[Collins] Re: Paint

[David Knepper]

Your observation is correct.  Total Electronics has now "closed its doors"
for good.  They discontinued supplying paint some time ago.  The CRA will
make note of this and remove them from our website under the "resources"
section.

As you well know, it is becoming much more difficult for small paint
suppliers to meet the stringent federal policies regarding shipping
customized mixed paint after 9-11.   The cost to ship paint by the can and
in small quantities is prohibitively expensive.

My suggestion for you and others is to visit Home Depot or Lowes or any
other paint department that has the new computer scanning devices to match
and mix paint. You will need, of course, to provide them with the cabinet so
they can make the scan.  You will have to just try to see if they can get a
piece of the cabinet under the optical scanning device.  I have never tried
this myself, I might add.  However, I was fortunate to have some small paint
chips, as they call them, from some years ago when I sprayed the various
shades of paint that Collins used, like Saint James Gray, the two tone
colors used on the S-Line cabinets, etc.  I had gotten the paint from
Surplus Sales of Nebraska if I recall.

Then, either take the cabinet to a professional painter and have them do the
job right.  Or, you might have the paint "packaged" in an aerosol can.  Some
companies are able to do this.  Try an automotive paint store in your area.

If you need such paint chips as they are called, please let me know and I
will make up a set for you of the Saint James Gray, the cabinet color for
the S-Line, etc. as well as the trim ring.  They would be small 1 inch
pieces of aluminum sheet metal sprayed with these three colors.  The CRA can
supply these paint chips for a few dollars.

Also, the CRA does have mixing formulas for Collins.  If you need these
numbers, please let me know.  I believe they were for Sherwin-Williams
paint.

Finally, most paint today is water-based latex - very durable and easy to
apply.  If you prefer an oil based product,  Lowes or Home Depot can supply
as well.

Incidentally, over the years there has been a great deal of commentary on
this subject in the Collins Journal publication.  I do hope that these
comments are appropriate and timely.

Good Luck

David, W3ST
Publisher of the Collins Journal
Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
To Join the CRA go to www.collinsra.com
Nets:  3805 Khz, Monday/Wednesdays 8 PM EST and 14250 Khz Saturday, 12 Noon
EST

----- Original Message -----
From: <entropy at acmenet.net>
To: "David Knepper" <cra at floodcity.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 3:22 AM
Subject: Re: Paint


> Hi David!
>
>    Thanks for the heads up.   I keep forgetting the CRA is there.
However,
> you should perhaps know that the only link you have under paint comes up
> "closed for business" at this time.
>
> 73,
> Jim T.
> KB6GM
> entropy at acmenet.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Knepper" <cra at floodcity.net>
> To: <entropy at acmenet.net>
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 11:54 AM
> Subject: Paint
>
>
> > Try the CRA.
> >
> > David, W3ST
> > Publisher of the Collins Journal
> > Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
> > To Join the CRA go to www.collinsra.com
> > Nets:  3805 Khz, Monday/Wednesdays 8 PM EST and 14250 Khz Saturday, 12
> Noon
> > EST
> >
> >
> >
>