Any fellow Michiganders...

Lizer

Lizer

Mad Scientist
I know there are several Michiganders here, and I just became e-friends with Joe (Novablue). I'm in Kalamazoo (Richland, actually) and am new to Michigan (from Iowa) since September. I'd like to know some other fellow SPIers in the area/state to get tips on what shops and suppliers you guys recommend/stay away from, and if for no other reason, expand my social circle of people with the same interests.

Joe just gave me heads up to another paint shop in town here. The only one I had been able to find thus far was a dive and sketchy at that.

I have a 67 Mustang coupe that I've been working on for several years now (I keep a blog at http://www.joshlizer.blogspot.com/). Have only been using SPI on it :cool:

I'm also very close to the Gilmore Care Museum, so if anyone is out that way for a show or cruise in, give me a hollar.

Josh
 
Michigan is a very big state for us, although we only have two jobbers, one in the UP and Chad in the SW part, we do ship a lot to body shops all around the state.
We have a lot of business in the battle creek, Kalamazoo, grand rapids general area.
Sure some will get on here and say Hey, that is Hay in Georgia.
 
I'm in the SW corner, probably just over a hour from you, i've been to gilmore but it's been a while now, very cool place.
 
Chad I've actually emailed you and I think I even called you before, inquiring about ProSpray. Barry turned me on to you.

Barry, I call you all the time, you just don't know who I am because I never tell you (figure you talk to so many people every day you wouldn't remember anyways). However, I once told you I was a scientist. So you said 'since you said you were a scientist...' and you went on to explain something about how you learned of fill discrepancies in your mix cups. That was when I called about using the entire gallon of epoxy but having a third gallon of activator left over. Now in regards to SPI being big in Michigan, it's funny you say that because I was at one of the paint supply shops in Kalamazoo and asked them if they know about SPI, to which he said they did, but 'they were having a hard time getting in to this area.'

I think the Michigan--namely sw Michigan--presence on this board says that's not the case as you've already stated. It's a product people rally around. Just as the Fords and GMs park together at car shows a lot of times, I would rather park with fellow SPI users.

It doesn't need to be stated, but Barry has a very unique thing with his company. I've never ever come across any other company run like it. They are very candid with you, whether you're on the order line or tech line. The company and customers itself is like a community. These are the things that build hardcore customer loyalty. It's a fantastic business concept and I can't believe others don't catch on. I don't have a lot of orders at all, but when I do I wait to try to consolidate them so they aren't paying for multiple shipments. I guarantee you I don't do this for any other company that offers free shipping.
 
I don't have a lot of orders at all, but when I do I wait to try to consolidate them so they aren't paying for multiple shipments.
Click to expand...
Good point for everyone to take note of, when its possible to wait.
 
Barry, I call you all the time, you just don't know who I am because I never tell you (figure you talk to so many people every day you wouldn't remember anyways). However, I once told you I was a scientist. So you said 'since you said you were a scientist...' and you went on to explain something about how you learned of fill discrepancies in your mix cups. That was when I called about using the entire gallon of epoxy but having a third gallon of activator left over. Now in regards to SPI being big in Michigan, it's funny you say that because I was at one of the paint supply shops in Kalamazoo and asked them if they know about SPI, to which he said they did, but 'they were having a hard time getting in to this area.'
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You know what is weird about my pea brain, is I can have been in a body shop 15 years ago and 60 minutes after I leave I will not remember the name of the guy that owns it or the shop name but if I see that body shop 15 years later, I will remember the exact conversation I had with the owner or painter, done it a 100+++ times.

99% of the people that call the tech line, do not give me their name and if that makes them feel more comfortable, that is fine by me.
When you said what you do, I now remember the exact conversation we had the last time.

Something else about my pea brain that is weird, with all the calls I get, I tend to recognize voices, can't put a name with them and sometimes remember the conversation but it usually takes one little statement before I remember what was talked about.
 
I'm in Bellevue the other side of Battle Creek from you. I was out at Gilmores twice this week. I've restored some cars out there and work on others for them. I use to purchase Glasurit from a place on Cork street in Kzoo. They weren't the friendliest but I liked their 2k filler at the time. Theres a good Dupont jobber in Battle Creek. Same guys have worked there for years and have good color match capabilities. Not a fan of Dupont but the Standox line is good and I buy most of my other consumables there.
 
Brad, do they actually have a shop at Gilmore where they do the restorations? I'd love to see that shop. You must have been to Finishmaster in Kzoo. I just picked up some more Marson Platinum from there. Seems like a nicer place than KARS...I picked up some Slick Sand there and the place was like a dive. Do you know any Sikkens jobbers in the area?
 
They do some maintenance there but they don't restore anything. When I restore, service, or repair it's for a family member who's cars don't belong to the museum. Most museums don't have a large budget to have cars restored. The groundskeeping out there is where they focus a lot of attention.

Yup, it was Finishmaster. Never had a problem but they weren't as friendly as the place in Battle Creek. Not aware of any Sikkens dealers.
 
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