Fun 1960's Craftsman Two Drawer Tool Box Repair with a Surprise Inside

[@GuitarJourney1]

Very cool! Those Craftsman tool boxes bring back a lot of memories.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes. This era is my favorite. The grey and red ha a classic look and the V logo is very much from the era of tail fins and muscle cars. .

[@frankpetrone2966]

Looks great Matt. You can resurrect anything you get your hands on.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! At least now it looks like a $5 tool box that I got a god deal on. :)

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Maybe not “Restoration” but, you greatly improved it and breathed new life into it. I’m glad Mugsy was there to supervise.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! Yes, I would not call it a restoration. merely making it usable and decent looking again.

[@terryeustice5399]

And you fixed it. Like you need another one after all the previous ones. Great job. It works the main thing and looks better for sure. 💯👊👍

[@floridarusticrepairs]

lol! So true! I like restoring them and find a lot of uses for them outside of the norm. even holding mics and cables for the band. i think this will be fine for light duty and it's at least not an eyesore. :)

[@warlockcommandcenter]

Nice these were a box of choice for aircraft workers building aircraft and sub systems. These would live on bench tops. Until the mechanic was rated or had enough money to buy a stack or inherited one from his father or uncle. I have, My own and a 1950’s Remline, in top a 1960’s craftsman lower. It stands a little over 6’ tall how my 5’4 stepfather worked out of it for 30 years I’ll never know. He was a development mechanic for Northrop Grumman until just after merger. He worked on all the original flying wing’s , the NASA lifting body’s, the original guppies and YF17( f18prototype ). Retired to Palmdale 1979 and passed away in 2005. While I skipped working out of a box, and was in engineering and I retired in 2014.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

That's really interesting! I work in defense contracting and deal with Northrup Grumman frequently. Of course, to me Grumman will always be the maker of the WW2 Wildcats and Hellcats. Your stepfather must have seen some amazing aviation developments in his days.

[@greghomestead8366]

Looks good to me! 2👍👍up. Have a Jesus filled day everyone Greg in Michigan Ps still looking forward to a shop tour.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! The shop tour is coming. Got a lot of surprises for that video. God bless!

[@michaellindsay8934]

It certainly looks a 100% better, and for five bucks how could you pass it up. Great job making it usable again thinks for sharing your expertise

[@floridarusticrepairs]

For $5 it's now a good light duty box. Expertise is a bit of a stretch in this case, but thanks! :)

[@mavision6525]

Nice job making it usable. It'll still work for some light duty storage box.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I'll find a use for it, even if it's just storing ty-wraps. Certainly worth the $5 and time. Of course, the ratchet and sockets are likely worth more than the box.

[@rightlanehog3151]

5 dollars? Now you are in my budget range. 😁

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes, there's a tool seller at the Flea Market whom I've come to know well over the years and he saved it for me. He figured it was too beat up to sell and I was weird enough to want it.

[@jeffl7852]

I noticed the rods needed to be turned 180 to allow for full paint coverage. Nice work.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes although I think I did still miss a bit of one! Now that I've painted the rods in this box red I think I'll repeat that with any others I come across. It really looks good.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Nice Mugsy siting!

[@floridarusticrepairs]

He's my boy. Follows me back in the house at night and stays with me when I go to sleep.

[@Brian-rj5rl]

Just out of curiosity, what do you need a 20mm socket for?

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Good question! Out of these old tool boxes I pick up, I put together sets for people who want to learn how to work with their hands but may not have the skills or wherewithal to buy decent tools. I had a complete metric set of Craftsman but it was missing the 20mm. Once complete I try to donate the set out.

[@kevinwilliams563]

You know you can order replacement slides from Craftsman right? I have changed several over the years. They work like new.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I did not know that. Even for these old 1960's boxes? I'll need to go that route.

[@12375ram]

What are the rods used for? I just got a vintage Waterloo box that has them but im clueless.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Mostly, I've seen people use them for paperwork or shop manuals but you can also hang wrench organizers from them and use them to hold pliers or almost anything. I'm guessing here, but I think they were just a novel way of making the lid more useful. I don't think the rods are included on any modern tool boxes likely due to cost.

[@ethangrubbs1539]

I know it’s not related, but do you know what grill inserts are on your avalanche. I’ve been looking to get some recently. Thank you

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I've wondered about that grill myself. It was on the truck before I bought it. It's a thin stainless steel sheet with a very tight mesh and is held onto the original grill with screws. I've atually considered removing it because it's obstructive to airflow and i live in Florida but it's never caused a problem. I'll look at it today and see if I can get more info.

[@ethangrubbs1539]

@@floridarusticrepairs Thank you

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@ethangrubbs1539 I gave it a closer look. It's two separate pieces. Each (top and bottom) is bolted onto the original grill with four fasteners and backing parts. I couldn't see any manufacturer listed on it.

[@ethangrubbs1539]

@@floridarusticrepairs I think I found it. It’s a brand called Putco. It’s a punch stainless steel grill insert. They have a website you can look at. It there’s a better picture on rock auto though.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@ethangrubbs1539 I think that's it! Good detective work. 👍

[@russellasher2898]

proto ratchets always missing a screw every one i own are missing one lol

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes! I think this is the third one I've come across with a screw missing. :)

[@lesterwatson8519]

Put some graphite greases on the slides

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot.

[@matthewswingle391]

What region of Florida are you in?

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Tampa.