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Is Black Jack Aluminum Paint available at your local Wal-Mart?

  • Yes, checked one store

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  • Yes, checked more than one store

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  • No, checked one store

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  • No, checked more than one store

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Calling All Wal-Mart Shoppers

3513 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  bfuke, 
T
5
I was able to acquire Black Jack Aluminum Paint #5168 from the Wal-Mart located in Ogdensburg New York . It is sold with the other roof sealer products. Look for it in a white plastic pail.


Wbassett has contacted the manufacturer several times and has been told the product is discontinued. I have contacted them once and was told that it is a current product and that Wal-Mart is their biggest retailer of it. Given the uncertainty of the availability of this product I have been hesitant to suggest anyone use it.


It would be good to hear from people if this product is on the shelf at their local Wal-Mart, and where the store is located. If you are so inclined to contact the manufacturer and inquire about the status of the product that would be helpful also.


Additional Information


For my own purposes of painting retractable screens I tried mixing it with Behr Premium Plus Ultra™ Exterior Flat #4850 tinted PPG "Bermuda Beige" 427-2. It was visually indistinguishable from other known neutral gray screen paint mixes, so I went ahead and used it on my own screens.


I did send an extensive set of samples to Harpmaker that included several variations of Behr Ultra 4850 tinted Bermuda Beige and Black Jack Aluminum Paint. Here are the color analysis results:


The real Black Widow AAA:


Substituting BJA for AAA:



Retractable Screen Paint mixes:







I have produced very smooth uniform (streak free) results by applying 3 coats of the 3:1:1 mix thinned with 12.5% water and applied using the two roller technique.


I am not recommending this mixture to anyone, I am just reporting what I ended up using on my own screen and sharing the information that was provided by Harpmaker. YMMV


NOTE: Exterior paints such as the Behr Premium Plus Ultra™ Exterior Flat #4850 (self-priming) and Valspar Duramax® Exterior Flat House Paint (self-priming) are NOT recommended for painting the interior of homes. These products contain higher amounts of fungicides etc. than what is recommended for interior use.


I only use these exterior paint products for painting retractable and flexible screens surfaces, due to the self-priming and flexible properties of these particular products. I have found them to be similar in smell to interior bathroom paints.
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H
The Wal-Mart stores in central PA do not have Black Jack Aluminum #5168. Other hardware stores carry Black Jack roofing products, but don't have the #5168 and can't seem to order it (good help is hard to find).


The part number is important since Black Jack Aluminum comes in a number of versions. Some are "fibered" and some are petroleum-based. BJA #5168 is non-fibered and water-based.
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T
Has anyone else checked their local Wal-Mart for some Black Jack Aluminum Paint #5168?


As demonstrated in the spectral plots above, it can also be mixed with a Bermuda Beige tinted base paint to produce a neutral gray.
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W
Only one Walmart in my area carries it, but they continue to restock it and currently have ten gallons- One five gallon bucket and five one gallon buckets. I also noticed the price went up from $14.98 a gallon to $17 a gallon. I grabbed another gallon while I was there.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wbassett /forum/post/14310788


Only one Walmart in my area carries it, but they continue to restock it and currently have ten gallons- One five gallon bucket and five one gallon buckets. I also noticed the price went up from $14.98 a gallon to $17 a gallon. I grabbed another gallon while I was there.
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If you check with Harpmaker you will find that the BJA can be mixed in 3:1 and 4:1 ratios with a Bermuda Beige tinted base to produce a neutral gray. The BJA does not add as much gloss to the base so it can be used with bases that already have a matte finish without pushing the gloss too high.


I split my stock of this Black Jack Aluminum paint up into a bunch of 9oz. screw on lid plastic containers. If there is anyone in the Ottawa area that wants some, just send me a PM. I also have quite a bit of Bermuda Beige tinted base paint leftover as well. It will all just go bad and end up at the special waste dump, so give me a shout if you want some of either. I also have lots of empty quart cans so if you want it premixed that's cool too.
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W
Don't take this the wrong way, but yes, I already knew it could be used with a Bermuda Beige base, checked that out quite a while back. It wasn't posted mainly because of how hard BJ is to get.
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R
I checked six stores in the South East Houston area, not one had the 5168 and only three carried some of the Black Jack product. If anyone in the Houston area finds it please tell us where. I have few more leads from the manufacturer's web site to check out. I will post IF I find it.
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K

