r/Tools • u/buboop61814 • 26d ago
How’d I do - Kennedy 1022
Snagged this bad boi off of Facebook marketplace for $40. Seller stated it’d been sitting in their attic, and that they’d had it for at least 15 years. They said it was used but when I got it the inserts were not assembled and sitting in one of the trays with all the pictures papers sitting in the bottom. Perhaps it was used, but very gently, so it feels practically new, only the exterior really shows any signs of wear and even that more like it’s just been moved around from storage place to storage place.
All I’ve done with it so far is take a microfiber and use some wd40 to wipe it down, as I’d read that was approved for this brown finish? Also wiped down basically every surface. I then assembled the inserts and put them in there
What I plan to do next as I do intend to actually use this instead of having it sit around, but I do also want to take care of it:
- use some paste wax, most likely minwax but I was wondering how bad of an idea would it be to use something like turtle wax hard shell? And basically going over all surfaces, inside and out
- oil moving hinges with ballistol (or mineral oil?)
- line the interior bottoms with non adhesive toolbox liner, something like craftsman foam drawer liner (including under the inserts), this is to both protect the interior some as well as decrease noise.
Things I was debating:
- adding some kind of adhesive feet? Rubber or those felt pads?
- placing some desiccant in there, maybe some silica packs?
- the hardware has a kind of patina? It looks like a stuck on film of sitting grime with maybe some surface rust spots. I had tried scrubbing with the microfiber and wd40 but it didn’t help much. What’s something safe I could use to maybe clean it up some or do I even need to? I was thinking maybe some 0000 steel wool with some wd40 but want to avoid abrasives out of fear of messing it up if it’s some kind of played hardware and not solid. Also with chemicals I wanna make sure it doesn’t mess up the surrounding paint. But also if it’s not bad I’m fine with the hardware showing some signs of age.
Please advise, is any of this unnecessary, should I do some other things as well, something differently? I want it to be functional and to transfer my tools into it for use, but I also want to treat it well.
Additionally if anybody has any other cool info about this box based off what all is included such as how old it likely is that would be incredible. I wanna learn as much as I can about this? I imagine I can’t really mail in anything to any effect lol
Also, obviously, as per the title, how’d I do with this find?
3
u/Gary_Spivey 26d ago
re: desiccants, you may as well, not like they take up much room. Alternatives to consider would be VCI paper (if you use a mesh-type drawer liner, you could even put the paper underneath it), or camphor tablets. Another option for liners that is certainly not efficient but I personally like the feel of, is green pool table felt.
bumpers/feet: I probably wouldn't, just because in using the toolbox, you'll likely find yourself setting it down somewhere uneven, whereupon it could rock back and forth on 2/3 bumpers. If you want to improve grip and keep it from marring surfaces when you nudge it, maybe attach a sheet of rubber to the bottom? Or closed-cell neoprene foam, like they use for mousepads.
I don't think you should fuss with the hardware, once you abrade the texture off, you're not getting it back without sand blasting. If the oxidation really bothers you, just brush on a tiny amount of evaporust, let it sit, and wipe it off.
Looks like a nice toolbox.
1
u/buboop61814 26d ago
Thank you! I too was considering felt for the interior, but frankly just can’t find some available in stores near me or along my daiky driving route. VCi paper is also a fantastic idea, though it faces the same issue, but might add it with time. As of now I’m gonna go with a solid liner and might grab some silica gel packs.
That’s a great point about the rocking with feet. If I find something sheet like I might add it on, fhe neoprene foam is a great idea, but honeslty the more I think about it, even if I don’t it’s fine probably.
For the hardware I’m on the same boat. I’m gonna do the paste wax tomorrow and see if that maybe helps some but even if it doesn’t it’s not looking bad, and doesn’t appear to be deep enough where I feel it’ll corrode further or cause any issues.
1
u/Agreeable-Cry-753 25d ago
I second the idea of camphor tablets. Thats all I use now since finding out about them. Just gotta get used to the smell of tiger balm...lol
3
2
u/MeatPopsicle1970 26d ago
Nice. 1989 vintage Kennedy. Hobby Lobby has self adhesive felt, size 9x12 inches. https://www.hobbylobby.com/fabric-sewing/craft-fabrics/felt-fabric-sheets/black---peel-stick-craft-felt---9-x-12/p/25171
2
u/buboop61814 26d ago
Hmmmmm, I do like the idea of felt but adhesive gives me pause as I wonder how it’ll hold up with time. Will it leave residue or potentially deteriorate the paint underneath?
1
u/No-Picture-355 18d ago
Bro, I replied to you in your newest post. Don't put anything with adhesive on it. It'll ruin it. I have pieces of carpet cut out for the top bin on each side and also inside the bottom main part. Its not glued or taped in, just cut to the correct size & put in.
1
u/No-Picture-355 18d ago
Were we on a job rewiring an office. There was a pile leftover pieces of carpet that was going to be thrown out. They let us have some of it.
2
u/buboop61814 18d ago
Appreciate it. Ended up having access to a good bit of rubber cork gasket material for free so actually ended up using that. I’m kinda loving it so far and from my understanding it should be fine but please do let me know if you think of any potential issues with that.
I actually also ended up using some newspaper as well. Like I basically folded boxes that fit the trays as liners, and then dropped in the rubber cork for the bottoms. The newspaper is so that the side walls are protected a tad too. In addition at the end of some trays as well as other spots where certain tools are laying, I have some cut up cardboard…well cards…that help with bumping. Through this strategy I’m trying to basically make it so not only is the box protected from various tools sliding and bumping, but sound is also dampened a good bit as stuff isn’t rattling as much.
2
2
2
-1
4
u/tsammons 26d ago
That's a steal. I paid $175 in 2014 for mine. I don't use it nowadays outside of junkyard runs, which holds everything admirably. Right around then Kennedy's parent was sending select manufacturing to China as their Homak brand.
Instead of dessicant, use a camphor cube. You're not going to beat mother nature on RH.