A common problem with the Barringer images. Easily fixed if you download and save the image.

Walther’s is the same. I am fortunate in that I live about ten miles or so away.

That said, if I were running such a business, I would likely do the same. It takes time to prepare and mail each and every package. And it obviously takes materials.

In today’s extremely competitive market (Yes, even model trains are in competition with, well, everything as money spent here is from what little disposable cash remains after the bills are paid.) having several different size, type, materials does cost, to say nothing of the money being paid to the shipping clerk.

Oh, you say you (wife, son, daughter, useless brother-in-law) does it? Well, chances that is not the only thing he/she or it has to do. Ergo, his/her (your) time is taken away from his/her (your) other duties.

Maybe you could order form your LHS as part of their stock order. Or get some of your fellow modelers to combine orders. Maybe there are some other items you could order now instead of three months from now.

Or maybe, what with a Starbuck’s latte running $8.00 - $10.00, that shipping charge is not as big as we think.

I agree that $9.00 seems a lot to mail coupler. I often have to mail small objects in my decal and related items hobby/business. To send something small via USPS first class it’s gonna run $2.50 - $4.50 minimum.

I can send a set or three of decals in a flat envelope for that $2.50 (or so). But if that envelope has lump in it (like a pair of sideframes for instance) that prevents it from going through the USPS’s standard postal machinery, da cost goes up, and it goes up in dollars and cents, not just cents anymore.

I still have a package or two of small items laying around that were sent for 85 cents in the 60’s. And I worked for maybe $2.25/hour in the 60’s.

John Hagen

The issue with Bowser direct sales is that they have a minimum $9 S&H charge, even if you buy one pair of truck side frames. They’re not very consumer friendly, as they clearly state on the web page not to ask for reduced small package shipping rates.

Nelson Moyer

Without taking time to properly investigate your question, I can state that Teflon is inert enough to be used as gasket material for bottles designed to store a wide variety of volatile liquids, so Teflon tape would be a reasonable thread gasket for paint bottles. It’s widely used as a thread seal for precision plumbing of pressurized gas lines among other uses. Just be sure you observe thread geometry or you will tear the tape as you screw the cap down. You would probably have to use a new strip of Teflon tape every time you opened the bottle. Teflon may shred in the threads , and little pieces may contaminate the bottle, but the concern would be particulates in the paint, not chemical reaction with Teflon. I’d reserve Teflon tape for bottle I didn’t intend to open for a long time, not for ‘working’ paint bottles.

Nelson Moyer

Someone mentioned Teflon tape in passing, but there was no real commentary on it from the masses.  It’s readily available and not very expensive.  I’m sure it would be OK for use on Poly Scale and other acrylic paints, but how about the solvent based paints?  Inquiring minds want to know. 

Mark Rossiter

Hi Bruce,

     I will pass this info along.  Guess I can use what I just ordered on my alcohol based paints so all is not lost.  Appreciate the quick reply and the chart link.

Gary Ray

Magalia, CA

I have been able to buy these from Bowser directly.

Regards,

Andy Miller