Quote:
Originally Posted by wbassett /forum/post/14311964


Don't take this the wrong way, but yes, I already knew it could be used with a Bermuda Beige base, checked that out quite a while back. It wasn't posted mainly because of how hard BJ is to get.
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How does BW made with AAA compare to BLA? I currently have 84" wide 1.78:1 screen made with Valspar Flat Enamel and AAA and like it a lot. I'm going to be painting a 2.37:1 screen and can't find AAA anywhere...I still have 1 bottle of AAA and half a quart of paint, but I'm not sure if that's gonna be enough to paint a screen.
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T
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kitzi /forum/post/14338071


How does BW made with AAA compare to BLA? I currently have 84" wide 1.78:1 screen made with Valspar Flat Enamel and AAA and like it a lot. I'm going to be painting a 2.37:1 screen and can't find AAA anywhere...I still have 1 bottle of AAA and half a quart of paint, but I'm not sure if that's gonna be enough to paint a screen.
Click to expand...

Here are my comparison photographs of BW-BJA on the left and BW-AAA on the right:
All room lights on full



Camera Flash



Projected White Light



Projected White Light Off Axis (~45deg)














Click images to view full size.


Note that the BJA does not add as much gloss so the image is not quite as bright. Mind you the difference is not that big, as you can see from the above photographs.


Both aluminum paints are quite thin and help the paint to level out in the same way that a polyurethane does.


The biggest difference is that the Black Jack Aluminum is believed to be a leafing type of flake while the Auto-Air Aluminum Base Fine is believed not to be. Leafing flakes lay flat and more parallel to the surface. Thiat means that the BW-BJA should not just be back-rolled, it must be down-rolled to align all the flakes.
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W
As Todd demonstrated, they perform very comperable to each other.


You have to keep in mind something. Black Jack was originally the source that sparked all of this, but it turned out it wasn't easy for everyone to get. Henry 558 was found and worked as a substitute, but also wasn't available locally for many, and although it can be ordered online it can only be obtained by the gallon. AAA fine came into play because it was easy to find online as well as locally by many. Since BW was introduced though, it has been out of stock at many places. I personally feel that's a showing to how well this works and how many of the silent forum readers are looking at this and using it.


From what I have seen, Createx AAA and Black Jack are interchangeable, but again BJ isn't easy to find. My local sources constantly restock BJ so I have what seems like an unlimited supply. I am willing to send people BJ 5168 at no cost, just the price plus shipping. That's by no way a profit by me.
Quote:
The biggest difference is that the Black Jack Aluminum is believed to be a leafing type of flake while the Auto-Air Aluminum Base Fine is believed not to be.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure I ever actually said that.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wbassett /forum/post/14340339


As Todd demonstrated, they perform very comperable to each other.


You have to keep in mind something. Black Jack was originally the source that sparked all of this, but it turned out it wasn't easy for everyone to get. Henry 558 was found and worked as a substitute, but also wasn't available locally for many, and although it can be ordered online it can only be obtained by the gallon. AAA fine came into play because it was easy to find online as well as locally by many. Since BW was introduced though, it has been out of stock at many places. I personally feel that's a showing to how well this works and how many of the silent forum readers are looking at this and using it.


From what I have seen, Createx AAA and Black Jack are interchangeable, but again BJ isn't easy to find. My local sources constantly restock BJ so I have what seems like an unlimited supply. I am willing to send people BJ 5168 at no cost, just the price plus shipping. That's by no way a profit by me.


I'm not so sure I ever actually said that.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure who said it but I do remember reading it somewhere. Maybe Harpmaker speculated on it. I do know the BW-AAA is more forgiving as far as rolling it on. The BW-BJA must be down rolled to get a good uniform surface.


IIRC, that is also true of the Henry 588, isn't it?


I traveled to Ogdensburg NY from Ottawa to purchase the official ingredients for the BW-AAA. I would not have even thought to look for the Black Jack Aluminum paint at the Wal-Mart in Ogdensburg if wbassett had not mentioned it a couple of times. So please don't assume I am claiming any credit for discovering or trying it. I only started this thread because I called the number on the container and was told the product was NOT discontinued and wbassett has been told on more than one occasion that it has. So I thought the best way to get to the bottom of this question was to ask people to check out their local Wal-Mart.


I did recognize that the BJA did not introduce as much gloss as the AAA and that made it an attractive option for use with the Behr 4850 as a retractable screen paint. The benefits of the aluminum without the added sheen means the waves in a retractable screen are not visible in the image.


