phoenix2013 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I have a very patient and determined customer who ordered his ET way before my operations. In our discussions and emails I learned that he has a very nice MDT which is painted in dark silver metalflake. I don't even remember how the subject came out but it revolved around matching the ET color to the truck. Since I became a fairly good "amateur paint expert (not)" when it comes to industrial paints and painting I said, let's give it a shot. Since I have locomotion again in the new knees, today was the day the ET was finished (couple of months late, as I said this customer is "underdtanding ). Since this forum is about learning, here's a lesson: I said sure, let's give it a try, besides it will be a fun projects, I wasn't laughing by the end of the process. Standard (black) paint on the ETs is epoxy primer followed by polyurethane gloss top coat, both are industrial products from Sherwood Williams. A local store carries these for me which I buy at a hefty industrial discount. We explored silver together, no can do, they only carry these in two standard colors, black and white. I pointed to the brochure on their polyurethanes which show a multitude of colors and said that having white probably indicates that it's also a tint base. The locall guys said, they tint other paints, but only certain outfits have the tints and computer to do the polyurethanes and epoxies. I asked, "where should such an outfit be"? They said, "Fort Pierce" which is the next town over. I visited the Fort Pierce store and looking at the tints in the brochure and the pictures of the truck we determined that a "nickel" color would be the best match, a gallon of epoxy and a gallon of poly were mixed and the hitch parts were painted. The results were far less than satisfactory once the paint set, I sent the small part to customer and he agreed. Back to Sherwood Williams and they felt very bad. Looking at the brochure again we realized we screwed up, we didn't spot a tint sample in the corned that plainly said silver and looked like silver. I said "what about that one"? They said, "we don't mix that one" it only come from the factory". I said, "go get it". They went on a corporate search, discovered that it only comes in a four gallon kits and that only one store in the country (someplace in mid-west) had a kit. Buying four gallons, when I only need about a quart per hitch didn't seem very attractive. A local Dupont outfit could supply Imron in any imaginable color in the $300-500 PER QUART PRICE! No wonder the car insurance is so high. Didn't like that solution at that price. So a serious Google search was initiated, guess what Amazon came through. I was intrigued when I came across this stuff and the color choices. I purchased a gallon of pewter silver and repainted all the hitch parts again (just before my operations), sample was sent to the customer who indicated that it was a perfect match. This stuff is tricky, very tough paint and note it's 8:1 ratio, very aggressive polyurethane. The pot life in our 90 degrees Florida humid weather was about half an hour. By the way the colors you see above are only some of their paints, they also have all kinds of neat pearl paints, etc. Live and learn, I still have about three quarters of a gallon left, anyone for a silver hitch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hone eagle Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Henry when ever I work with two part paints in the heat I pre chill both components (bar fridge) , do not leave the mix in 'her' fridge between coats. Brushes and rollers too if multiple coats. 2005 volvo 670 freedomline singledNewmar Torrey Pine 34rskswoot woot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 LOL, Henry I just bought 2 gallons of Imron for our truck as it was the only way to match the paint. I did get a good deal on it (if paying that much is a good deal) and bought it for what the local truck centers pay for it (and less than your quote). The best thing about Imron though is that it sprays out best at 85 to 95 degrees and has a 3-4 hour pot life at that temp. The local paint rep said most of the local guys will set the cans out in the sun to warm the paint up before they start shooting it. It does take a bit longer to dry but once it does, Imron is a super paint that is resistant to almost everything. I think it goes by Axalta now instead of Dupont but the Imron Elite is the same paint as most of the HDT OEM's use on their assembly lines. 2017 Kenworth T6802015 DRV 38RSSA Elite Suites2016 Smart Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I think (bad idea sometimes) that the Restoration Shop brand is a TCP family product. They have a great line of paints in the airbrush world of detailing cars, boats, etc. Last boat I painted 4 years ago was painted with the PPG Deltron system. I think we had somewhere around $3500 in paint and clearcoat alone. Nice stuff, but it really makes you feel bad for trashing a cup or two. