Options for touch-up paint for my cube

I finally was able to snag myself a supposedly working NeXT cube system, but it has the paint chipped off on a few of the corners.  What is the best paint people have found to use for touch up?  I found the other thread listing the specs for the original paint, but I do not need gallons of it to make it worth getting a batch mixed.  I thought about using a black marker, but as someone else pointed out earlier the case is grey, so the black would stand out.  Any suggestions?

Now all I need is for one of the two monitors I have paid for to actually arrive ....
I sure do hate ebay sometimes ... damn scammers ... and paypal is of little help  :x  :x  :x

Chef

The permanent Sharpie black markers are definitely too dark, but the pale markers made to write on CD's work ok.  I've used them mostly to darken the filler/primer that shows when the Cube paint chips.  You might be able to mix your own touch up paint from plastic model paint, maybe add a small amount of gloss white or gray to a small bottle of flat black until the color and gloss level are close.

Quote from: "Nitro"You might be able to mix your own touch up paint from plastic model paint, maybe add a small amount of gloss white or gray to a small bottle of flat black until the color and gloss level are close.

I tried that this weekend, but could seem to never get the color and the finish to match.  It was good enough for some of the small nicks, but not quite right.

Thanks for the info on the cd labeling marker, as it worked for some of the very small chips and scratches.

Chef

CD labeling marker worked like a charm for small scratches on my Cube. Thanks.

What brand of marker are you guys using? [just for future reference - no chipped paint on my cube :) ]

Quote from: "da9000"What brand of marker are you guys using? [just for future reference - no chipped paint on my cube :) ]

I'm using a Memorex CD Marker.  You have to apply it a few times to get the color close because the marker is pale compared to a Sharpie.

Quote from: "da9000"What brand of marker are you guys using? [just for future reference - no chipped paint on my cube :) ]

I used a TDK "CD MARK" marker that came with a burner I got.  It is not exact enough match to fill a large chip, as the sheen is not matte enough, but it works for the smaller ones pretty well.  I have also tried combinations of using a sharpie as the base layer, and then the TDK as the top coat.  The paint codes/mix are available, so it's possible a well stocked art store or paint shop may be able to mix up a small batch of the proper color.  This way for a badly worn cube, you could sand it down and repaint the entire thing.

Chef

I used the Memorex black marker and it matched up nicely for a small scratch

Quote from: "nextchef"The paint codes/mix are available, so it's possible a well stocked art store or paint shop may be able to mix up a small batch of the proper color.  This way for a badly worn cube, you could sand it down and repaint the entire thing.

Yeah, I saw the thread with that (was it Nitro or blackcube that did the research?), but it sounds scary for someone without painting experience.. especially the sanding part. Anyhow, I don't a problem yet, so thanks your guys' marker advice I should be able to cover up small spots for now.

Although I'd be curious to know if anyone had done a full paint-over?

Quote from: "da9000"Although I'd be curious to know if anyone had done a full paint-over?

I haven't had a chance to spray any Cubes yet, but I purchased a gallon of the original NeXT black paint from Sherwin Williams (http://www2.sherwin-williams.com/im/generalindustrial/default.asp) last September.  If I can find the time before winter hits I'll spray a Cube and see how it turns out.

NEXT BLACK... thats freaking cool!  Is it something they can still make or was this a run from the 90's?

Quote from: "neozeed"NEXT BLACK... thats freaking cool!  Is it something they can still make or was this a run from the 90's?

This is something they can still make.  It's difficult to read on the right side of the can but this batch was mixed on September 8, 2006.  I was also involved in the original NeXT paint discussion over at openstep.se.   So I contacted Sherwin Williams Industrial Coatings last year to see if I could get some of the original NeXT black paint mixed up.  I was armed with a part number that I found on Usenet.  I also brought along the Hunter Labs color spec for NeXT black paint from the NeXT Bus Specification (http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Hardware/NeXTbus-NBIC/), as well as my cleanest NeXTcube case.  When I showed the part number to the guy at the counter, the first thing he said was "This was mixed at our San Jose facility".  That seemed to agree with the burning Cube article (http://www.simson.net/hacks/cubefire.html).  (The last four digits of the part number denote the facility where the color was mixed).  They then mixed up a sample of paint based on that part number and didn't feel that the color/gloss matched.  So they followed the Hunter Labs specification and double checked it against my best NeXTcube.  As a side note, they had my Cube for more than two weeks, and every window in their facility had bars over it. :shock:   I figured that if something happened to the Cube then I would be taking one for the team. :)

I'll need to spray some of this before I would recommend it to anyone.  Also, it ain't cheap.  IIRC, the paint is ~$65.00 a gallon, and the total paint/primer/thinner/stripper package was about $285.00.  But a gallon of NeXT black should go a long way. :)

$65 a gallon? lol I guess painting the house "NeXT BLACK" is out of the question... :)

But at the same time it'll be interesting to see how it goes!

Great work Nitro! I look forward to the results!

