Alright, so I got this idea stuck in my head about that Tuscadero Pink color. Saw it on a Jeep somewhere, you know? And I thought, that’s a pretty bold, fun color. I had this old metal toolbox just sitting in the garage, looking dull and scratched up. Decided it was the perfect candidate for a makeover.
Getting Started – The Prep Work
First thing, I had to get that toolbox ready. It was greasy and had some rust spots. So, I gave it a good scrub down with degreaser and water. Let it dry completely out in the sun. Then came the sanding. Not my favorite part, honestly. Used some medium-grit sandpaper to scuff up the old paint and smooth out the rusty bits. Wiped it all down again with a damp cloth to get rid of the dust. Dust is your enemy when painting, learned that the hard way before.
Next up was masking. I wanted to keep the handle and the latches their original chrome look. So, I carefully applied painter’s tape around them. Took a bit of patience to get the edges clean, but it’s worth it to avoid overspray.
Laying Down the Color
Finding the actual Tuscadero Pink paint wasn’t super easy. It’s a specific automotive color. Had to order a spray can online. Once it arrived, I started with a primer. Always use primer, especially on metal. Did a couple of light coats, letting each one dry for maybe 20 minutes. Helps the final color stick better and look more even.
Then, the main event – the pink! Shook that can like crazy for a good minute. Started spraying thin, even coats. Remember: it’s better to do several thin coats than one thick one. Less chance of drips that way. I sprayed side to side, slightly overlapping each pass. Waited about half an hour between coats. I think I ended up doing three coats of the Tuscadero Pink to get that really solid, vibrant color I was after.
Finishing Touches
After the last pink coat was properly dry – I gave it a full day just to be safe – I peeled off the painter’s tape. Always satisfying seeing those clean lines. It looked pretty good already, but I wanted to protect it. So, I finished it off with a couple of coats of clear gloss spray. Gives it that shine and adds a layer of protection against scratches.
Let the clear coat cure completely for another day or so before I started actually using the toolbox again.
How It Turned Out
Honestly, I’m pretty pleased with myself. That old toolbox looks completely different now. Really pops with that bright Tuscadero Pink. It’s not a factory perfect finish, there are one or two tiny imperfections if you look super close, but for a weekend project in the garage? Looks great. Definitely brightens up the workbench. It was a straightforward process, just needed a bit of patience with the prep and waiting for paint to dry.
