thanks, guys. And UB, the new larger box will probably go right next to the blue SK you gifted me some years ago that I saved. That one is still pulling guard duty!  :)
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: jeffmoss26 on February 19, 2023, 05:57:27 PM
wow, looks great!
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: john k on February 20, 2023, 11:40:11 PM
Real nice,
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: Uncle Buck on February 21, 2023, 07:07:50 AM
Fantastic restoration!  :bravo_2:
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: john k on February 21, 2023, 10:05:25 PM
The dark red box might be a candidate for a bead blaster.  The blue on that shiny one looks spot on.  Good work there. 
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 22, 2023, 07:53:49 AM
The dark red box might be a candidate for a bead blaster.  The blue on that shiny one looks spot on.  Good work there.

The rusty box was done by hand - no sand blaster was used. And it took some structural repair before the paint, and is functional, though no beauty queen. Probably the second toughest box restoration I've done.
And it has served me well, being my only 1/2" socket box until I received your box, John.

I do like the speed handle holder built into the lid.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: hickory n Steel on February 22, 2023, 03:01:46 PM
I admire your patience and commitment to rehabbing these old boxes, most people would have just tossed that rusted through box.
I just don't have it in me, the one time I did a decent job was because I forgot about it and the paint had enty of time to cure.
Title: Re: S-K socket box restoration
Post by: bonneyman on February 22, 2023, 04:50:24 PM
I admire your patience and commitment to rehabbing these old boxes, most people would have just tossed that rusted through box.
I just don't have it in me, the one time I did a decent job was because I forgot about it and the paint had enty of time to cure.

Normally I wouldn't have taken that project on, but I saw the old S-K label, and knew it was an oldie. Worth saving.