----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Linda, et.al.: I have used a San Diego company for our electrostatic painting needs for more than two decades. Perhaps it's because I'm very fastidious about the quality of these jobs, but I've never been satisfied with the finished product from this outfit; the only such firm around here crazy enough to accept a UCSD purchase order. I fault this company for poor surface preparation, wrong color selection, and sloppy application of the paint. Instead of using a medium coarse 320 grit sandpaper, they use one of those green scotch abrasive pads. Rust is never fully removed and this always guarantees that the surface will be blotchy and the new paint will peel off very soon. I have about three different shades of the original (Hamilton) sand beige from their jobs on our map cases. The last job they did for me the finish on the map cases was flat instead of gloss. I get the impression they pay their workers minimum wage and quality control is largely absent. If you have rusty equipment to be painted you should write the work order so that the prep work prior to painting be examined by someone on your side. Make sure the finisher will stand behind their work and that you tell them up-front you will not pay the P.O. until you're completely happy with the job. Your administration will not likely give you funds later on to have your map cases repainted because the warranty expired and the paint is now peeling off rusty surfaces. Good luck. - PML