[Heathkit] Cabinet repainting

[Glen Zook]

Powder coating does requires a "different" method of application than "regular" paint.  Also, getting the color "matched" to the original can be costly.

I use acrylic paint which is water based and, after it "cures" is fairly "hard".  This paint "dries to the touch" in just a few minutes.  However, it takes 48 to 72 hours to "cure" (fully harden).

Heath used at least 5 different colors on the SB-Line cabinets and at least 3 different colors on the front panels.  It was possible to order a complete station (i.e. SB-200, SB-301, SB-401, SB-630, and SB-600) at the same time and literally get all 5 different cabinet colors and all 3 different front panel colors!  The cabinet colors range from an almost "lime green" to a gray with just a "hint" of green.  The last color is, in my opinion, the best "looking" of all 5 of the colors and that is the color that I use when repainting Heath SB-Line cabinets.  All of my SB-Line equipment cabinets have been painted this color (SB-110A, SB-200, SB-301, SB-401, (2 each) SB-600, SB-630, and also both my HM-2102 wattmeters.  I can't do anything about the panel colors (I have all 3 of them present as well), but at least the cabinets are now all the same color.

I have had a number of "boat anchor" cabinet paints, including the one that I use for the Heath SB-Line, computer matched at Sherwin-Williams.  So far, each color has been "right on".  Those formulas can be found at

http://k9sth.com/uploads/Boat_Anchor_Paints.pdf

You will have to have some way to apply these paints (spray rig, etc.).  But, at least in this area (Dallas, Texas, area) the cost of the paints is under $15.00 for a quart.  If you do not have a Sherwin-Williams paint store in your area just about any quality paint (NOT Lowe's or Home Depot - they don't "handle" the correct acrylic "base" that is really needed) can use the formulas and then produce the paint.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Wed, 5/5/10, Dave Cook <wa0ttn at netdave.com> wrote:

I'm sure this is a commonly asked question, but I'm not sure how to search the archives. To make a long story short, I've got a very distressed SB-610 case that I'd like to get repainted. I've heard the term "powder coating" and am wondering where I might be able to have this done. I know the cabinet has to be sanded down to bare metal, primered, and then painted, but I have absolutely no interest in learning how to do that myself. And somewhere in the process one of the corners needs to be reshaped back to normal. I'm wondering if auto paint shops might be able to do this kind of work? Any other recommendations?