Luke

wow, I totally missed this thread. I didn't know you had any success at getting the right paint mixture! cool :)

I need to stop and pick up a new paint spray gun, since my old spray gun is worn out.  I guess the easiest test would probably be to strip and paint a soundbox cover, since they don't seem to have any primer under the black paint.  I'll also test the paint on a Cube to see how well it works as touch-up paint.

If it works well, you could sell 2 oz "touch up" bottles to all of us to recoup some of your research investment :P

Quote from: "helf"If it works well, you could sell 2 oz "touch up" bottles to all of us to recoup some of your research investment :P

I'd have to check into the shipper's definition of "hazardous material" to see if it could be shipped.  There may also be an issue with using a proper container and proper labeling.  But I wouldn't have a problem making some touch-up bottles if those issues could be overcome.

Quote from: "Nitro"

Quote from: "neozeed"NEXT BLACK... thats freaking cool!  Is it something they can still make or was this a run from the 90's?

This is something they can still make.  It's difficult to read on the right side of the can but this batch was mixed on September 8, 2006.  I was also involved in the original NeXT paint discussion over at openstep.se.   So I contacted Sherwin Williams Industrial Coatings last year to see if I could get some of the original NeXT black paint mixed up.  I was armed with a part number that I found on Usenet.  I also brought along the Hunter Labs color spec for NeXT black paint from the NeXT Bus Specification (http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Hardware/NeXTbus-NBIC/), as well as my cleanest NeXTcube case.  When I showed the part number to the guy at the counter, the first thing he said was "This was mixed at our San Jose facility".  That seemed to agree with the burning Cube article (http://www.simson.net/hacks/cubefire.html).  (The last four digits of the part number denote the facility where the color was mixed).  They then mixed up a sample of paint based on that part number and didn't feel that the color/gloss matched.  So they followed the Hunter Labs specification and double checked it against my best NeXTcube.  As a side note, they had my Cube for more than two weeks, and every window in their facility had bars over it. :shock:   I figured that if something happened to the Cube then I would be taking one for the team. :)

I'll need to spray some of this before I would recommend it to anyone.  Also, it ain't cheap.  IIRC, the paint is ~$65.00 a gallon, and the total paint/primer/thinner/stripper package was about $285.00.  But a gallon of NeXT black should go a long way. :)

That's really cool that they still catalog the colour.  I was thinking about how I could repair some nicks in the Cube today and found this posting.  You could get reasonably rich selling us all tiny little bottles of NeXT Black from your gallon  :lol: LOL  Thanks for passing on the info.

Quote from: "Nitro"The permanent Sharpie black markers are definitely too dark, but the pale markers made to write on CD's work ok.  I've used them mostly to darken the filler/primer that shows when the Cube paint chips.  You might be able to mix your own touch up paint from plastic model paint, maybe add a small amount of gloss white or gray to a small bottle of flat black until the color and gloss level are close.

Thanks for cluing me in to InCrease for OSX.  I've installed it, and will be running it regularly for Stanford.  What a great project.

Quote from: "matthewmac66"That's really cool that they still catalog the colour.  I was thinking about how I could repair some nicks in the Cube today and found this posting.  You could get reasonably rich selling us all tiny little bottles of NeXT Black from your gallon  :lol: LOL  Thanks for passing on the info.

If the color turns out to be a good match I'll figure out a way to make and ship some touch-up bottles. :)

Quote from: "matthewmac66"Thanks for cluing me in to InCrease for OSX. I've installed it, and will be running it regularly for Stanford. What a great project.

I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

Quote from: "Nitro"

Quote from: "matthewmac66"That's really cool that they still catalog the colour.  I was thinking about how I could repair some nicks in the Cube today and found this posting.  You could get reasonably rich selling us all tiny little bottles of NeXT Black from your gallon  :lol: LOL  Thanks for passing on the info.

If the color turns out to be a good match I'll figure out a way to make and ship some touch-up bottles. :)

Quote from: "matthewmac66"Thanks for cluing me in to InCrease for OSX. I've installed it, and will be running it regularly for Stanford. What a great project.

I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

Thanks very much, Nitro :D I'm on day two of my first Folding project for them, 11% complete.  I agree, it's a great opportunity to contribute.  Distributed computing of this kind is such a wonderful benefit of the 'net.

As for the paint, I'll keep checking in.  I understand about the safety issues, we don't want to scare the hell out of our friendly UPS drivers.

Have a great weekend.

Quote from: "Nitro"

Quote from: "matthewmac66"Thanks for cluing me in to InCrease for OSX. I've installed it, and will be running it regularly for Stanford. What a great project.

I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

What is the benefit of using this as opposed to the Graphical client or the plain command line version?

Just curious

Chef

Quote from: "nextchef"

Quote from: "Nitro"

Quote from: "matthewmac66"Thanks for cluing me in to InCrease for OSX. I've installed it, and will be running it regularly for Stanford. What a great project.

I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

What is the benefit of using this as opposed to the Graphical client or the plain command line version?

