Blitz black, is Blitz black, is Blitz black, is Blitz black

[400brian]

We have debated they properties of Blitz black often in the past. Black is pretty much black, so the question has been what level of gloss Blitz black has.

In the past, I've used a number of semi-gloss paints to paint skis and various small parts. For the '72 400, I went all out, and purchased several spray cans of genuine JD Blitz black. Among other parts, I've been freshening up a number of NOS parts that were pretty shelf worn, and you know what I've repeatedly observed? The paint doesn't match!

I'm looking at NOS skis, springs, spindles, battery box, and ski shock kit, and in each case the 40 year old parts are glossier than the fresh Blitz black. The NOS parts lean towards gloss, and the fresh Blitz black leans towards flat.

Perhaps I'm being too picky, but it appears I have to paint my shock kit just so it will match the skis and springs.

I touched up the sides of the tunnel on my JDX8 last summer, and that seemed to match the original paint real well.

[JD600]

Brian,

Brock and i have made this same observation. For this reason, we have began using medium gloss or semi gloss on our restorations.

DE

[Danzig]

I use gloss...over time the gloss eases up and gets close to the NOS blitz black.....rattle can that is too.

[eppjd]

Probably save some of that hard earned cash not buying the John Deere label, as long as the quality of the paint is there. Good information though guys, this saves me from going out and buying Blitz Black to find out that it is different from original.

[skoalmint]

Brian get you some Krylon rust tough,semi flat,I know it sounds weird.But its the closest match i have found to the original blitz black!Brock

[JDMIKE8100]

I have had real good results with mar-hyde satin black.
Very durable and easy to touch-up,colour is always consistant.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

It's been my experience that "satin black" is the same as "blitz" black.

DA

[JDT]

Ditto.. satin black Krylon in dead on.

[400brian]

The funny thing is that Krylon half flat is what I've used in the past.

[JDGuy]

I gave up on Krylon, leastwise the stuff WalMart sells. I have heard that Walmart price pinches their suppliers to the point of reduced quality/performance, true??? Anyway, the black krylon I bought there runs all over if you get gasoline on it. Switched to blitz black, no problem, including coating over the Krylon.

[kiedro44]

Intersting post and comments guys, esp. to me having spent some time working in the commercial paint industry . In thinking about the original idea to go with a low gloss paint on the X series it seems counter-intuitive, almost gutsy for flashy products like sleds to roll off the line anything less than high shine. But then I've always assumed that JD would have been using existing implement materials and colors back in those early sled days. JD's implement colors would have been conveniet and they would have had black already field "tested" and ready to go. Stores like Fleet Farm sell implement colors to match ag resto projects and Blitz Black should be hiding among them somewhere too, I think. What would really nail this answer is if we could find specs on the paint originally used by JD. We need a gloss units measurement, along with what type of coating/paint was used on the assembly line. Anybody know someone from Horicon that worked in the plant or for JD's coatings provider? Or are OEM gloss tolerances already posted on this great site?

[400brian]

My experience with Fleet Farm or hardware store "JD GREEN" is that the color match often is poor, and even more importantly, they tend to weather fast, and fade really weird. Green may turn blueish.

I'm thinking the color "Blitz Black" began with the JDXs. As I said, the JD rattle can color matches my JDX8 body color very well. The skis and other parts, not so much. Here's another thought; Did the skis and such get painted at Horicon, or did they arrive from a supplier already painted?

[WinnipegStPaul9]

I would put my money on "already painted".

DA

[harleysportster]

I think the black suspension parts were dipped in paint and hung to dry based on the dried formation of drip marks. What ever proccess was used, the paint seemed very hard and durable.