(Harvest) Gold paint?

Never heard of a Maytag set with the model number starting with WU for Harvest Wheat. I have a set in that color and the model numbers are HA408 and HDE606 made in 1976. I don't know what they called the color after they dropped the shading, but I don't think it was WU.

Anyway, I painted an Avocado Maytag washer with computer matched spray paint from an Auto Parts Store. The model number on the label said AA806. I pulled the lid off the washer, cleaned it, and took it with me to the Auto Parts Store. If you don't want to do that, you might be able to get away with taking the control panel cover off. What ever you think will give you the best match. They put the computer box on it and pressed the button and it gives them a number that closely matches color swatches on a great big ring. The swatch has a color on it with an oval window cut out of the center. They take that number swatch and lay it on the piece you bring in. If the color coming through the oval matches the surrounding color on the swatch, it's matched. If not, they select a couple of colors up or down from that number until they find the closest match. They should let you look at it to help pick a color. When they find the best color, they take that number to a chart and it tells them the correct pigments to mix together to match that color swatch, put it in a spray can and pressurize it. They write down the number on the can, so if you need another can later, they can make some more. It costs around seventeen to eighteen dollars a can. Kind of pricy, but it usually gives you a pretty close match and good finish if you're good with spray paint. If you're just doing a washer front, one or two cans should get you by. I did the front and both sides of my machine and it took four or five. A lot of money, but the machine was mechanically sound, so I decided it was worth it.

Mine was a solid color (non-shaded) machine, so it was easy. If you're trying to reproduce shading, that would be more tricky. Haven't tried it. Don't know if I could do it. Looks hard.

I laid my panels down horizontally to guard against runs. Rough up the old finish with a light sand paper and dust off all residue. Do a spot test to check for fish-eyes. Silicone residue from furniture polish will cause this. Paint from a short end and go up to help cover your over spray as you go. Do the edges first, then the front. Try to do one panel quickly enough to get the whole thing wet at once. Let dry according to directions and coat again. Place it in the warmest, driest place you can find to cure for a day or two. You'll have to be extra careful with the finish for a year or so, as it will scratch easily. It will never be as durable as the factory finish. For that you'd have to have a powder coat done. When I put the washer on a dolly I put wax paper under the straps to protect the paint. And of course, don't do it on a windy day. Hope this helps.


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Post# 549373 10/14/2011 at 17:52 (4,576 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes OK, I realize that this might seem as though I have gone off the deep end with this question, but here goes. Does anyone know of a source for Harvest Gold spraypaint that would be a close match for the infamous 1970s color? I'm continuing to work on the Maytag WU601 rehab project and the front panel is...shudder...Almond. I could easily enough paint it white which would match my cabinets (and be the same color as the KM Ultrawash it will replace), but since the range, hood, countertops and sink are all vintage gold, it seems that the dishwasher might as well be too. Take a look and see what I mean:

Post# 549374 , Reply# 1 10/14/2011 at 17:54 (4,576 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes the range

Post# 549397 , Reply# 2 10/14/2011 at 20:05 (4,576 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes Got any harvest gold small electrics, like a can opener or a mixer? If so, bring it to the hardware/paint store and match it up as best you can. I think colors weren't perfect matches across the various manufacturers anyway. That's if there's no source for what we know as harvest gold anymore. I don't know if you can even find scratch repair touch-up for harvest gold these days, let alone the actual paint.

Post# 549422 , Reply# 3 10/14/2011 at 22:51 (4,576 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Take the broiler drawer into a real paint store - one that supplies to the professional trade and they should be able to match it for you and put it in a spray can for ease of use. Do you have a Kirby with a paint sprayer attachment? Would be fun to try that too!

Post# 549430 , Reply# 4 10/14/2011 at 23:52 (4,576 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes Hmmm, that's a good idea Greg! I do have a Kirby Omega Classic. The "spray gun" appears to be unused. My, the ideas.... I suppose everyone wants pictures! :)