Just curious

Chef

I'm using what I'm sure would be the Graphical client for OS 10.4.x.  I'm not sure about the other clients.  Nitro's undoubtedly better versed in those than I.  Using the Mac OS X graphical client, I've had no problems at all, running nearly 24 hours continuously thus far (on my Dual 867 G4 MDD).

Quote from: "nitro"
I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

That is it. I really wish people would put computing power into that and NOT seti@home. I'm building a dual p3 machine soon and I'm going to run folding@home on it when I'm not using it :)

Quote from: "helf"

Quote from: "nitro"
I'm glad that works for you.  I think the project is an important contribution to science.  I've been folding for almost two years now with five boxes.

That is it. I really wish people would put computing power into that and NOT seti@home. I'm building a dual p3 machine soon and I'm going to run folding@home on it when I'm not using it :)

A great idea.  As I add machines to my collection here, I'm going to employ them as well, including my soon-to-be-finished G4 Cube.  I'm with you, I place this at a much higher priority than Extra Terrestrials  :shock: (although I respect the ET hobbyists), especially having had cancer (and a case of Alzheimer's) in several family members.  Keep up the good work!  :D

Hmmm.... hard to get something like this over here...

Are there any specifications regarding this paint that reflect coloring systems like for example RAL? Or any other color mixing system that is used in europe nowadays?

My cube could need some painting here and there so this is why I´m asking ;-)

J

Quote from: JenneHmmm.... hard to get something like this over here...

Are there any specifications regarding this paint that reflect coloring systems like for example RAL? Or any other color mixing system that is used in europe nowadays?

My cube could need some painting here and there so this is why I´m asking ;-)

J

You may be able to find a local paint store that can custom mix the color based on the Hunterlab color standard.

http://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?topic=136

The specifications and MSDS sheet for the original paint are in the NeXTfiles archive.

http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Hardware/NeXT_Black_Paint/

Thanks once more, Nitro!

I'm going to ask my local paint dealer if mixing is possible. I think I already found a way how to preserve that light silk touch of the cube's finishing, but I will have to try it elsewhere first. I will let know of any efforts to this ;-)

J

Any good results with the paint?

Quote from: "NeXTnewbe"Any good results with the paint?

I did make it down to the local Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/) to purchase a couple of inexpensive paint spray guns, but it's been too cold here to paint.  Hopefully with spring upon us I'll be able to finally repaint a Cube.

Have you given it a try yet?

Oy!
I rummaged thru my storage bin and found a can of spray NeXT black paint produced by the
Cardinal Industrial Finishes Co.
1329 Potrero Ave
SO El Monte, CA  91733

818-444-9274
213-283-9335

This spray can was mixed for Jim Moosman, who used to be a big dealer in used NeXT gear.

Info from the can:  
A-2001-77284 Semi Gloss NeXT Dark Gray  
batch # 31751
batch date 3-96

pics upon request.  Hope this helps someone.

regards,
gregor

Quote from: "gregor"Oy!
I rummaged thru my storage bin and found a can of spray NeXT black paint produced by the
Cardinal Industrial Finishes Co.
1329 Potrero Ave
SO El Monte, CA  91733

818-444-9274
213-283-9335

This spray can was mixed for Jim Moosman, who used to be a big dealer in used NeXT gear.

Info from the can:  
A-2001-77284 Semi Gloss NeXT Dark Gray  
batch # 31751
batch date 3-96

pics upon request.  Hope this helps someone.

regards,
gregor

Small world,  I still have his personal Turbo Color Slab.  I bought it years ago. :-D  It's a great system.   I've spent many hours using it.

Has anybody here seen what a sprayed over scratch or chip on a cube looks like? I'd hate to do it then find it looks worse than the scratch or chip. I guess one could test it out on a soundbox or something first.

Nitro, have you given it a try yet?

Quote from: "pentium"Nitro, have you given it a try yet?

The paint is still in storage from when I moved, so I haven't had a chance to test it yet.   :(

Geez. I really don't want to rush you but I want to have myself get a batch mixed soon.

Quote from: "pentium"Geez. I really don't want to rush you but I want to have myself get a batch mixed soon.

been a long time since, does anyone has try this paint?

Although this thread is quite old, I'd love to see photos of how the new paint looks on a cube!

Quote from: "nex"Although this thread is quite old, I'd love to see photos of how the new paint looks on a cube!

me too!  Any updates from anyone who may have painted their NeXT equipment?  I neighbor has a paint gun, am mulling trying to get NeXT paint made up by Sherwin Williams, but would be curious to see if anyone can share their experience here.

I think Rob Blessin repaints cubes: the Turbo Dimension I sold recently was apparently repainted by him, and while it was slightly more matt than the standard paint, it looked very nice indeed.

Personally, I like my machines to be original, but when things get too far gone, I'd rather see a pristine repainted cube, than one all beat up. Interestingly enough, I recently came across some old cans of paint that were apparently used by NeXT for repainting soundboxes etc.