Author Topic: S-K socket box restoration  (Read 2956 times)

Offline bonneyman

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S-K socket box restoration
« 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.
« Last Edit: January 04, 2023, 03:51:09 PM by bonneyman »

Offline Lookin4_67GalaxieConv

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2023, 04:19:37 PM »
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic!
boop/bop/beep

Offline muddy

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2023, 06:51:28 PM »
Keep posting! Can't wait to see the turnout!

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Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #3 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.

Offline nelstomlinson

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #4 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #5 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!

Offline Lookin4_67GalaxieConv

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2023, 02:20:20 PM »
I'll be curious to see how good that comes out. 
boop/bop/beep

Offline Uncle Buck

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2023, 05:03:56 PM »
I look forward to seeing those boxes after you shoot them.
You boys better hold on cause I'm gonna have to stand on it!

Offline hickory n Steel

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #8 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.
Always lookin' to learn

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #9 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #10 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?

Offline john k

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #11 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #12 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.

Offline hickory n Steel

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #13 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.
Always lookin' to learn

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #14 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #15 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!

Offline hickory n Steel

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2023, 02:32:45 PM »
Perfect color for these boxes.

They're definitely coming along nicely.
Always lookin' to learn

Offline skfarmer

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #17 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?
from the ashes shall rise a phoenix

i was here when the hangout turned into mexican food site!

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #18 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.

Offline Lookin4_67GalaxieConv

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2023, 05:31:21 PM »
Very nice!
boop/bop/beep

Offline slip knot

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2023, 06:41:58 PM »
Thats pretty sweet looking. Nicely done.  :bravo_2:

Offline The Magic Ratchet

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #21 on: January 17, 2023, 07:30:21 PM »
Great job!

Offline muddy

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #22 on: January 17, 2023, 09:01:47 PM »
Absolutely beautiful!

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Offline hickory n Steel

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #23 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.
Always lookin' to learn

Offline wantedabiggergarage

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #24 on: January 18, 2023, 05:56:23 PM »
Just missing the  chrome, your not done yet. :P

Offline oldnslo

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #25 on: January 18, 2023, 07:23:46 PM »
Noooooice!

Offline fatfillup

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #26 on: January 20, 2023, 01:49:52 PM »
Well done and those screws do look good

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #27 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #28 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.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #29 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.

Offline slip knot

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #30 on: February 12, 2023, 07:50:07 PM »
Really nice work Bman.  :bravo_2:

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #31 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

Offline john k

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #32 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.

Offline fatfillup

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #33 on: February 17, 2023, 10:56:17 AM »
Turned out real nice

Now put them to work :))

Offline Uncle Buck

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #34 on: February 18, 2023, 10:23:22 PM »
Those boxes turned out beautiful!
You boys better hold on cause I'm gonna have to stand on it!

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #35 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!  :)

Offline jeffmoss26

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #36 on: February 19, 2023, 05:57:27 PM »
wow, looks great!

Offline john k

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #37 on: February 20, 2023, 11:40:11 PM »
Real nice,

Offline Uncle Buck

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #38 on: February 21, 2023, 07:07:50 AM »
Fantastic restoration!  :bravo_2:
You boys better hold on cause I'm gonna have to stand on it!

Offline john k

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #39 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. 

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #40 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.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2023, 08:01:20 AM by bonneyman »

Offline hickory n Steel

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #41 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.
Always lookin' to learn

Offline bonneyman

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Re: S-K socket box restoration
« Reply #42 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.