Heathkit paint

[Glen Zook]

If you use acrylic paint there are no problems cleaning the spray equipment.  Acrylic cleans up with water and dries harder than most spray cans.  I use paint guns all the time and do not have any problems with clean up.  Also, being water based the paint has no toxic characteristics.

Now Heath used 5 different colors on the SB-Line equipment and there was no rhyme or reason as to which particular unit got which color cabinet.  In fact there was not even any time frame consistent to any particular color.  It was possible to order say an SB-301, SB-401, SB-200, SB-600, and SB-630 at the same time and get all with a different colored cabinet.  Also, Heath used 3 different shades of green on the front panels and with the units ordered above you could get all 3 different shades of the front panel.

I have had quite a few of the boat anchor paints computer matched by Sherwin-Williams and the formulas for 1 quart cans can be found at

http://k9sth.com/Page_2.html

Scroll down to the heading "articles" and the paint formulas are the 8th link.  Of the 5 different paint colors of the SB-Line the color that I selected is, at least to me, the most pleasing and that is the color that was used exclusively on the SB-104.  Now it was used on the other cabinets of the SB-Line.  The original colors ranged from a definite green to a gray with just a "hint" of green which is the color that I selected.  I have repainted all of my SB-Line cabinets this shade to get them all the same.  Unfortunately, the different shades of the front panel cannot be handled just as easily since they all require silk-screening and I don't do silk-screening!

The article just above the referenced article about the "faux" paints has a reference to a particular Krylon paint for the older equipment which, unfortunately, is no longer being manufactured.  If you are lucky you might find a can of that color and it is very attractive.

Since Heath did not prime their cabinets you MUST remove the old paint before repainting.  If you do not then there is a VERY good chance that the paint will start "flaking off".  Remove the old paint and then prime.  What I use is the Color Place gray primer that is available from WalMart for around $1.00.  That primer works as well as the more expensive primers.

For the mild "wrinkle" or "sand" finish I now use Plasti-Kote "Stone Touch" paint.  The #11444 Manhattan Mist, which is a gray, is the best of the various colors to use.  I used to use the Rust-Oleum "Stone Creations" paint but the Plasti-Kote paint works considerably better.  You need to practice on a piece of cardboard for a couple of minutes to get the texture "just right".  I normally hold the can between 12 inches and 18 inches from the surface and do short "bursts" while moving the can across the surface.  After the paint has dried for at least 15 minutes you can overspray with the desired color.  The Plasti-Kote paint is also available at WalMart.

In fact, WalMart generally has the best selection of spray cans available.  At least in the Dallas, Texas, area WalMart's selection is much greater than that at any home improvement center or any regular paint store.  In addition, their prices are considerably less for the same brands at the other stores.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Mon, 9/15/08, Wilson Lamb <infomet at EMBARQMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Wilson Lamb <infomet at EMBARQMAIL.COM>

You really DO NOT want to be involved with sprayers unless you have time on  your hands.  They are ALL relatively hard to use and B******S to clean!! Find a place that can make custom apray cans and pay whatever it costs.  Can you tell I've had some bad experiences?  There is a reason, several actually, that body work is so expensive.  And did I mention VERY toxic chemicals?


      

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