Undoing a DISASTER Spray Paint Job - Restoring a $5 Toolbox

[@davidcoats1037]

Excellent job! The toolbox looks great, not sure I would have glued the liner in. I feel like you are going to regret that later. Big thumbs up on the restoration and video. 😃👍🏼

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! I have to agree with you, probably not the wisest decision in retrospect. This toolbox is for light use going forward, so it should last at least a respectable amount of time before it needs to be replaced.

[@bigvicsworkshop]

Looks fantastic! I have racing stripes on my Kennedy boxes as well ! Enjoyed! Have a good'un

[@CatalystRestorations]

All the tools that come from this toolbox are faster as a result! 🤣

[@bigvicsworkshop]

@@CatalystRestorations awesome reply!! 🤠👍

[@cheesyman282]

That tool box looks like it belongs with a Ferrari racing pit crew! I like it!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Or your local KFC! 😂

[@carlmcgee1623]

Glad you took the effort to create this SICK work of art !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Carl! The racing stripes mean that every tool that I store in that box works twice as fast!!!

[@1984C4Corvette_DIY_Garage]

Looks great, love the racing stripe effect. I did a few of these over the summer. Very satisfying to save something that you know, otherwise, it's gonna end up scrap.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! And absolutely!

[@raptors3164]

The color scheme suits that tool box beautifully, excellent restoration and video 👍👍👍👍👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! I like to say that with these racing stripes any tools that I keep in this box go faster 😂

[@mitchmurrell753]

Props for a spectacular resto.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you, Mitch!

[@7jackaloper7]

Fantastic! Looks amazing!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Jack!

[@razorboyXVII]

Very nice!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 👍

[@Castleknight]

Nice job

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you!

[@BestLittleStudio]

I have like 4 of those toolboxes around the garage, they are so damned useful, the first toolbox I was ever given too. And I have never bought one, they just sort of show up on my doorstep.

[@CatalystRestorations]

They really are just a great solid box for things! I bought this one for $5 and the lady I bought them from had about 5 more just like it. Still kicking myself that I didn't just buy them all on the spot!

[@brysonalden5414]

Another fabulous restoration, and thanks for taking the time to share it. Only problem with the finished product is that it's too nice, by far, to ever put tools into again!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Haha, I know, right?! This guy will definitely get used, although probably for storing smaller restored tools.

[@brysonalden5414]

@@CatalystRestorations I think Kennedy still makes a tool tray that would fit it, although you'd have to paint it . . . .

[@elmerkilred159]

Pretty sporty!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Elmer! The running joke is that any tool kept is this toolbox is automatically faster! hahaha

[@shedmanx3640]

Very nice. Too good to use now.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! These days I use it to hold "clean" tools for "clean" small projects around the house! 😁

[@wynncull9415]

Very nice job in restoring this. Although I would have to agree with David Coats on the gluing of the liner. Again, great work bro.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! I also agree! Wouldn't do that again if I did it over!

[@RESTORATIONOFSCRAPMETAL]

cool, I like it👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! 👍

[@joecordaway3783]

Nice job! Liking the two-tone sport theme. Inspired to do my Kennedy toolbox that was on its way to trash heap by neighbor.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Joe! It's definitely not a standard Kennedy Toolbox color scheme 😅. Good luck on your restoration! A little elbow grease and some patience and you'll have a brand new toolbox ready for action.

[@travismajszak551]

I like your paint scheme it’s appealing and unique, in my experience you could use one coat of etching primer then use a coat or two of high build primer, wet sand or flat sand so those dents and defects that are still noticeable in the final view of the tool box are smoothed out and even, but you do beautiful work, keep on keepin on

[@CatalystRestorations]

Hi Travis! Great suggestion, something to keep working on to perfect!

[@c.j.cleveland7475]

Nice job! Looks great! You might consider using that metal epoxy (JB Weld?) to fill in the rust spots inside instead of body filler. It will be much more durable and last longer. Keep up the good work! 😁👍

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! And you're absolutely right - for true durability and longetivty JB Weld is the way to go! That stuff is darn expensive though in large quantities! 😭

[@reedrancho]

Just discovered your channel, subscribed, and watched several videos. I to, restored several cheep-inexpensive tool boxes, because the big floor tool boxes are way out of my range. Good job on this one. Thought I agree that the liner needn't be glued or you could use wood hide glue, then use hot water to soften the glue to remove the liner (as long as the box it for light use).

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! I 100% agree on the liner and something I would do differently next time!

[@johnreynolds5594]

Looks superb. I'm a little surprised that the new paint didn't gum up the hinge again, but obviously not.

[@CatalystRestorations]

The blue-green paint that was on it was a heavy latex paint. Combine that with rust and that's what made it so rough to open. Luckily a few thin coats of spray paint aren't enough to gum things up!

[@antikaplanet2970]

Nice job bravo

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks!

[@paulrward]

NOOOOOOO !!!!!!! This is a KENNEDY BOX !! You shouild have sent away to Kennedy, and purchased two spray cans of their Self Texturing Bown Paint, and given the box a pair of thick, heavy duty coats of nice brown ! Then, with a home- made stencil and a can of almond colored spray paint, you could have put a nice Kennedy Logo on the top, and had a beastiful, VALUBLE Kennedy Toolbox !

