repair to round reproduction spare tire tool kit

[BulliBill]

Way back in 1998 or so I bought one of those very early reproduction spare tire tool kits with the VW logo on them, with the made in India or wherever tools from Richard Hartel of Vintage Motor Works. I took my real Hazet spare tire tool kit out of my Oval and replaced it with this. "If" it got stolen at a show or something, I figured at least I didn't loose my perfect and complete original Hazet kit. And if I had a breakdown, those cheap tools ought at least to help get me going again... As you can tell from the photos, I have never used any of the tools.

I just looked at it again closely after 23 years of riding around in the Oval unused, and I discovered that the ring on the backside that I assume is spot-welded to the round case is mostly separated. Several of the welds seem to still be holding...

I figured it would be nice to repair it, and instead of having someone spot weld it and have to touch up the paint/flocking, I'm wondering out loud if anyone out there thinks that some modern autobody panel adhesive might be a strong enough and clean way to reattach the ring fully to the round case.

Thoughts and suggestions anyone? Thanks!

Bill Bowman
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[Dave]

Hi Bill, long time no hear from !!! I would sure try some panel adhesive/epoxy first, I mean what to you have to lose. On a side note, I was at Richard Hartel's house when the first load of 1,000 tool boxes arrived..The truck driver was adamant about him not unloading the truck, so, Richard and I did it, all 1,000 of them, in August, in inland southern CA..as a way of saying thank you, Richard presented me with one of the toolboxes, stamped from Stainless Steel, and polished...

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2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story

"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"

[BulliBill]

Hi Dave! Great to hear from you! I hope you and yours are all doing well.

Yeah, I figured to carefully pop the remaining spot welds to fully remove the ring, Dremel/sand off any paint or surface rust from the two contact surfaces and visit an Auto Body shop to see if they could lay a thin bead of adhesive and clamp it up to see if that'll work? I got nothing to lose!

I still have "Martha" in my collection, in fact that is the Oval that this tool kit has been riding around in for so long! I'm about to start in on a '57 Kabriolett project that's been sleeping in the back of my 7-car garage since 1993!

Bill
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!