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Unexpected difficulty matching paint; unsure why.
November 11, 2024, 04:16 PM
FiveFiveSixFanUnexpected difficulty matching paint; unsure why.
The first one on the left was from Sherwin Williams - 'the best they could do.'
The one's in the bottom right corner were from an independent paint store. I've had great results from them in the past for both paints and custom stains.
Finally went to Home Depot and they not only nailed it but it was $20 cheaper per gallon than Sherwin Williams.
Does anyone have any idea why it was so difficult to get a match for this color?
November 11, 2024, 04:21 PM
kkinaDon't know, but one time Home Depot was able to get a perfect match working off a cellphone picture.
November 11, 2024, 04:23 PM
GeorgeairI've seen people freehand closer than the SW attempt. WTH?
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
November 11, 2024, 04:27 PM
FiveFiveSixFanquote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
I've seen people freehand closer than the SW attempt. WTH?
Really! I was shocked by that one.
November 11, 2024, 05:05 PM
comet24I bet their machine was out of calibration or someone screwed up. I've had a major paint shop put in the tint for a quart into a gallon. Color was way lighter then we wanted.
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November 11, 2024, 06:31 PM
sjtillYour result is the opposite of our experience. S/W always did better than HD.
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November 11, 2024, 06:47 PM
fischtown7I replaced an inside plastic panel on an older car. Unfortunately, I could not find a matching color for the door panel. Car interior was a burgundy red and I had a beige panel. Took broken plastic piece to Home Depot and they mixed me a batch after scanning it. You can hardly tell the difference after I painted the beige piece and installed it. So in my book Home Depot for the win.
November 11, 2024, 06:51 PM
PeteFCould be the cleanliness, reflectivity of the surface. I had a hard time once, guy at HD cleaned surface with a little TSP, and then did match. Color was right on.
November 11, 2024, 07:52 PM
FiveFiveSixFan^^^^
I cleaned the surface after removing the handle. I would characterize the finish as satin so I wouldn’t think it should have caused any difficulties.
November 11, 2024, 08:34 PM
trapper189
That took all of ten seconds.
Looking at Sherwin-Williams website, they don’t have a plain old primary yellow. Maybe primary yellow is outside of the range their equipment is capable of producing. Maybe their yellow pigment isn’t primary yellow to begin with.
November 11, 2024, 09:01 PM
FiveFiveSixFanI guess I should have come to you instead of two different paint supply stores.
November 11, 2024, 09:11 PM
trapper189No, but the Sherwin-Williams people should have had an explanation as to why they couldn’t come up with a match.
I actually have a dresser that color from when I was a kid that I now use in the garage. It was originally blue and my mom and I painted yellow with a can of yellow paint from the hardware store. There was no mixing involved.
November 11, 2024, 09:43 PM
FiveFiveSixFanThere are areas of this project which are only being cleaned and not repainted so it was important to me to be able to find as close a match as possible.
I’ve had very good luck getting near-perfect matches in the past and just found it to be strange that two businesses which revolve around paint were made to look like amateurs by the paint department of a big box store.
November 11, 2024, 10:41 PM
SpeedbirdI've never had any luck getting paint matched. Big project and not practical to do the whole thing?
Thread Drift:
- Not thrilled with my usual go-to Lowes, seems like even bumping up a grade or two was not very good, must have cut back...
- Decided to hit the local Sherwin Williams store. Very nice, local, professional... Holy crap! sticker shock. Top shelf is $125/gallon

(Granted they were running a nice sale, but still damn). I picked up 2 gallons of their mid-line, for a project, well see how it goes and if it is worth ~$20/gal more than the Lowes top shelf (That again, was not that impressive for >$50/gal)
- I stopped getting paint from HD when they dropped the Ralph Lauren line (That stuff was amazingly durable. Heck, I found a 10 year old can and it was still good for a retouch)
November 11, 2024, 11:02 PM
SigfestI’m color blind, don’t ask me.
November 11, 2024, 11:11 PM
FiveFiveSixFanSpeedbird, I know what you mean about sticker shock. The SW would have been $60+ per gallon and that was with a 25% off sale.
I remember hearing really good things about Ralph Lauren paint but I never used it.
November 11, 2024, 11:16 PM
FiveFiveSixFanquote:
Originally posted by Sigfest:
I’m color blind, don’t ask me.
From the looks of that first sample swatch, that’s not necessarily a disqualifier!
November 12, 2024, 07:34 AM
snwghstquote:
Originally posted by Speedbird:
Thread Drift:
- Not thrilled with my usual go-to Lowes, seems like even bumping up a grade or two was not very good, must have cut back...
- Decided to hit the local Sherwin Williams store. Very nice, local, professional... Holy crap! sticker shock. Top shelf is $125/gallon

(Granted they were running a nice sale, but still damn). I picked up 2 gallons of their mid-line, for a project, well see how it goes and if it is worth ~$20/gal more than the Lowes top shelf (That again, was not that impressive for >$50/gal)
- I stopped getting paint from HD when they dropped the Ralph Lauren line (That stuff was amazingly durable. Heck, I found a 10 year old can and it was still good for a retouch)
Basically Everything at Lowes is made by, or controlled by SW. they bought their way into additional retail fronts when they purchased Valspar and made Lowe’s go mostly exclusive to SW products. This is the reason Ace hardware and True value have phased out valspar and even their own private label products. SW is notorious for buying reputable companies and gutting the quality from the products so their own marginal products look better. 10 yrs ago RL paint was made by ICI/Glidden. It’s vastly different than the current product. RL wanted increased name liscencing and royalty payments so HD discontinued it
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November 12, 2024, 07:37 AM
OttoSigYeah looks like safety yellow to me as well
10 years to retirement! Just waiting! November 12, 2024, 10:53 AM
bendableI will be "that guy"
What in the world are you painting
Atomic electric canary yellow ?
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Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first