What to Do With a Vintage Metal Drill Case When the Tool Is Gone
In this post, I’m sharing how I gave my grandpa’s old metal drill case a second life—turning something industrial, worn, and left behind into a decorative piece for our kitchen using paint, rub-on transfers, and a lot of trial and error.
Laundry Day Inspiration and an Industrial Beginning
Laundry day has a way of getting my inspiration blooming. Something about the hum of the washer and the rhythm of folding makes my mind wander—and this time, it led me to create something beautiful from something industrial: my grandpa’s old drill case.
Just a metal case that once held one of his drills. Dirty. Scraped up. The kind of thing most people wouldn’t think twice about tossing aside. At least, that was the before.
The Auction, the Aftermath, and What Was Left Behind
I’ve mentioned before that when we had the auction at my grandma’s house, some things were left behind. My husband and I are no strangers to online auctions and pickups. In every auction we’ve ever participated in, you take everything you win. Nothing gets left behind.
This auctioneer did things differently.
She allowed winners to pick and choose what they wanted to take, which left behind a rather large mess—one my mother and I had just three days to clean up before the new owners took possession of my grandma’s home.
Those three days were rough.
If you’ve spent any length of time here, you know how hard it is for me to let go—especially of things that once belonged to family members. It didn’t matter that the drill was gone, or that the metal case had been deemed “trash.” I didn’t see trash.
I saw potential.
A Project That Took the Long Way Around
As many of my crafty projects do lately, this one began on laundry day—and then turned into a several-week project. Well… that’s not entirely true.
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| The back of this case is looking at fright, but it was well-loved |
I actually started working on this metal drill case two years ago and lost steam. Not because it was difficult, but because some projects take me down a path. Sometimes that path is clear. Other times, it’s muddy.
This one was muddy.
The case sat there while I played with ideas, never quite landing on the right plan. Every now and then I’d spot it while searching for something to work on, skim right past it, and move on.
Until recently.
Cleaning the Case and the First Attempt
I began by cleaning the metal as best as I could. It was clear this case had been well loved. I like to imagine Grandpa taking it to job sites or pulling it out at home for one project or another. He was a tinkerer—and I suppose that’s where I get it from.
My first attempt was a Christmastime makeover. I painted the case red… and then immediately began second-guessing myself. I didn’t want something that only came out once a year.
So, I let it sit.
For two years.
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| I thought for sure this metal case would be Christmastime decor, but no. |
Don’t worry—I didn’t think that hard about it. I’d just glance at it occasionally, feel unsure, and move along.
Finding the Right Color (Finally)
A few weeks ago, I decided red just wasn’t the color. This metal case needed to be ivory.
I began painting over the red, creating a creamy ivory finish. It took several coats—red really didn’t want to leave—but eventually, the case transformed.
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| I think this case was always meant to be ivory, especially if you look at the before |
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| Second coat, that red paint was stubborn |
To lock in the chalk paint, I used my husband’s beloved “cast iron method,” stippling Mod Podge right over the paint. Then… it sat again. For a few more weeks.
Third time is a charm 
Sponge brush applying Mod Podge over paint to protect
The Inside: Color, Texture, and a Little Flexibility
Next, I painted the inside of the case a soft celery green. Not a perfect coat—just enough to disguise years of scrapes and wear.
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| I applied celery green to the inside of the case to cover the scratches inside |
Once it dried, I applied glue using Elmer's school glue stick. I knew Mod Podge wouldn’t give me any wiggle room, and I wanted the ability to reposition the napkins as needed. The glue stick let me apply, lift, and adjust before committing.
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| Glue stick seems to be my go to when applying napkins these days |
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| I smoothed the creases out with my hand |
After smoothing out the creases as best I could, I sealed everything with Mod Podge.
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| Looks lovely, but we will need to protect that napkin |
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| Yikes, what a mess. Mod Podge applied to paper napkins |
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| Looking much better, I am so glad I the iron fit inside this metal case |
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| It's like I do not know what happens, but we have to move forward |
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| This trick is a lifesaver! Sanding down the paper gives it a finished look |
Wrinkles still happened—but I let it dry, grabbed parchment paper and an iron, and carefully smoothed some of them out. Surprisingly, I could set the iron right inside the metal case. Just be careful—the metal does get hot.
Letting Go of Perfection
I had been planning to use rub-on seed packet transfers, but I hesitated. Once you place a transfer, there’s no undo button—and I didn’t want to mess it up.
I thought way too long and way too hard about placement.
In the end, I learned I just needed to jump in.
I started with one transfer on the bottom of the case, centered with the words Paris, Roubaix, and London. The colors worked beautifully with the handle. Then I added another. And another.
Before I knew it, the front and sides of the case were nearly covered in antique seed packets.
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| Do you see where the seed packet was a little ways from the hinge? |
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| I decided to rub my fingernail over the seed packet to get a better placement |
If you know me, you know I don’t like everything lined up perfectly. I prefer imagination. A little chaos. When transfers didn’t sit just so, I wrapped them around edges, cut them to fit around hinges, and let them move naturally across the surface.
One transfer landed farther from the hinge than I intended—but it stuck, and I let it stay.
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| What to do with this space? |
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| Ahh... much better. Sometimes you need to work with the transfers to best fill space |
Life isn’t perfect. Neither is art.
Finishing Touches and a Thought of Grandpa
Once I stepped back and saw what I’d created, I was over the moon. I sealed everything with a protective coat of Mod Podge, then added antique gold Rub ’n Buff to the button and handle hardware.
Finally, I went to my ribbon stash and tied a soft gold bow around the handle, letting the ribbon fall down the front of the case.
When I finished, I thought to myself—Grandpa would love this.
Seed packets may not have been his thing, but I think he would have appreciated the process… and the ending.
Where It Will Live (and a Kitchen Update)
This piece will eventually live in our kitchen, once everything is finished and ready to be styled.
For those of you following along with our kitchen remodel, progress has slowed again—my husband hurt his back. The floors are planned for the end of this month, but we may need to push that back since cabinets need to be built and installed first.
One step forward, two steps back.
But that’s life.
And honestly? I’m just grateful to have running water in the kitchen again.
I can cook. ❤️
Cara
