[Heathkit] SB cabinet repaint question?

[Glen Zook]

What I have been doing lately is to get my paint
matched at Sherwin Williams in acryllic.  However, I
now have a paint gun and compressor.  The paint runs
less than $11 per quart.

However, there are some "over the counter" paints that
do match pretty closely.

Now, Heath used at least 5 different "shades" of paint
on the SB-Line cabinets ranging from a pretty "putrid"
almost lime green to a gray with just a "hint" of
green.  At one time I had examples of all 5 different
shades!  Also, they used at least 3 different shades
of green on the front panels.

I repainted all of my SB-Line cabinets with the gray
with "hint" of green color since that particular color
I think is the most "pleasing".  A few days ago I
built a phasing control for my 40 meter verticals in a
"surplus" SB-Line cabinet.  For the front panel (which
I made from 1/8 thick aluminum sheet) I first put on a
"crackle" finish using RustOleum American Accents
"Stone Creations" (the gray color works the best) and
then oversprayed with Krylon 3512 Sage Satin paint. 
That color is a "perfect" match for one of the 3
shades that Heath used on the front panels.

It was possible to order a "complete" station from
Heath consisting of an SB-301, SB-401, SB-600, SB-630,
and SB-200 at the same time and get all 5 different
cabinet colors and all 3 different front panel shades.
 Frankly, I almost think that Heath used whatever
color was in the paint gun and didn't pay any
attention to the absolute shade.

I have an SB-101, SB-110A, SB-301, SB-401, SB-630, and
two SB-600 units.  Of all those only one SB-600
cabinet matched any other cabinet!  I also have all 3
different front panel colors.  I did repaint one of
the SB-600 panels with the Krylon paint so that it
matched the other one.  But, since there is
silkscreening on the other panels, and I don't have
the means to silkscreen, I haven't even thought of
repainting any of the equipment panels.

I have had problems with the "wrinkle" paint that is
sold at automotive parts houses.  For example, I make
reproduction crystal doors for the DX-35 and DX-40.  I
paint these 9 at a time.  Frankly, out of 9 I would
get 1, maybe 2, that would wrinkle properly.  The
remainder would partially wrinkle to no wrinkle at
all.  Yet these were all on a single board that is
approximately one foot square and were painted at
exactly the same time under the same circumstances. 
As a result, I have gone to the Stone Creations.  It
takes a few minutes of practice to get the "hang" of
making a good crinkle finish.  But, the results are
much better than what I get with the stuff from
automotive houses.

Years ago Illinois Bronze made some excellent wrinkle
paint that came in spray cans.  I used that stuff by
the case.  Unfortunately, there was something in the
formula that OSHA didn't like and they had to
discontinue making the paint.

RustOleum has both a wrinkle and a hammertone paint
that are a little bit better than what I have been
getting at the automotive houses.  However, I still do
not like it anywhere near as well as the Stone
Creations for crinkle.  For hammertone, if you
overspray with a thin coat, the results are pretty
good.  The pattern is a bit larger than the "old"
original paint.  But, it does look OK when you are
through.

Glen, K9STH


--- "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon at moscow.com> wrote:

BTW, Glen Zook has some information on paints for
Heathkit on his web site. You can get a nearly exact
match for several of the different shades of Heathkit
green from Wal-Mart.
 
We might ask him. 
 
Glen? Your advice?


=====
Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco


		
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. 
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail