Paint color for old tools

[Dave Lehnert]

If a woodworker is restoring an old tool, say a Delta table saw, Powermatic planer or an 1950's Shopsmith 10 ER or the like. Should one respect the old tool by painting it to it's original color or get creative and explore other options?
I know in the end it is up to the one doing the restore but what does the woodworking community in general think about this?

[Van Huskey]

If a woodworker is restoring an old tool, say a Delta table saw, Powermatic planer or an 1950's Shopsmith 10 ER or the like. Should one respect the old tool by painting it to it's original color or get creative and explore other options?
I know in the end it is up to the one doing the restore but what does the woodworking community in general think about this?

I think that is a totally up to you kinda thing. I figure if someone brings me back from the dead they can dress me in any clothes they like!

[Darnell Hagen]

Machines aren't generally collectors items, a restored saw is going to be worth pretty much the same if it's the original colour or something different. It's your machine, it's your rules.

Within good taste, of course.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink.jpg

[Lee Koepke]

i cant recall the 'exact' gray paint I used when I fixed up my 1960s delta/rockwell TS, but I used a spray can from a big box store. The guys at OWWM.com (old wood working machines) would know better .. if they are still around.

[Brandon Weiss]

I'm a traditionalist. Go with the old paint if you can find it. I would much more like to see a restored tool that's restored to its original colors. Just my opinion but I believe restoring it to the original paint color produces a better restoration.

[Lewis Cobb]

If a woodworker is restoring an old tool, say a Delta table saw, Powermatic planer or an 1950's Shopsmith 10 ER or the like. Should one respect the old tool by painting it to it's original color or get creative and explore other options?
I know in the end it is up to the one doing the restore but what does the woodworking community in general think about this?

I guess the purists would demand that the machine be painted the original color. However, for idiots like me that like to have things color-co-ordinated, I'd take the predominant machine mfg in the shop and make 'em all that color.

I bought some new Powermatic machines a couple of years back. Playing around one week I made some color matching window valences for a laugh. They turned out so good, I made the electrical panel the same mustard/black scheme. I get a lot of chuckles when people come into the shop and see those things now. I have an old Delta drill press and combo sander that will be sporting the mustard colors when I get around to it :D. Not sure I'd paint a brand new Laguna or Hammer machine mustard, but for the old clunkers that need a new paint job anyway I'd do it.

Just my .02

Cheers from up here in Canada,
Lewis

[glenn bradley]

If you were going to go 100% stock for restoration reasons only I would try to get a very close match. If it is going to be a user and have updated guides or lights or whatever, then its game on as far as I'm concerned. . . . I didn't really care for the pink bandsaw though but, that's just me.

[Darnell Hagen]

The guys at OWWM.com (old wood working machines) would know better .. if they are still around.


You bet we're around, but you're looking for OWWM.org. This subject has been brought up a few times. The wiki there has recipies for different brand colours.

[Ramsey Ramco]

I'm a traditionalist. Go with the old paint if you can find it. I would much more like to see a restored tool that's restored to its original colors. Just my opinion but I believe restoring it to the original paint color produces a better restoration.

I agree with Brandon. I restored my Powermatic 66 found the metallic gold paint code, matched it and repainted it. it looks great, I wish I took before pictures

[Van Huskey]

Not my taste but I actually think it is pretty cool. I imagine she smiles everytime she takes a piece of wood to that saw.




http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink.jpg

[johnny means]

Machines aren't generally collectors items, a restored saw is going to be worth pretty much the same if it's the original colour or something different. It's your machine, it's your rules.

Within good taste, of course.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink.jpg


I love that saw. I am also slightly bothered by the fact that I recognize Buttercup from the Power Puff Girls.

[Dave Lehnert]

I love that saw. I am also slightly bothered by the fact that I recognize Buttercup from the Power Puff Girls.

And the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V8JgIs2d48

[Dave Cav]

I think it's actually two separate saws.

[Stephen Edwards]

Machines aren't generally collectors items, a restored saw is going to be worth pretty much the same if it's the original colour or something different. It's your machine, it's your rules.

Within good taste, of course.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink.jpg

That's what I call puttin' your money where your mouth is!! Excellent job and the Lady appears to be very happy.

[Stephen Edwards]

This is probably like the debate between old car buffs. One camp says restore it to original while the other camp says do your own thing with it. To me, it's whatever trips your trigger.

[Van Huskey]

I think it's actually two separate saws.


May be but they are both old Rockwells.

[George Sanders]

It's still a free country. Paint it whatever color you like.

[Mark Woodmark]

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I just couldnt resist. I used to kid some of my friends about how they should paint their tools pink. Never seen pink tools though....until now:D


Machines aren't generally collectors items, a restored saw is going to be worth pretty much the same if it's the original colour or something different. It's your machine, it's your rules.

Within good taste, of course.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/pink.jpg

[Jeff Duncan]

I'm with the paint it anything you like camp. The reality is most of the old machinery around is either grey or green, (if it's yellow it ain't old yet). And those colors are pretty darned boring in my humble opinion.
I would probably make an exception if it's a rare machine. Other then that go with whatever strikes you.
good luck,
JeffD

[Joe Shinall]

Do whatever. Get creative. My wife told me she wanted a faster computer a while back. So I painted the case Hemi Orange and put black racing stripes on it. Told her it had a Hemi now so it had to be fast :D

[Chip Lindley]

I NEVER lusted for a PINK bandsaw, but I chased PINK ELEPHANTS for far too many years! My favorite Dive bar was called the PINK PONY!

