Newsletter November 2014

At the beginning of October I thought that since Halloween was coming it would be nice to include a little treat with your orders. It seems the fruit flavored “tootsie rolls” were well received! We’ve had lots of responses on the candy and why we did it. We did it because I thought it was a cool idea, however, I am not the originator …..here’s how it all happened.

When I was in the printing industry in Los Angeles California, there was tons of printing ink companies to choose from. One of them decided to put a hand full of Tootsie Rolls in all out going orders as an advertising gimmick. Now although we all had our favorite printing ink (mine was “Sinclair & Valentine”) everybody ordered “Gans” ink, if for no other reason than to get stocked up on Tootsie Rolls…….me included! Several years ago I read an article that mentioned the Gans ink company as the largest purchaser of Tootsie Rolls in the country, and I believe it because I’ve worked on printing presses in several states and always see their ink in the shop. So, there it is, I stole the idea! Not that it makes The Paint Spot any better than the others, but it’s simply a nice gesture and an inexpensive way of saying thank you for your order.

Now, since I’m telling the story about Gans ink, I have to mention that when I was about 6 years old, I remember hanging out at my step fathers news paper shop, “The Terra Bella News”. Us kids used to be there a lot, because we got dropped off from school at the shop and invariably, got put to work. I remember what seemed like forever, hand turning the flywheel on an old “Chandler & Price” Platen Letter Press while the old man was hand feeding business cards. But my favorite thing to do was to dig the ink out of the can because there was a silver Morgan Dollar in the bottom! I can’t remember if the ink was “Gans” or “Flint”, but one thing’s for sure…..The Paint Spot won’t be handing out Morgan Dollars any time soon! I do think however, that we’re going to continue the Tootsie Rolls

Ok, so last month I spent some time on matching color, and specifically the way “We” do it. I knew at the time that I was running the risk of creating a situation that I really wouldn’t know how to handle……..and I did!

The situation I’m referring to is the chip cabinet itself. I mentioned that the one we religiously use is the Matrix selector that has been discontinued, and that’s the problem……it’s discontinued!!!!! I have asked everyone I know to see if any can be had from anywhere. I have offered to buy them, no matter what the condition or how much of it was still intact………NOTHING! I’ve been all over Craig’s list and EBAY and there is zero results. This cabinet unfortunately got discontinued before anyone fully knew how to use it. That’s the bad news. The good news is “maybe”, just “maybe” it can return! In the meantime I am working on a possible “spectrum sorted” selector from a competitor that might suffice…..I’ll keep ya’ll posted. Until then, I will use ours to match any color any of you need, and there will be no additional charge for doing so. This should ease the minds of anyone that thinks I just don’t want you having the ability that we have. There’s at least twenty of you Paint Spot customers that have those cabinets, and not one of you had to pay for them. I purposely put them in your hands for two reasons #1, to give you the ability to get exactly what you needed when you needed it. #2, to put the responsibility of color match in “your” hands, not “someone else’s”. Trust me, if I had my way everyone who uses Matrix paint and deals with The Paint Spot would have one, and I would make it my personal business to teach you how to use it!

There are potentially, some other options. A PPG variance deck can be used by subtracting 105 from the PPG formula number. The number you come up with can yield you a Matrix formula. Also, any other paint system whose selector system can reference an OEM code can be used. If you have any of these old systems in your shop, don’t throw them away. Even if you don’t have the supporting data base to cross it to an OEM code, many of the companies have “on line” formula retrieval, and that can get you a code, and if you have that code it can be mixed in Matrix!

On the other hand, we have Northstar that has done an excellent job of developing selectors for their paint line. This system already has a wide variety of solids, and I am told that the metalics will be released right after the SEMA show. As soon as they are available, all of our Northstar users will receive a set…..FREE! I consider it “Cost of doing business”, so I pay for them. I believe that to set you up with our paint and not provide you with the necessary tools to “Fully” utilize the system is absolutely PETTY and STUPID! I also feel that I’m the only jobber in the country that fully understands the importance of doing this……..maybe that’s about to change!

Here’s to you guys at Matrix: Did you hear what I just said? If you were to re-introduce the chip cabinet, you have my word that “every one who gets a Matrix system from us will have a cabinet, including all the ones that already have a system that didn’t come with that cabinet! You have my word on that, and I’ll even put it in writing!!!!

