TO PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT? THAT IS THE QUESTION
THIS IS A BENCH TOP SLOTTING MACHINE MARKETED IN THE UK AS THE "ASTRA" AND WAS MADE IN ITALY SHOWN HERE DISMANTLED READY TO BE REFURBISHED AND BEGIN A NEW LIFE.
ON INSPECTION OF THE PARTS, THIS MACHINE SEEMS TO BE WELL MADE AND WORTH RESTORING. IT`S A PITY ABOUT THE PAINTWORK, SOMEONE HAS JUST SPLASHED SOME CHEAP EMULSION PAINT OVER IT AND MADE IT LOOK WORSE THAN IT IS. |
LIKE ALL THINGS IN LIFE THERE`S A DIFFERENT OPINION FROM EVERY DERRIERE THAT SITS ON A CHAIR!
MY OPINION IS THAT BADLY CHOSEN PAINTWORK AND COLOURS CAN MAKE A NICE MACHINE LOOK AWFUL. THE MACHINE TOOL MANUFACTURERS CHOSE LIGHT BLUE AND GREEN COLOURS WHICH ARE WELL KNOWN TO HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON THE MOOD OF THE MACHINE OPERATORS.
MY OPINION IS THAT BADLY CHOSEN PAINTWORK AND COLOURS CAN MAKE A NICE MACHINE LOOK AWFUL. THE MACHINE TOOL MANUFACTURERS CHOSE LIGHT BLUE AND GREEN COLOURS WHICH ARE WELL KNOWN TO HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON THE MOOD OF THE MACHINE OPERATORS.
PAINTING MACHINES IS AN ART JUST LIKE SPRAYING A CAR. THE CASTINGS HAVE TO BE SMOOTHED DOWN,THE INDENTATIONS FILLED WITH FILLER, THEN THE UNDERCOATS AND FINALLY A COUPLE OF TOPCOATS ALL OF WHICH HAVE TO RUBBED DOWN WITH WET AND DRY PAPER TO PRODUCE THAT LOVELY FINISH.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR A WELL PRESENTED MACHINE, THESE USUALLY SELL FOR MORE MONEY THAN A DOWN AT HEEL LOOKING ONE THAT PROBABLY IS JUST AS GOOD. THAT`S THE REASON WHY A CERTAIN HOBBY MACHINE TOOL DEALER DOES TOUCH UP THE PAINTWORK AND IN SOME CASES WILL COMPLETELY REPAINT A MACHINE IF IT IS ONE OF THE MORE DESIRABLE ONES AND YOU SHOULD SEE THE PRICES THAT THEY CHARGE!.
DYED IN THE WOOL MACHINE ENTHUSIASTS WILL BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT MACHINES IN THE INDUSTRIAL RANGE THAT LOOK AS NEW, AS THESE TYPE OF MACHINES ARE USUALLY FITTED WITH COOLANT AND USED EVERY DAY WHICH TENDS TO WEAR AWAY THE PAINT ON THE SUDS TRAY. THE AMOUNT OF PAINT DAMAGE AND EROSION IN THIS AREA WILL GIVE A CLUE AS TO THE AMOUNT OF USE THAT THE MACHINE HAS HAD.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR A WELL PRESENTED MACHINE, THESE USUALLY SELL FOR MORE MONEY THAN A DOWN AT HEEL LOOKING ONE THAT PROBABLY IS JUST AS GOOD. THAT`S THE REASON WHY A CERTAIN HOBBY MACHINE TOOL DEALER DOES TOUCH UP THE PAINTWORK AND IN SOME CASES WILL COMPLETELY REPAINT A MACHINE IF IT IS ONE OF THE MORE DESIRABLE ONES AND YOU SHOULD SEE THE PRICES THAT THEY CHARGE!.
DYED IN THE WOOL MACHINE ENTHUSIASTS WILL BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT MACHINES IN THE INDUSTRIAL RANGE THAT LOOK AS NEW, AS THESE TYPE OF MACHINES ARE USUALLY FITTED WITH COOLANT AND USED EVERY DAY WHICH TENDS TO WEAR AWAY THE PAINT ON THE SUDS TRAY. THE AMOUNT OF PAINT DAMAGE AND EROSION IN THIS AREA WILL GIVE A CLUE AS TO THE AMOUNT OF USE THAT THE MACHINE HAS HAD.
ABOVE ARE THE LATEST PHOTOS OF THE SLOTTING MACHINE. I HAD DECIDED TO STRIP THE PAINT OFF THIS MACHINE AND REPAINT IT. USING PAINT STRIPPER I REMOVED THE AWFUL EMULSION PAINT AND THEN THE NEXT BLUE LAYER TO REVEAL THE ORIGINAL GREY / GREEN PAINT WHICH STILL HAD THE FACTORY IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS STENCILLED ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE COLUMN.
THE PAINT CONDITION IS REASONABLE SO THAT I WON`T BE BOTHERING TO REPAINT NOW.
THE PAINT CONDITION IS REASONABLE SO THAT I WON`T BE BOTHERING TO REPAINT NOW.
IN PROGRESS