Craftsman machine colors through the years

[ndfan6464]

So I am sure this has been talked about a thousand times but I can't seem to find a thread that talks about it. So I'll ask.

Craftsman machines in the following years what colors where they? I've got some that I am restoring and want to get the color right. Thank you

1930
1940
1950

 

[jakemac]

Off the top of my head :

1930's - deep Blue (early tools may have been gray ????)
early to mid- 1940's - deep Blue
post-war 1940's to early 1950's - dark Gray
mid 1950's - medium Gray
late 1950's to very early 1960's - Power Bronze
After early 1960's to early 1980's - various shades of gray
1980's - Black

With overlaps and exceptions throughout the decades.
As with almost all brands, the exact shades are proprietary and won't be found off the shelf.
You may need to settle for "close enough".

 

[ndfan6464]

That's perfect!! Thank you. Definitely going to write these down so I don't forget..

 

[ndfan6464]

VM has a wiki page for Craftsman paint color matching.

http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/PaintColorsCraftsman.ashx

I've never tried any of these, so I can't comment on how close these are.

Thank you sir for the link. I have seen this page before and I have it saved as a reference. It just lacked the date ranges of those colors. The only one I have used is the krylon blue and it was close but as the page says not perfect. The closest match I've found is ACE hardware brand Royal blue and I feel it sets better then Krylon at least down here in the South where it's very humid.

 

[6PTsocket]

So I am sure this has been talked about a thousand times but I can't seem to find a thread that talks about it. So I'll ask.

Craftsman machines in the following years what colors where they? I've got some that I am restoring and want to get the color right. Thank you

1930
1940
1950

I have a 103.xxxx jointer and it is POWER BRONZE. A cast part broke and I was lucky enough to find a replacement on ebay but it was GRAY so even around the same time period, different colors were used. I don't know what year POWER BRONZE was discontinued. I don't think a lot of tool manufacturers go too crazy matching exact shades. They were not catering to the restoration market and were only concerned with functuonal tool. It is not a car. I have a Delta Rockwell band saw. I have a quart of OEM factory gray paint and I had to buy a large sheet metal piece when I rebuilt it. None of the three is an exact match to the others. Unless you have a complete original machine a match is unlikely. One alternative is a complete repaint. Then any slight differences from the original will not be noticed. The other is to take a sample to the paint store and get it computer matched. Even then, with a different paint formulation it will still look a little different.


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[pendragon1998]

I used XO-rust bronze for the power bronze on my grinder. Check it out here:
My blog

 

[ndfan6464]

I have a 103.xxxx jointer and it is POWER BRONZE. A cast part broke and I was lucky enough to find a replacement on ebay but it was GRAY so even around the same time period, different colors were used. I don't know what year POWER BRONZE was discontinued. I don't think a lot of tool manufacturers go too crazy matching exact shades. They were not catering to the restoration market and were only concerned with functuonal tool. It is not a car. I have a Delta Rockwell band saw. I have a quart of OEM factory gray paint and I had to buy a large sheet metal piece when I rebuilt it. None of the three is an exact match to the others. Unless you have a complete original machine a match is unlikely. One alternative is a complete repaint. Then any slight differences from the original will not be noticed. The other is to take a sample to the paint store and get it computer matched. Even then, with a different paint formulation it will still look a little different.


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I definitely understand that I wouldn't be able to get an exact match and Craftsman, I am learning the more I do, they overlapped with a lot of things (badges, colors etc).

It's the OCD in me and the drive to bring these machines as close as i possibly can back to OEM..

I never thought about trying a paint shop and having them do their thing to try and match the color. I'll have to try that with some Craftsman "Alien" planers I am going to be working on

 

[ndfan6464]

I used XO-rust bronze for the power bronze on my grinder. Check it out here:
My blog

Nice write up you did and that stand came out awesome looking. Where did you get the paint?

 

[jakemac]

Where did you get the paint?

XO-Rust is True Value's house brand version of Rustolium. If your local True Value doesn't stock that color, they should be able to order it from the warehouse on their next delivery. The model# is XOP32, the sku# is 125798. A case is 6 cans. (I was a buyer at one of the stores for 7yrs, it's crazy the things that get stuck in your head)

 

[ndfan6464]

Hahaha that's funny. I know the feeling. My head is full of useless knowledge...lol

Thank you for the info on the paint.. I'll have to go and check out a true value and see if I can get some

 

[6PTsocket]

The Vintage Machinery site suggests Rustoleum Chamoagne Mist metallic as a replacement for Power bronze. Has anyone compared it to XO as a best match?

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