Later, I did lust a long time for expensive tools in Delta gray or Powermatic gold! IMHO, if one goes to great lengths to restore a quality machine, they should also respect it's heritage with the original finish. Few things bother me so much as seeing good used machinery repainted in that *Factory/School* pea green! The interior still gray or gold, but the exterior a crappy coat of brushed-on enamel! Tisk Tisk!

The same model of car or truck was offered in many different colors. But, Delta/Rockwell or Powermatic had one trademark color at a time. The machine's vintage could be discerned by it's color! I have rather a reverence for it. Other's are free to do as they wish.

[Dan Forman]

I'd say paint it anything but gray. Sorry Delta, but gray is boring.

Dan

[Matt Meiser]

I kind of like returning it to near original condition so I generally go with something close to the original color. For grey machines, I generally buy a close grey from the local hardware store in a quick-dry spray paint when I'm painting all the smaller parts. If its got a big cabinet, I'll spray that with a gun to get a better finish. For a couple Powermatic machines I had the original color matched at Sherwin Williams because I love the lighter green color.

I've been tempted to go with something else a few times but haven't yet. I have an old Duro drill press waiting in the wings that might be the one to go wild on since the original color was brown from what I understand.

[Homer Faucett]

If a woodworker is restoring an old tool, say a Delta table saw, Powermatic planer or an 1950's Shopsmith 10 ER or the like. Should one respect the old tool by painting it to it's original color or get creative and explore other options?
I know in the end it is up to the one doing the restore but what does the woodworking community in general think about this?

The definitive rule is that if you restore and repaint a tool, it MUST be redone in bubblegum pink. That way, we can tell the tools that have been 'fiddled with' over the REAL originals. ;)

Of course, I'm being silly. If you go over to OWWM, you'll see this hashed out, and there are two very distinct camps. In my book, if you're concerned about resale value, you might want to paint it as close to the original blah color it was painted from the factory (let's not start the debate about WHICH tone of gray it should be).

To me, if it's in my shop, it's a tool. I'm going to use it how I like, and I'm going to paint it how I like. So many of these machines were painted in different colors from the factory, anyhow (look at all the variations on the DeWalt Radial Arm Saws). Check out some of the resto's done by Shane Whitlock at OWWM, or several other great restorations that don't use original colors. At the end of the day, I'm not going to win any prizes for how my machines look, but I'm going to enjoy them, and that includes painting them whatever color I like!

--steps down from soapbox and kicks it back in the center of the room--

[Chen-Tin Tsai]

I would like to see a black, or dark blue cabinet saw (or a nice Bedrock 607) with flames. It's hot! :D

[Darnell Hagen]

Some machines ask for certian colours.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/134.jpg

I need to take a picture of it finished.

Can someone point me to instructions on how to post thumbnails?

[Joe Scarfo]

When i rebuilt my '53 Unisaur.... I had'er powder coated... red to match my truck... I had all the knobs and cranks chromed...

It's beautiful..

Then again, i only paid $50 for that saw and the Jet 15" planer... both were rusted hulks that ran. Given they were so cheap, I had plenty of cash to spend makin'em purtty...



Joe

[David Christopher]

I'm with the what ever color you want camp

[Van Huskey]

I would like to see a black, or dark blue cabinet saw (or a nice Bedrock 607) with flames. It's hot! :D


The wood whisperer has a flamed custom PM2000.

[Ken Shoemaker]

I think if you use the original parts and paint, THAT is called "restoration". If you changed the saws componants or color that is called "fixing". Of course the owner is free to choose whatever he wants......
Ken

[Van Huskey]

If you changed the saws componants or color that is called "fixing". Ken


Or in the auto world "restomod" .

[Shane Whitlock]

Some machines ask for certian colours.
I agree with Darnell, some machines are just dying to be painted a certain color, so from the pics below ya should be able to figure where I stand ;)
but like was said above, check out owwm.org (http://owwm.org/index.php?sid=ad793a6626912bffc104f8cf9e968ef7) where we have discussed this many time.

Here's a few of the machines I have restored ... none with original colors.

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/photo/d/1396-6/IMG_1649a.jpg

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/photo/d/2590-4/IMG_4316.jpg

http://shanewhitlock.com/photo/d/4080-2/IMG_7918.jpg

http://shanewhitlock.com/photo/d/2437-4/IMG_3735.jpg

Ya can see more of my machine restorations here
(http://shanewhitlock.com/photo/v/misc/)

[Stephen Edwards]

Beautiful machines!

[Larry Edgerton]

Color has a direct relationship to how you feel. As such you will find gray to be a depressing color, as can be witnessed by peoples attitude when there are several overcast days in a row, something we here in Michigan have to deal with often.

When I redo machines I don't worry about the original color, I think about what color would make the day in the shop seem more cheery. I am refurbishing a Walker Turner drill press right now and it will not be gray. I have a dado machine that is red, and my big Delta band saw will probably be yellow when I paint it.

My new shop will have brightly colored walls, maybe even a rainbow stripe around the top.:)

There is much written on how color can affect our moods, and I see no reason to not use that in the shop as well as our homes. Some colors would be too hard to keep looking good in a wood shop, say black for instance, so that is a consideration.

Yes, I know black is not a color......

[Joseph Tarantino]

all i can say, shane, is ............WOW! those may not be original colors, but they are really well restored machines. beautiful, absolutely beautiful.