I ended up with lost of the BJA and split into 9oz. containers. If there is anyone in the Ottawa, Canada area that wants some it's free for the asking. I also have lots of "Bermuda Beige" tinted base paint and empty containers so I would be happy to mix up the paint just to get rid of this stuff out of my basement.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tiddler /forum/post/14340508


I'm not sure who said it but I do remember reading it somewhere. Maybe Harpmaker speculated on it. I do know the BW-AAA is more forgiving as far as rolling it on. The BW-BJA must be down rolled to get a good uniform surface.

I've done both, regular rolling and down rolling and BJ to me looked the same.


IIRC, that is also true of the Henry 588, isn't it?

HE558 definitely is a leafing aluminum.


I traveled to Ogdensburg NY from Ottawa to purchase the official ingredients for the BW-AAA. I would not have even thought to look for the Black Jack Aluminum paint at the Wal-Mart in Ogdensburg if wbassett had not mentioned it a couple of times. So please don't assume I am claiming any credit for discovering or trying it. I only started this thread because I called the number on the container and was told the product was NOT discontinued and wbassett has been told on more than one occasion that it has. So I thought the best way to get to the bottom of this question was to ask people to check out their local Wal-Mart.

That is an iteresting story, and demonstrates the same thing as we encounter with people in person at paint shops. I was told it was discontinued, but I also got the feeling that the person on the phone either wasn't familiar with the product or was just lazy and didn't want to bother looking into it. We've heard the same when it comes to Behr matte poly... some Home Depot employees categorically stated it was discontinues solely because they couldn't find it with the rest of the poly coatings.


Todd nobody (at least me) is assuming you're taking credit for Black Jack. This is what started the whole 'PFG' testing. I really am glad you heard it isn't discontinued because where I am at they constantly restock it and it works very well for a Black Widow application.


I did recognize that the BJA did not introduce as much gloss as the AAA and that made it an attractive option for use with the Behr 4850 as a retractable screen paint. The benefits of the aluminum without the added sheen means the waves in a retractable screen are not visible in the image.

Both are pretty close though.


I ended up with lost of the BJA and split into 9oz. containers. If there is anyone in the Ottawa, Canada area that wants some it's free for the asking. I also have lots of "Bermuda Beige" tinted base paint and empty containers so I would be happy to mix up the paint just to get rid of this stuff out of my basement.
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I too am making my supply of Black Jack avaliable to people. That's definitely in the spirit of the DIY community!
Thanks for doing the same!
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J
Black Jack # 5168 found in San Antonio; Walmart Roosevelt/Military store.
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Found BlackJack #5167 in GA. Is it the same as the #5168? Almost got my hopes up. Some how I missed the mention of BJ #5168 as a AAA sub, so much info, lol. so I'll go around locally and find it so I don't have to order the AAA.
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MississippiMan
For the Record...........,


Bruce Can first brought Henry's Roof Paint to everyones' attention almost 2 years ago. Of course, he was suggesting using it "As is" with Low Lumen PJs and the stuff went nowhere. In the overall scheme of things..."He who first gets it to work, gets the credit."


I myself went through this with Behr Silver Metallic and MMud-SE


DDog was advocating the use of Aluminum out of Spray Cans mixed with White and Faux Glaze back in 2003


So credit where credit is due. To Everybody! It's all Good.
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For the record... the flip side...


Nothing really is new. I was in the paint store awhile back and when the guy working the booth asked why I needed such specific specs, and I explained what we were doing, he became very interested. He told me how he used a painted screen for his CRT projector well over 20 years ago.


So I agree, it's not something 'new', but color correcting it and testing it for balance and performance is the difference between BW and other methods.


Even the use of Silver and aluminum for screens dates back to the early 1900's, but the manner in which it's used is quite different from back then. Where as they needed something bright and reflective to help with very low lumen projectors of the day, we no longer need that. In fact in some cases, certain projectors are so bright that they need to be tamed a bit, especially with lights out conditions.


What's cool about DIY is it is pretty much open source and people are free to tinker and explore and think 'out side the box'. Sometimes an idea that failed or didn't take root just needed a different approach is all.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thain /forum/post/14448889


Found BlackJack #5167 in GA. Is it the same as the #5168? Almost got my hopes up. Some how I missed the mention of BJ #5168 as a AAA sub, so much info, lol. so I'll go around locally and find it so I don't have to order the AAA.
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Nope, the #5167 WON'T work. It is petroleum-based and it is fibered; neither are good for DIY screens when mixed with latex paint.
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B
checked 3 different Walmarts in my area and only the Parker store carried BlackJack aluminum 5168 for just under $18 for a gallon.


Bob
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