[Collins] Paint Subject

[Mike Shelton]

Hi Folks, This is Mike from Total Electronics, I'd like to say that since I have taken the paint
business from Radio Restoration (Lynn ) out in Kansas, I
have sold many a can of paint, and would like to be able to restore the "Exact"
paint color and texture etc. for the St. James Grey, , for a number of years
I was a owner/manager of a machine shop and we rebuilt equipment and we did it to original specs,
even the paint!, and we had to buy 55 gallon drums to get
what we wanted. Now that we have gotten through the 2001/2002 family illness
and death of my wife parents, I will have some time to research this and I
will duplicate this but I need input if possible, and I need a exact sample
of the cabinet etc in question, I also need a list of surviveing personel from
collins that I can research this and  get some definate input and then I will go from there, and yes
until I met Lynn Brock I used Sherwin Williams paints
also but I do prefer the acrylic based over the oil and or latex type. 
especially for keepers, I am a real-true perfectionist and I go to the extreme
to restore something even to the point of casting my own knobs, escuteons, and
making other parts, In addition to my electronic shop I have also a full machine shop and can make
most any part . I do have someone to make gears and
cabinets at present. But I do all the rest. If any of you want to help out I appreciate it and when
I get some samples I will forward to Dave and get the official approval before I offer it. I will be
adding a few more colors at years end and revamping the website and several other changes so stay
posted.
Thanks for the Bandwidth.........Hope I can help all and thanks for all you
folks support!!!!!!!,  I and the Wife appreciate it!

Mike Shelton CET, ke4lgx
Total Electronics

David Knepper wrote:
> 
> Please excuse my redundancy but I still believe that someone out there can provide a definitive response to the ageless question of how Collins produced that beautiful crackle or "sand paper" finish on cabinets and front panels.
> 
> I know that the subject has been discusssed many times over but I am going to reach out one more time to settle the argument once and for all.
> 
> As you know there are several wrinkle paints on the market (probably produced by only a handful of paint suppliers.)  The paint when applied does wrinkle but it is not the exact finish of the Collins which is more a crackle or star burst or "sand paper" finish - take your pick.
> 
> I spoke to the original supplier of paint to Colllins many years ago.  He was a local paint dealer who told me that they used to deliver the "stuff" in large drums to Collins Radio.
> 
> Someone told me that the same results can be gotten by spraying a high speed paint thinner on to the finish coat.  Can this be done?  When Bill, K0DEW, restored a KW-1 back 10 years ago, he indicated that is what he did to get that distinctive Collins finish.  He wrote an article in 1991 for ER in a special KW-1 issue.
> 
> Someone knows for sure the answer to these two questions.
> 
> By the way, I just painted a bezel from a Hallicrafter radio and the finish is far from the finish on my Collins - it is definitely a wrinkle finish and not that crackle finish (that is my term) found on the Collins.
> 
> They say that the power coatings that have been applied to refinish a Collins is still not the exact Collins finish.
> I have inspected some of these reproduction paint jobs and they are still not the "right" texture.
> 
> Thanks for the input.
> 
> Dave, W3ST
> Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
> Publisher of the Collins Journal
> www.collinsra.com
> 
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