Toolbox paint

[Jonboy_t]

I've just aqcuired a really nice old toolbox full of old spanners and stuff from my dad. The spanners are all in OK nick for their age (probably about 50 years!) but the toolbox itself is covered in surface rust (inside and out) and looks awful so I'm going to recondition it for a bit of something to do on the dark evenings.

I've just bought some Kurust for doing the inside, but has anyone got any ideas if normal car spray paint will be tough enough to withstand regular use and still look half decent afterwards? I was also thinking about laqcuering it so it looks all shiny and nice - any ideas on a cheapish hard wearing (pref spray on) laqcuer?

[Simpo Two]

Hammerite would seem logical.

[miniman]

Yep, Hammerite spray can would give a nice finish.

[Pooky67]

Rustoleum Combi-Colour would be an alternative to hammerite

[Jonboy_t]

I'm such a fking dinlo!!! I didn't even think of hammerite! What a nob!

Cheers guys!

[ColinM50]

If it's an heirloom from your Dad, maybe worth considering having it powder coated? Not as cheap as a tin of paint, but it'll be a pucker job.

[dickymint]

Had to make chest type tool box as an apprentice. Folded aluminium with 6 drawers. Everything hand riveted. Anyway before painting it with smooth Hammerite every bit of the surface inside and out had to "swirled" with wire wool (engine turned appearance). - my thumb throbs every time I remember this!

[BliarOut]

We did the same with cantilever ones, light blue Hammerite. I still use mine thirty years on despite some bd welding it to a bench at one point in it's battered life