Why White ??

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Buffalo20

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What genius thought that the color white, was the proper color for any part of a machine tool?? I have about 10 pieces of equipment, from about 4 different manufacturers, they all seem to believe that the color white, is acceptable. Every tool is stained, from cutting fluids, way oil or oil weeping out around the rotating shafts or seals. What was wrong with machinery dark gray??

I have owned a GM sourced full size van, because of work, for the last 30 years, they were all white, for the same reason all GM service vans seemed to be white, any other color is at least $500 more. Its relatively easy, with car washes and rain, to keep a white van, looking semi clean, but the concept of white machine tools seems down right strange.

Yes, I could repaint them, but to me functionality is more important than looks, this all started, when the wife looked at the lathe and said it looked like crap, might be easier to keep her out of the shop.
 
My last bed/bench mill was all black. Much prefer that color, but I'm not going to starting painting my machines. I do my best to just ignore the color on these things. :)
 
What the machine looks like is way down the list. What the finished work looks like and whether it is within tolerance is near the top of the list. Of course, for a hobby machinist, having fun in the shop is at the top of the list... ;)

I also prefer gray. Rustoleum smoke gray says "machine tool" to me...
 
It's just like cars: the manufacturer wants to make the sale. They paint them like that because they look nice on the showroom floor when they're clean and new. Gray looks "old fashioned". (Sorry Bob...)
 
Nogoingback said:
It's just like cars: the manufacturer wants to make the sale. They paint them like that because they look nice on the showroom floor when they're clean and new. Gray looks "old fashioned". (Sorry Bob...)
Click to expand...
Taste is in the eyes of the beholder. Whatever floats your boat...
 
Ran the first job with a brand new Trak FHM 7 mill today which is mostly offwhite and light blue, we were sorting out the programming and the guy that will use it the most (a very talented and creative machinist) wondered why such machines are often painted white, he also runs a Fadal 4020 VMC which is also painted white and a Haas TM1 that is white. My only conclusion was that it looks good in pictures.
 
That is one nice looking mill. Not hidden in a 'splash shield' either.
 
All machinery used in any food production plant, even maintenance machinery, used to be painted white in the UK.
 
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