Snap-on k-60 Super Chest

[mitchell172]

Howdy all.

Today my restoration project arrived. It is a k-60 that is in great shape. I have some questions for you veteran restorers.

1. How do you remove the drawers? On some of them they come right out. On others they stop and won't budge. I don't want to pull too hard or break something. Just wondering if there is a secret way to remove them. One of them only opens half-way (one of the small side drawers). I can't see anything blocking it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

2. The box was painted green over the original red. I wish I could get the green off but alas I guess rather than a cleanup I'm going to have to strip things down to nothing. Looks like someone drilled 4 small holes on one side to install a handle or something. Any ideas on the best way to fill these?

Thanks for the help.
Brad

[snapmom]

There is a tool to remove them, but if no tool, then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HatcI1ZY6Zw
It maybe best to have someone blast and paint the box for you.

[mitchell172]

Thanks. Yes, that is the plan. I have a local powder coater who also does their own blasting. Going to wait until the k-200 arrives and then drop both off. I guess I need to remove the old Snap-on riveted emblems and rivet them back after paint. I want to do this correctly. I plan on having these boxes for many, many years and want to restore it once and be done. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. The bakelite handles need to be cleaned up too. I think they came black from the factory and if so that is how I want to put them back. I'll post some photos as the journey progresses. Thanks!

[mitchell172]

I was just in the garage looking at it. Found some old receipts in the back from 1949 for a caliper tool so that was cool. I was thinking the drawer handles were bakelite but they appear to be metal and the finish on the inside of the handle is still black so those will be restored to that finish. The drawer pulls on the smaller drawers on each side are not metal (bakelite) and look chrome. I take it there isn't a way to restore those. They look pretty clean as they are but would like to make them look new.

[mitchell172]

I'm taking it apart now for powder coating prep until the K200 arrives. According to what I can tell:

The handles were originally all black on the middle drawers and side handles.
The smaller side drawers have chrome bakelite knobs.
The screws for the handles and knobs all around seem to be original steel - stainless?
The slides appear to be all black from the factory.

It appears as if the lock and ring around it were not painted from the factory.

I want to restore it correctly so I'm trying to make sure I don't have the tops of screws powder coated if they were all steel from the factory or make similar mistakes. Any insight is greatly appreciated on original features.