[Hallicrafters] Paint formulas

[Roger (K8RI)]

kirklandb at sympatico.ca wrote:
> Like many other things, mileage will vary.
>
> The local Sherwin Williams only sells by the gallon and I can't get some of the paints
>  that Glen listed in many previous emails. They did a great job on a St James Acrylic Latex
> for me. But, I believe first they used the color system, then the fellow finished the match by hand.
> I can't find just Acrylic paint, it is always Acrylic/Latex.  
>   
Water based?  I stay well away from water based paints, unless painting 
doors or windows.
I still use solvent based or two part acrylic paints. Some of them are 
Cyanilic (sp?) which requires the full hood with supplied fresh or tank air
> I don't have a great eye for color, even after many years in a color dark room.
>
>   
Just think in reverse<:-))  I still have my enlarger, but it's been so 
long It'd cost a fortune to make even 8 X 10's and I do still have the 
color analyzer too. Besides, I can now tell the computer what I want and 
in 30 seconds have a beautiful 8X10 you can't tell from a darkroom print 
and for a whale of a lot less money.  What always puzzled me was in B&W 
the paper was expensive, but the chemicals were cheap. With color the 
paper was a fraction of the cost of B&W paper, but it cost darn near 
$3.00 for the chemicals to do one print.  OTOH color slides were fast, 
cheap, and easy...unless you used the Kodak process.
> I've used our local Home Depot and have found my mileage to vary. I suspect it may be 
> in part due to 
> a) the person running the color match machine
>   
This is true even at the professional places.
> b) when the machine was last cal'd
> c) just how dark the paint is. I suspect they may be able to due a better job with lighter colors
>     than really dark ones.
>
> Home Depot said they could match a silver but all I end up with was a funny shade of white.
> They also really blew a match for St James Grey, on at least two attempt the op overflowed the 
>  1qt can with coloring.
>
> I suggest that when getting them to mix up a batch of paint that you get them to put a dap on
>  the lid so you can check the color. If it is way off, then don't accept the paint.
>   
That's policy at the local Lowe's and at all of out paint stores.

73

And good luck,

Roger (K8RI)
www.rogerhalstead.com