Post# 549578 , Reply# 5 10/15/2011 at 16:23 (4,575 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)
Checkrate/Likes *Auto Parts Supply* Never heard of a Maytag set with the model number starting with WU for Harvest Wheat. I have a set in that color and the model numbers are HA408 and HDE606 made in 1976. I don't know what they called the color after they dropped the shading, but I don't think it was WU. Anyway, I painted an Avocado Maytag washer with computer matched spray paint from an Auto Parts Store. The model number on the label said AA806. I pulled the lid off the washer, cleaned it, and took it with me to the Auto Parts Store. If you don't want to do that, you might be able to get away with taking the control panel cover off. What ever you think will give you the best match. They put the computer box on it and pressed the button and it gives them a number that closely matches color swatches on a great big ring. The swatch has a color on it with an oval window cut out of the center. They take that number swatch and lay it on the piece you bring in. If the color coming through the oval matches the surrounding color on the swatch, it's matched. If not, they select a couple of colors up or down from that number until they find the closest match. They should let you look at it to help pick a color. When they find the best color, they take that number to a chart and it tells them the correct pigments to mix together to match that color swatch, put it in a spray can and pressurize it. They write down the number on the can, so if you need another can later, they can make some more. It costs around seventeen to eighteen dollars a can. Kind of pricy, but it usually gives you a pretty close match and good finish if you're good with spray paint. If you're just doing a washer front, one or two cans should get you by. I did the front and both sides of my machine and it took four or five. A lot of money, but the machine was mechanically sound, so I decided it was worth it. Mine was a solid color (non-shaded) machine, so it was easy. If you're trying to reproduce shading, that would be more tricky. Haven't tried it. Don't know if I could do it. Looks hard. I laid my panels down horizontally to guard against runs. Rough up the old finish with a light sand paper and dust off all residue. Do a spot test to check for fish-eyes. Silicone residue from furniture polish will cause this. Paint from a short end and go up to help cover your over spray as you go. Do the edges first, then the front. Try to do one panel quickly enough to get the whole thing wet at once. Let dry according to directions and coat again. Place it in the warmest, driest place you can find to cure for a day or two. You'll have to be extra careful with the finish for a year or so, as it will scratch easily. It will never be as durable as the factory finish. For that you'd have to have a powder coat done. When I put the washer on a dolly I put wax paper under the straps to protect the paint. And of course, don't do it on a windy day. Hope this helps.

Post# 549620 , Reply# 6 10/15/2011 at 18:47 (4,575 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes On the off chance you haven't already thought of this, might you have other dishwashers sitting around that have extra colored door panels behind the exposed one? That would offer you a sheet of harvest, like a giant paint chip that could be computer matched.

Post# 549627 , Reply# 7 10/15/2011 at 19:33 (4,575 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *MT WU601 DISHWASHER* The WU is part of the model # and does not have anything to do with the color of the machine. The DW either came with reversible front panels or no panels at all in which you paid extra to get the front panels in the available color of your choice.

Post# 549642 , Reply# 8 10/15/2011 at 20:00 (4,575 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes John is right, these particular machines came with no panels at all. You ordered the color panels that you wanted with the machine. Speaking of which, John, this particular machine is missing the lower panel. Ben says he never got it when he picked up the machine in Chicago a few years ago. Any chance you have any WU200/400/600 or WU201/401/601 bottom panels laying around you might want to part with? Were the later WU100/300/500/700/900 (and subsequent revisions) bottom panels the same? Here's the front side of the upper panel in question:

Post# 549709 , Reply# 10 10/16/2011 at 03:19 (4,575 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)
Checkrate/Likes *Dishwasher, Not Washing Machine* How stupid of me. I knew there wasn't a 601 washer, at least not in the 1970's. And the WU was a dead giveaway. Sorry. Automatically assumed you were talking about a washer. This post was last edited 10/16/2011 at 07:08

Post# 549766 , Reply# 11 10/16/2011 at 11:42 (4,575 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)
Checkrate/Likes *Kirby paint sprayer* Mark,before starting to paint anything good with this device, get a big piece of plywood or cardboard for a trial to see if you are happy with the results. My Aunt Doris said she tried painting some furniture with hers, and it just made a big mess. Said it didn't apply the paint evenly or smoothly, with runs and lots of overspray. Never used it again. If you desire a factory type finish, a body shop can match the color in an auto-industrial coating that will be very durable. My friend Brenda had her Kitchenaid panels sprayed with a PPG Acrylic Enamel, with beautiful results at reasonable cost.

Post# 550171 , Reply# 14 10/18/2011 at 08:56 (4,573 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)
Checkrate/Likes You can get touch up in almost any color made by appliance mfr's from Porc-A-Fix. You can Google them. I got Sunshine Yellow from them for my '58 GE StratoLiner range. You can get the paint in quart cans from your local Auto paint jobber, and spray with gun and compressor if you have access to one. An alternative is a Preval kit from the paint jobber, has a glass jar and replacable propellant cylinder, you just pour in paint from a can, thin and spray! I use it for car touch up. Cost is about $12. Works great.

Post# 549643 , Reply# 9 10/15/2011 at 20:01 (4,575 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes And the other side. Clealy NOT reversible.

Post# 549787 , Reply# 12 10/16/2011 at 12:48 (4,575 days old) by kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks for all the advice everyone! I was only half serious about the Kirby sprayer, now I'm even less serious. My uncle has a full body shop with a paint booth on his farm. He does a lot of "moonlight" work there when he isn't farming. I'll get the paint matched but I think the actual painting of these panels will be a project for him this winter after harvest.

Post# 549792 , Reply# 13 10/16/2011 at 13:27 (4,574 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)
Checkrate/Likes The appliance color Harvest is a solid yellowish color. The appliance color Harvest Gold is the same solid color, but with brownish accents air sprayed around the edges of panels. It would probably be relatively easy to finish an appliance in the Harvest solid color. The Harvest Gold accents would require more skill on the part of the painter, and might not be necessary to get the desired coordination in the kitchen. Besides automotive paint shops, it might be possible to take the appliance panels to a powder coating shop and have them put that finish on (after a color match, of course). Matching powder colors might be a bit less exact than liquid paint color matching, though. You just can't mix two powders and get the expected result. Instead you'll probably get a speckled finish.