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 If memory serves me right (the paint is not here) it says TCP on it. My experience with the epoxies goes back to early 70s when we rebuilt the Stinson and started to prep the fuselage for the paint. My partner was a chief design engineer on a project that I worked on in a very large company (over 1,000 employees). Bill was quite a character, we became lifelong friends and he had fun teaching "the young pup" tricks of the trade. Being a chief designer he was constantly besieged by outside salespeople and he could get "samples" of anything. Of course I was at that time not yet "seasoned" and unaware of the value of skilfully used BS. Bill told me "watch this"! Since the airplane was going to be finished around US Bicentennial we decided on red, white and blue. Bill first called US Paint, the makers of Awlgrip and gave them a line on considering using epoxy on the scientific plasma machines we were developing. They asked, "how much would you like Mr. H...."? Bill not being shy suggested "a gallon, these are good size units and chassis" (they were). Soon after a gallon of white and gallon of proper epoxy primer arrived from US Paint. But Bill still had a problem, the red and a blue, couldn't go to the same well, but there was Dupont, who not wanting to be outdone, was coming out with Imron. They turned out to be cheap skates and gallon of each was not gonna happen, but we got a quart of each, which was OK, it was enough to do the striping. The gallon of Awlgrip was enough to do the fuselage, but we had to get another gallon (and primer) to do the wings, ouch. Those paints even then were setting the standards for stratospheric paint pricing, close to a $100 bucks a gallon. That was a lot of money in the early 70s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mdonewiththis forum Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 IF only I had my truck I would certainly be interested in a silver hitch! Hopefully next spring......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 IF only I had my truck I would certainly be interested in a silver hitch! Hopefully next spring......... I have enough left for three hitches, you could be still in luck next spring, providing there is no problem with the shelf life on this stuff, once opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve from SoCal Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 If you have argon for welding, open the cans and purge the atmosphere in them. That will greatly improve the shelf life, keeping them in the fridge is also a great help. Steve 2005 Peterbilt 387-112 Baby Cat 9 speed U-shift 1996/2016 remod Teton Royal Atlanta 1996 Kentucky 48 single drop stacker garage project Pulls like a train, sounds like a plane....faster than a Cheetah sniffin cocaine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Henry, Shucks how about just plating my basic hitch in 24K gold......the pin latches plasma spray in zirconium......and the radiation treat the release handle in .....unobtanium.... Likely the above combo is cheeeeper than the latest paint combos..... Drive on..........(Why all the Brinks armored-trucks hanging around the.....paint store) 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Dolly, posting pictures in the forum to "explain things" can be a source of depression. Particularly if one has to go to archives to search for things. Realizing in the span of two pictures, that one has gone from young and handsome to old and decrepit. Old age sucks and it's certainly not golden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Dolly, posting pictures in the forum to "explain things" can be a source of depression. Particularly if one has to go to archives to search for things. Realizing in the span of two pictures, that one has gone from young and handsome to old and decrepit. Old age sucks and it's certainly not golden. Well Henry........I have to agree that the "human-machine" tends to hit a few pot-holes in the road to old age........taking care of my memory-loss mom-n-law has been a real "education"...... "in-old-age-gone-BAD". Then you post a couple of images of the timeless clean lines of the Stinson's and for some time I feel a lot younger..........until mom need help going to the bathroom...... Just looking at the Stinson images you recall when machines were ..........elegant, proudly designed and dripped with class........that "Golden Aged". I sometimes look back at the folks and machines of my past and can only wonder how a hick like me could have flown/ driven, sailed, navigated so many stunning machines and shared time with such classy folks.........I am sure you pinch yourself and wonder how we got this far.......what a trip...... Drive on...........(Enjoy the......ride) 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Yes, the journey has been magnificent and arriving at the old age well worn out was well worth it! Also, thank the Lord for modern medicine and Medicare. My mother in law just hit 100 and the limited capabilities are putting strain on my DW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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