re-painting a Hobart KDI-58 to Woodtone Brown

[valvashon]

I did a search for "painting" but only got vague or outdated recommendations on getting the color of an appliance changed. My KitchenAid/Hobart KDI-58 currently has white front panels (2 of them) and dates from approximately 1978 or 1979. My stove top and oven are GE from 1961 and are in that cool Woodtone Brown color.

The KitchenAid would blend in a lot better and would look almost period correct (what with all the chrome on the front) if the white panels were painted Woodtone Brown. I have also done a search for "Appliance Painting Seattle" but haven't come up with much of anything. Does anybody have a solid, current recommendation of a place that has experience with painting vintage appliances? I'm perfectly comfortable sending the front panel and the lower panel away to a place that could mix up the Woodtone Brown paint correctly and do a good job spraying it.

I mean I could start calling up local body shops but I don't want my panels to be the first appliance painting they have ever done.

We'd probably end up violating this rule for a while but it would be worth it (sticker behind front panel):

 

[circlew]

My friend Brenda had hers painted at a body shop, and they turned out great. Independent body shops (non auto dealer) usually paint a wide variety of metal items, such as bicycles, wagons, patio furniture, etc. You may just have to wait if they have a lot of cars to do. They also have access to the formulas for appliance colors in PPG and Dupont finishes.

 

[fkevin]

If the panels are metal, consider a powder coating shop in the area. The process will provide a highly durable finish. The one I use locally has been open to using manufacturer matching paints outside the normal ones they offer. Maybe you can find the same situation or a shop will provide a similar color.

Google Search

 

[combo52]

Reason forewarning you not to use the dishwasher

Front panels installed.

KitchenAid was worried about possible injury from shock or sharp edges so they wanted you to use the dishwasher with the panels installed, if you had young children around or something it could be a concern, but many people use them without installing the final panels.

Best way to Repaint something like this is to have a good automotive paint with clearcoat applied, powder coating is good but it’s harder to get the correct color match and you don’t need a finish that durable for a dishwasher front panel.

I have a friend that owns a body shop who’s repainted many appliances for me and they come out looking great modern paints with clearcoat are designed to last for up to 20 years out in the weather so they’ll do great on your front dishwasher panels in your kitchen where they’re not exposed to the elements.

John L

 

[valvashon]

Turns out they had to "match" the color from scanning in the Woodtone Brown oven door I brought in. Both paint codes for Woodtone Brown were no longer valid. "Match" because it's not a particularly good one and it wasn't exactly cheap either. I failed to ask them to make sure I approved the color match before they went ahead and painted both parts of the dishwasher.

So to cut down on the noise from this thing I put in some extra insulation. This is sound deadening fiberglass insulation. An acquaintance was dismantling her voice over room; we picked it up as my wife is thinking about getting into that.

Is adding extra insulation OK? I can't see why not. It's the black thing in the dishwasher door, sort of cut around the detergent dispenser.