[@CatalystRestorations]

That's the best part - it's still never too late to do this! I can strip off this paint and start over at any time. Also, to be fair, this particular model box came in red from the factory, not brown, although I know that textured brown is the traditional, popular Kennedy look.

[@paulrward]

@@CatalystRestorations That's true. A few years ago I restored a Kennedy Box, in Brown, and couldn't make a stencil for the logo where the 'K' in Kennedy looked right. So I settled for making a stencil that said.....' Oswald '

[@CatalystRestorations]

@@paulrward that script is crazy tricky to get right!!

[@richardvale214]

This was a labor of love, not a profit-driven labor. And last I checked, a can of "Kennedy brown" costs $40, so the two cans you recommended would run $80. Even if he sold this box for a $100, (which is doubtful, since you can pick up a new Torin, with the insert, for $20) he wouldn't recoup the cost of labor and materials. Personally, I like seeing the boxes in any color besides Kennedy brown. I think it's drab and lifeless. The older boxes with the green felt had a nice contrast, but now that they use black felt, it's all pretty boring to look at, though the quality of the build is still there.

[@paulrward]

@@CatalystRestorations I agreee - that's why, when I made the Cursive Stencil for my box, instead of ' Kennedy ', I just made a stencil that said ' Oswald ' .

[@billiewylie7212]

oh my god!!! imma gonna have a heart attack!!!! someone who actually uses paint stripper sparingly!!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!!.....no wheres the real stripper??

[@CatalystRestorations]

You should always use stripper of any kind sparingly.

[@Bobby-Love]

A sandblaster in the upcoming budget? Would make restores a bit more efficient. Although some really enjoy hand sanding which does have its own attributes.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Sometimes hand sanding does almost feel zen-like...but 1000% yes on the sandblaster. This project in particular I knew from the start would be such a pain in the hands. The goal is to get the channel to be self-suffient in supplying funds for equipment purchases and upgrades. Media blaster is #1 on that list when it happens!

[@jazzersten]

Great job!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks! With the racing stripes every tool I put in it goes faster now 😂

[@Saavik256]

When working on older stuff, you should *always* test the paint for lead. That stuff is nasty as! Also, a good liquid mixture for unlocking stuff is acetone+transmission fluid. Works like a charm. Beautiful end result! :)

[@CatalystRestorations]

Absolutely! I don't always show it on camera, but I always test for lead first. I've started showing the lead testing on camera in my more recent videos!

[@peterreggie1521]

Amazing job. I just started doing metal toolbox restorations and it has been a learn as I go process. What was that bit you used to grind down the rivets? I always have a hard time removing rivets. Also, I wanted to know if removing the lid is not happening, is it best to just leave it? Thanks and I really enjoyed this restoration.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks for watching! If you search for 'diamond ball bits' you should find what I use! They seem to work pretty well, but sometimes just drilling it out with a drill bit works better depending on the situation. If the hinges are welded on or there is no easy way to remove the pin(s) on the hinge(s) it's best to just leave them. Give 'em a good scrub with a wire wheel and polish them and mask them off when you paint and that works good enough!

[@alandesgrange9703]

Cool paint job, but, will that make it go faster?

[@CatalystRestorations]

It makes every tool you store inside go faster when you use them

[@cobratufskin]

Sweet!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks, Nick!

[@rong-man1502]

I always thought Kennedy boxes came painted hammer brown.

[@CatalystRestorations]

That's definitely the color they're most known for! Kennedy produced (and still produces) several toolbox lines that have red as an option. If you Google 'Kennedy toolbox red' you'll find quite a few.

[@sftvierendeels]

Magnifique!

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you!! The racing stripes make all the tools stored in it go faster! 😂

[@sftvierendeels]

I agree with you, the white stripes give all the character to the box.

[@ethan_anthem]

Question? Why are mats glued in?

[@CatalystRestorations]

Because they usually aren't! 😅 If I could redo that part I would've just lightly taped it down with some double sided tape. Easier to replace down the road.

[@wokohedgehogs]

Looks good, sad this is in today’s environment it would probably have been cheaper to buy a brand new toolbox rather than the cost of the filler and paints etc

[@CatalystRestorations]

You're probably right, which is both amazing and sad in its own ways.

[@wokohedgehogs]

@@CatalystRestorations you can quite easily see how we’ve got this world in such a mess because of things like this. How many washing machines get thrown away every year when all they need is a £10 pair of brushes for the motor. It’s very sad

[@QuietRiverBear]

That’s about a $200+!box from Kennedy so $5 plus what you put into it to have a customized paint job, I think you did OK on the deal.

[@claudiodefeo2937]

Perfetto

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thank you! 😎👍

[@Sara-L]

This looks like every old tool box I've ever seen. Ugly spray job.

[@CatalystRestorations]

Yup, turns out surface prep is really important for a reason.

[@ianportter1257]

el logo kennedy parece que lo hizo una persona con Parkinson

[@CatalystRestorations]

Haha, definitely. Ideally I would've printed a waterslide for it, but I don't have access to a printer at the moment so I had to make the stencil by hand and use a paint pen. I clearly do not have a steady hand.

[@swampy1584]

Nice job

[@CatalystRestorations]

Thanks Dave! I always joke that the racing stripes make all the tools I store in it go faster, hahaha.

[@swampy1584]

@@CatalystRestorations haha be quicker tidying the tools up