Within 1 hour of sending out last months newsletter, I got requests for Pantone colors. Weird how that happened, but apparently me writing about it struck a note. We mixed several PMS colors in October, most were Northstar, which we already had formulas for in their data base, and a few were Matrix. I called Matrix first to see if they had any crossovers to Pantone, and they did not. I then went to the obsolete chip cabinet, and low and behold………YES THEY DID! “S” = Solid colors. “M” = Metallic colors. “I” = Interior colors. “U” = Underhood colors. “A” = Accent colors. Because Matrix is so versatile, it doesn’t matter what the original intent of the color was, it can be mixed in virtually any paint type. Some of the PMS colors needed to be base coat, and others needed to be single stage. To get the match, I found them in “S”, “I”, and “U”, and made only slight modifications to those formulas to match the PMS color. I’ve also, many times, used a metallic formula to get a solid, and vice versa. Two “Imron Elite” colors actually had to be matched using the Matrix selector, Matrix toners, AND Northstar coarse metallic (SHS-15)! I know you Matrix readers are going to freak out when you read that, but trust me, that was the only way to get close to the Dupont metallic effect. I am not advocating mixing different mfg’s. chemistry, but you refinishers and jobbers need to have options, and isn’t it nice to know that between Northstar and Matrix you can target both PPG and Dupont!

For those of you that are convinced that matching color the way we do it is “archaic” and are more in favor of technology such as the “spectrophotometer”……..try telling that to “John Mchenry” from “Mchenry Auto Customs”. He recently had a color matched by TASCO using their handy dandy techno toy, while we cleaned up their mess with our Matrix selector cabinet………which took us all of 10 minutes! The color that TASCO came up with was so far off, it defied logic!

While I’m talking about Mchenry, I’d like to take the time to welcome him aboard as one of our latest Paint Spot customers! This guy is one of “those guys”, in that, he builds and paints the most awesome cars around, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s a straight shooter! All he ever asked of his suppliers was to be the same, and what he got was “opportunism”! John called us and was interested in using Matrix. I don’t know what he heard about us, but I do know that he was inspired by the TV show “Counting Cars” and Danny’s preferred use of Matrix. In speaking with John he was really concerned about material cost, but not at the sacrifice of quality. I went out to his shop and immediately noticed all the 3M brand name materials and a PPG mixing bank. Instantly, I knew the problem and smelled opportunism….big time! John does custom cars and restoration. Why would any honest individual with even an ounce of integrity put a basic DBC mixing bank in that shop? Answer: Because they could care less about his profit (or lack of), and because they had zero integrity! I am all about putting a system in our customers shops, but not that kind of shop! By the time they replenish all the toners it takes to mix those quantities, he would have been money ahead to buy mixed paint from a jobber, and that’s exactly what was happening! Not only that, but the toners he needed to make the older colors, PPG had made obsolete, and no longer had………he needed MSB & MPB both. As far as materials were concerned, we changed him over to Roberlo, and SIA. Here’s his comments: “we love the Roberlo body filler and will use it from now on”, “we tried the SIA 80 grit and one sheet after using it on a large area is still good, we thought the price was exactly the same as the 3M, but then noticed your box has 100 pcs and 3M was 50, this stuff is great”! FYI: He was using the top of the line 3M purple!

Well John, you are learning that The Paint Spot rolls a little bit different from the rest. We constantly try alternative products and refuse to be a “slave” to anyone. If our suppliers have a good product at a good price we try it at Slix, if it works and is consistent, we sell it. If not, then we won’t……it’s as simple as that!

WELCOME ABOARD…… “McHenry Auto Customs” in Lexington Texas! If you’re looking to get a “Bad Ass” ride put together, modified, or restored call “John McHenry” at (512) 273-0163. You’ll be impressed!

VOTE! Not just any vote will do either. If you fancy yourself as a “free thinker” and one who thinks all politicians are on the take, you’re not alone. But realize this, if you vote “independent” or “libertarian”, or whatever else sounds cool, you’re voting for a Democrat! Eventually there probably will be a viable third party, but that time is not now! Right now you need to vote REPUBLICAN…..PERIOD!

I have gone to extremes to know how a Liberal can think the way they do. I’ve noticed that they have zero facts to support they’re statements. They are also “selective” in they’re sense of Liberalism. They “take” what is “given”, but they don’t “give”. Simply put, this defines them as “hypocrites”….how can they claim to be liberal if they don’t give? Doesn’t sound so “Liberal” to me!

Think of this: “Conservative” in vote AND elected expectations / “Liberal” in life!

Spend our tax dollars wisely. Get the most bang for our bucks. Get off our back. Lose the political correctness. Put God back where he belongs “above all things”. Then, to “give back”, be “Liberal” at our level!

There is a place for Liberal and Conservative, but there is also a “Sequence”, and right now it’s ass backwards! Don’t let your heart do the thinking when you cast your vote, use common sense and facts. Vote “Republican” and don’t forget to “give back”!

Thanks to TV hits Overhaulin’, Monster Garage, Sunset Tan, Pimp My Ride, Trick My Truck, American Chopper, and others, interest in learning how to airbrush has reached a fever pitch. And there’s no better place to learn how to airbrush than at the intensive Airbrush Getaway Workshops, produced by Airbrush Action magazine.

