Paint Expert Shares New Book

Paint Expert Shares New Book Jim Deardorff has been sharing his knowledge on protecting finishes on farm equipment with FARM SHOW readers for more than 35 years. He has provided information for more than 14 stories, starting with Vol. 16, No. 4. Over the same period, he has published more than 100 articles in national journals covering the industry. “Paint,” his new book, reviews the evolution of the paint industry over the past 100 years. It also lays out the reasoning behind what he calls the Lifetime Coating System (LCS). “In recent years, design engineering and material advances have dramatically increased product life. This has created a serious performance gap between paints and the surfaces they protect,” says Deardorff. “I predict the future of paint will depend on a new generation of engineered maintenance programs designed for assets with a design life of 25, 50, 100 years or more.” Deardorff suggests that the paint industry developed to meet industry demands, not those of the equipment operator and owner. “Today, corrosion costs to the U.S. economy are $1.2 trillion annually,” says Deardorff. “Experts estimate 25 to 30% of this amount ($250 to $300 billion) could be solved by improved painting practices.” Deardorff cites two reasons for writing the book. The first is to tell the story of his own journey in the field. He divides LCS into five generations. These include the introduction and improvements in black lights and fluorescent compound technology, the combination of these technologies with specially formulated finishes, and the use of predictive and prescriptive programs, including root cause analysis of failures. Finally, he discusses products and practices to reduce the impact of weathering, abrasion and attacks on coating life. The second reason he wrote the book concerns the future. “The goal of LCS maintenance programs is to prepare the coating industry for the economic and environmental challenges of the 21st Century and beyond,” he says. “As long as a coated surface is available for inspections and repairs, absolute corrosion prevention is possible.” Deardorff is very appreciative of the many calls and letters he has received from FARM SHOW readers over the years. “As my thank-you to them, I’ll be happy to send a free copy of ‘Paint’ to any who request it,” says Deardorff. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Superior Coatings Co., 205 McCormick St., Chillicothe, Mo. 64601 (ph 660-646-6355; info@classicblast.com; www.classicblast.com).

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