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Thread: Exact paint color

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Exact paint color

    Is there a list someplace, of what the correct color of different reloading tools are painted?????
    Like what would be the exact name of the Lyman orange 55 powder measure.
    The RCBS press green.
    Potters blue.
    And the rest of them.

  2. #2
    Boolit Bub
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    If you have a big enough sample of the colors you want most larger auto body shops have a camera to identify colors, also the paint supply places for automotive paint will usually have an extensive paint chip book you could match up to. Ive never tried to match those specific colors but our local auto parts store sells paint and I have had them match a few oddball projects over the years. hope this helps.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    The problem with, say, RCBS is that the green has changed a little from one tool to the next.
    "There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something."
    ~Thorin Oakenshield

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Most manufacturers arnt all that fussy about exact shades and they do change over time with different suppliers and specs. I read some where that Oliver used 6-8 different shades of green for their tractors over the years. Same with International.

    The color match camera is the best bet. Most paint shops have them now. Scan into the computer and it tells you the exact mix for it.A lot of the paint supply houses have the means to do this. Nit as chap as an off the shelf color though.

  5. #5
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    BigAlofPa.'s Avatar
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    I touched up some scratches on my one 1911. The advance auto store had a match. In the touch up paint area. Click image for larger version. 

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    One round at a time.
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  6. #6
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    If the paint has faded, refresh the area to be photographed at the paint store with WD-40.
    HOLLYWOOD Collector Left hawg 405#, right one 315#, had my elderly neighbors granddaughter treed and why I got the call. Both charged, one from 20' and one from 40'. Thanks to the good Lord and Samuel Colt I won. May God bless our Lawmen & Soldiers!

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by wc870 View Post
    If you have a big enough sample of the colors you want most larger auto body shops have a camera to identify colors, also the paint supply places for automotive paint will usually have an extensive paint chip book you could match up to. Ive never tried to match those specific colors but our local auto parts store sells paint and I have had them match a few oddball projects over the years. hope this helps.
    If you are really serious, this is the way ^^^^.

    or you can go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick out a color that pleases you. There is nothing that says a given brand of Reloading press has to be painted the color it came with. Use your imagination.

    I have refinished lots of Reloading tools. And I can assure that they all looked good after I got done..

    I got all the paint at Lowes or my Local True Value Hardware Store.. Rustoleum good! Sky Blue Hammertone and Emerald Hammertone. Both are very close to the original factory colors. Not exact but certainly passable and a helluva alot better than it looked before.

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  8. #8
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    Mal Paso's Avatar
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    Caterpillar has very tight specs on paint but most companies don't. Their touch up paint matches but was $20 a can a few years ago. I've seen several shades of RCBS Green.
    Mal

    Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.

  9. #9
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Wayne View Post
    If the paint has faded, refresh the area to be photographed at the paint store with WD-40.
    Oh,,, no,,,,, take 'em the real thing.

    After working at a auto paint store for 25 years:

    I'd have people come in, bring a picture, or page from a magazine to get matched.
    It never came out right for them. The picture is always different.
    Think of it like wearing sunglasses, match the color, go put it on, and then look at your project.

    People that insisted on it, I'd tell 'em, "OK, you look through the books, you pick what ya think is perfect,
    I'll make it, and you live with it. When it doesn't match, and it won't....... don't bring it back".
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
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  10. #10
    Boolit Mold thorswhisper's Avatar
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    The main obstacles to painting cast equipment are many. The biggest is how much money do you want to spend. Most of the manufacturers really didnt care about the quality or longevity of the paint used, much less the time spent to prep it properly. Matching paint at an automotive store will be EXPENSIVE. The proper procedure for applying paint once all the old paint has been removed (Blasted- Vapor honing highly recommended) is to clean the metal thoroughly, apply an etching primer (at minimum) scuff sand then applly the color paint. After considering all this I resolved to use a hammertone type of paint made by Hammerite. No priming, just one heavy coat and its done. The rustoleum hammertone is close but not nearly as good. Limited colors but a very nice paint at a very minimal cost.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I called Lyman and asked about possibly obtaining some of their orange paint or even powder coat. I was given the name and phone number of the gentleman that they refer all refinishing to. I called and spoke to him and he told me “ I get all my colors from the spray can Isle at Walmart”! And no I didn’t save his name and phone number so no reason to.
    Long, Wide, Deep, and Without Hesitation!

  12. #12
    Boolit Mold thorswhisper's Avatar
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    Dillon Blue is proprietary to just Dillon. Its a powder coat that the distributor of that color will not sell you. It is NOT Ford Blue.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy para45lda's Avatar
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    You could try their marketing department and ask for the PMS colors they use for printing and advertising. There are paint calculators to get the specs you want.
    If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.
    SASS 17373
    Proud Dad of a USAF Airman

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
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    I took a Dillon blue die box to Home Depot and had some paint matched. It was for my version of a strong mount in wood. I bought a sample so it was only like $4

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by abunaitoo View Post
    Is there a list someplace, of what the correct color of different reloading tools are painted?????
    Like what would be the exact name of the Lyman orange 55 powder measure.
    The RCBS press green.
    Potters blue.
    And the rest of them.
    For that one, it is PMS 131 according to Lyman. Good luck finding it in affordable quantities. About 10 years ago or so, I was refinishing a Lyman Tru Line Jr. and wanted to paint it with the correct color. When I discovered the price, I just bought a can of Rustoleum Real Orange 2X that came close and called it good.

    There is a Rustoleum green that is real close to the old RCBS green, the name escapes me at the moment, it may be Safety Green but I'm not positive and it is a bit glossier then the original. I refinished a Rock Chucker with it and side by side to my with my other old RC, it looks real close. As someone else posted, they also have a Hammered Green that is quite close to the "new" RCBS green.
    The others you mention, I haven't a clue.

    Except for Lyman, any of the other companies I have contacted would not tell me the exact color.
    When it's time to fight, you fight like you are the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark.... and brother, it's STARTING TO RAIN!!

  16. #16
    Boolit Mold thorswhisper's Avatar
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    There is an exact match for Hornady in Rustoleum. I just forget the shade. Cant be more than about two or three.

  17. #17
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    If you paint the entire tool, I don’t see why you need to spend a lot to get a perfect color match. Just be careful the base of the paint is compatible with what you have.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy HP9MM's Avatar
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    I spoke with RCBS about their green color. The person said to use "Antique Green".
    I think I see a rip in the social fabric, Brother can you spare some ammo?
    Corb Lund

  19. #19
    Boolit Master BigEyeBob's Avatar
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    I used Hemi Orange to paint my old Lyman 45 lube sizer, pretty close ..

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    the original colors are nice but me, ive gotten used to late model rust,
    let us know what paint you end up with
    have you tried an auto refinishing supply store, I'm sure they could mix something up if they don't have a duplicolor spray can, but you would probably have to use at least activator/hardner and maybe reducer.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check