In its 25th year, the Airbrush Getaway Workshops will be staged at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel, Monday, February 23 through Friday, February 27.

The internationally esteemed Airbrush Getaway workshop program is perfect for beginning to advanced artists who seek to learn new skills or take their art to professional levels.

All of the one-day introductory courses will take place on Monday, and are designed to prepare you for the following four-day all-hands-on seminars:

All courses are conducted by some of the top talent in the world, including Terry Hill, Javier Soto, Jonathan Pantaleon, Glen Weisgerber, Gary Worthington, Dru Blair, Rod Fuchs, Troy Pierce, Steve DeMan, and many others.

The Airbrush Getaway, sponsored by Createx, Iwata-Medea, Anest Iwata, Artool, FBS Tape, and Silentair Compressors, has launched many careers, teaching its students how to profit handsomely in art even in spite of one’s self-perceived artistic limitations. A comment echoed by many Getaway alumni is that more is learned in four days at a Getaway than in four years in college.

Joe Stanford, a Getaway alumnus from Grass Lake, Michigan, thought he had finally reached airbrush nirvana. “One day you see a celebrity artist in Airbrush Action magazine, and the next day he’s looking over your shoulder helping you! That’s priceless. A lot of people might be leery of attending a Getaway because they don’t know anyone, but it’s like you’re a part of this huge family as soon as you walk in. There are no clicks or egos. I loved the Murals class. Where else can you find all this amazing talent under one roof?”

Nicholas DelGrado, of Sanford, Florida, adds, “It was great to experience the huge pool of talent from all over the country. This is better than college because it’s geared toward exactly what I do (skulls and flames); in college you have to extrapolate bits and pieces that apply to you, and that can represent a lot of sorting.” When asked if he’d recommend the class to someone else, Mr. DelGrado responded, “Oh my god, did you see what one student did who never used an airbrush before? In the course of only four days he turned out a piece of art that was really exceptional. I would absolutely recommend that someone take an Airbrush Getaway”

Seven-time alum Shena King, of Hanson, Idaho, still benefits from the Getaway. “There’s so much information. The instructors don’t hold anything back and offer everything they know. A Getaway is absolutely the best way to learn to airbrush. Learning on your own can be so difficult because there are too many little secrets that they teach you here that would take forever to learn on your own; and much of it comes on the first day!”

Curt Bacon, of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, echoed many of the students’ sentiment. “I’ve been painting for 20 years and this class has taken me to the next level. The murals course is well, well worth the money. The instructors tell you everything they know.”

Pinstriping is another course that’s a proven hit. “It was interesting,” observed Terry Hill, “to see the strong response to the one- and four-day Pinstriping classes featuring Glen Weisgerber, a remarkable veteran talent. This is the first non-airbrush course ever offered at a Getaway, and I’m impressed with its success.”

“I really enjoyed watching the progress of the students,” said pinstriping master Weisgerber. “It energizes me to think that I can impart knowledge that has taken me nearly 40 years to learn, in a concise manner, that doesn’t require the drudgery of experimentation. It’s a proven method I’ve developed for teaching a very profitable art form. I can tell by observing a student’s body language and posture where to correct the bad habits before they become lifelong habits.”

According to alum Joanne Mock, of Carlsbad, California, “Terry Hill and Jason Brookshire (Automotive Graphics class) are very hip to everything contemporary and new, and they were excellent at showing you all the nuts and bolts. This is a great course.”

Matt Windell concurs. “Regardless your level, you can always learn something new, especially in this great environment. I learned so much in four days.”

The one-day introduction courses cost $150, and the four-day courses are $575. Classes include all necessary equipment, materials, and supplies (airbrush, air source, substrates, paint, etc) at no extra cost. For more information, or to register, you may call 800-876-2472 (732-223-7878 for international callers) or go to www.airbrushaction.com/airbrush-getaway-workshops. Group, military, alumni, and couples discounts are available.

Increase your monthly orders by $1500.00 in any month leading up to the show and we (The Paint Spot) will pay the admission of one employee for the full week!

Class hours: Monday through Wednesday 9am to 5pm. Thursday 9am till Midnight. Friday: 9am to 1pm (approximately).

This show has never appeared in Texas before, and now it’s coming to San Antonio. If you think it’s expensive, think again! You’ll pay for this before you’re into your second hour on your first job. Also think of the plane fair and hotel accommodations that you WON’T be paying for! We practically had to make a deal with the devil to get this event to San Antonio, so don’t disappoint yourself…..BE HERE!

This is hands down the absolute best show for the serious minded custom enthusiast. You WILL know what you are doing when you have completed the course. You will have learned from “the best of the best” (yes, even Brian Lynch will be there) with no secrets withheld. There’s plenty of time to schedule time off for this event and also plenty of time to save your pennies. No excuses for not having at least one of your guys attend the course. Hope to see ya’ll there, because I’ll definitely be there!

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