Ideas on restoring/preserving tool foam in clamshell?

[Stevehose]

Inspired by deQuincey and others here I have started the toolbox clamshell resto project. Does anyone have suggestions on how to:

a. fill the deteriorated gaps in the foam where the tools sit (see pic)
b. treat the foam with something to prevent future deterioration

I then plan to lightly spraypaint the foam with flexible type vinyl paint in a semi-matching color to clean it up and be presentable.

Ideas?

 

[61porsche]

1. Foam in a can. Low expansion. Sand.

2. Thinned epoxy. Sand.

3. Paint.

Same process as a model car/ plane repair.

 

[Stevehose]

Followup

1. The water based stuff at HD or Lowes?
2. Please elaborate - I am not familiar how to thin epoxy
3. Model repair? - I loaded with gunpowder and blew my models up as a kid, so I am not familiar with this :mrgreen:

1. Foam in a can. Low expansion. Sand.

2. Thinned epoxy. Sand.

3. Paint.

Same process as a model car/ plane repair.

 

[61porsche]

1. Yep. Same stuff as your box foam.

2. Depends on epoxy- use the clear 5 minute with a detail brush. Don't use any acetone.

3. Go to the same type place your Dad gave you money to buy the model cars. Trains, planes, autos. They have more stuff to fix things like this than you can imagine. I had the slot cars, planes, and cannons. When the kids came along I had to fix thier's too. ( Dad's toys bought for his kids.) P.S. We put the M80s in snowballs......

 

[Stevehose]

Another question:

2. What should I use to thin the epoxy or is there something premade that i could brush over the entire foam piece that is thin enough to cover easily and soak in a little then dry to keep everything together with reasonable fleibility before painting? Seems like epoxy would be too thick for this and leave brush strokes?

3. Like my old slot cars, I spend more time tinkering with this car than driving it, and loving every minute of it. Aren't these cars just grown-up versions of Eldons or Aurora AF/X's? Or like my old Cox .049 dune buggy dragster?

4. They don't make M-80's like they used to!

1. Yep. Same stuff as your box foam.

2. Depends on epoxy- use the clear 5 minute with a detail brush. Don't use any acetone.

3. Go to the same type place your Dad gave you money to buy the model cars. Trains, planes, autos. They have more stuff to fix things like this than you can imagine. I had the slot cars, planes, and cannons. When the kids came along I had to fix thier's too. ( Dad's toys bought for his kids.) P.S. We put the M80s in snowballs......

 

[61porsche]

2a,r1. I use the epoxy that comes in syringes. It flows pretty good before it starts to kick. Yes, Gesso for balsa airplane skin. Model or hobby shop.

3. Yep. That's what started me on this slippery slope. That and the minbikes, motorcycles. You fixed what you broke. Got a circa 60's Eldon racetrack up in the attic; saw it again when I put away the holdiay decorations. It was always a Chapparal ( You can take the boy out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of the boy- who says CSLs were the first winged wonder? That puppy dropped sitting still so much they outlawed it.) or Cheetah for me.

4. Wimpy. I think those kids are all the pyrotec guys now. They never got the hang of wrenching.

 

[Stevehose]

Is there a source for these rivets?

Is there a source for these flat head type rivets/sleeves that act as bearings for the lid supports - they have a flat head which fist flush to the side of the tray and barrel shape for the bearing then a short piece at the end which is crushed to hold it in. What are these called and is there a source for this part? If not what should I use? Also, are the other pop rivets available that hold the hinges together available? Thanks.

 

[61porsche]

Flat head rivet nut. Al. http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet50.htm