[Boatanchors] Wrinkle paint

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

John,

I am not familiar with the HQ-129X so I don't know which of the textured 
finishes you are actually referring to.  There is wrinkle (the most common and 
erroneously called crinkle or crackle by some), crackle (uncommon - used on a 
couple of early BC-312 models and I may have seen it on one or two others) and 
spackle.  I don't think crackle has been used since the 40's.  It is actually a 
pretty ugly finish, looking somewhat like a dried mud flat.  I've seen spackle 
on test and other equipment that wasn't that old (70's, 80's).  I don't know 
how it was made but it's possible you might find it or find someone who can 
mix it.

But if the finish is actually wrinkle, you aren't going to find anyone who 
can mix it.  There are only a couple of companies still making it.  Their 
minimum orders amount to around 600 spray cans.  So if that's what you need, your 
only choice is going to be to have the color mixed in something that works with 
the thinnest build (thickness required to cover), paint the cabinet with an 
available wrinkle color, and then color coat it.  For years, that's what we did 
to achieve a Signal Corps green wrinkle finish on military sets.  You can buy 
black wrinkle finish paint several places including AES and supposedly 
Harley-Davidson dealers.  Black is about the worst of all possible choices, though, 
as it takes the heaviest build to cover.  AES used to have gray wrinkle.  I 
have green wrinkle.

Wrinkle finish is also available in powder coat.  I've only seen black 
advertised, but I haven't looked for anything else.  And you would have to either 
find someone willing to do the application or invest in application equipment 
and an oven.

In a message dated 7/29/2007 3:08:26 PM Central Daylight Time, 
k5pgw at yahoo.com writes: 
> It appears that the HQ 129 X had a paint finish very
> similar to the Collins St. James Gray.
> 
> Is it possible to duplicate such a finish? What type
> paint would be used? Would an oven be required to make
> the paint achieve that texture? The color formula can
> be determined and mised via using a computer at a
> paint store, but just how to get it ti achieve that
> texture is not clear to me.
> 
> I am sure that only a certain paint composition could
> be caused to wrinkle or achieve that texture in an
> oven.
> 
> Would someone with knowledge and experience please
> educate me. Thanks and 73, John, K5PGW 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
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