[R-390] It followed me home

[triodes at optonline.net]

Hi Don,

Yes, the paint I described is designed for spray application only, and remember it is oven-dry.  I agree with your comments concerning Spectrum Coatings; great people to deal with, prompt delivery, wonderful quality product, etc. 

Application instructions are available from Spectrum for all of their paints. Just ask for this information at the time of order. Thinning information, air pressure and volume for correct application, etc., are all defined.

I do not do spray painting myself. There are some things in life that are best left to others, and professional spray painting is one of them. Here on Long Island, there are several professional paint shops that cater to the defense and aerospace industry, and they do absolutely first class quality work, including properly prepping the material before the application of the finish.

The last process I would recommend for painting R-390 front panels or CY-979A/URR cabinets is powdercoating. There is plainly a place for this process in this world, such as painting automobile chassis and the like, but not when it comes to applying an extremely smooth, uniform, thin coat of paint to a panel like Collins, Motorola, EAC, etc., did many years ago. I have seen powdercoated R-390 front panels as well as CY-979A/URR cabinets, and in my opinion they look awful, not to mention the fact that I do not believe a color exists in powdercoat that very closely approaches that of the original R-390 paint color. Since many of the R-390/390A front panels were engraved, a very thin coat of paint is essential so the engraving can be properly filled. With powdercoat, it would be difficult to get the thiness of finish required to do this.

Additionally, powdercoat may be difficult to remove once applied, if you should happen to make a mistake or be unhappy with the finish.

73,

Bruce, W2XR

----- Original Message -----
From: 2002tii 
Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:30 am
Subject: Re: [R-390] It followed me home
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net

> Bruce wrote:
> 
> >Here is the information you must specifiy to Spectrum for the 
> paint 
> >for R-390 family of receivers:
> >
> >Per FED-STD-595, Color Code 26152, Semi-Gloss Gray, I.A.W 
> >Specification TTE-529D, Class B Oven Dry Enamel
> >
> >Based upon my experience, I would not consider any supplier 
> other 
> >than Spectrum for this paint. I have seen samples of this color 
> from 
> >Sherwin-Williams when done in their urethane finish; a little 
> too 
> >glossy and too much orange peel.
> 
> I have used Spectrum for other kinds of paint (for very 
> demanding 
> applications) and can highly recommend them. The quality of 
> their 
> coatings is outstanding and their customer service is excellent.
> 
> Bruce -- do you spray it on? Any suggestions for those of us 
> with 
> little spraying experience? (I have a compressor that should 
> do, but 
> no air filtration suitable for painting, and no spray gun.)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Don
> 
> 
> 
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