Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

May, 2004

FED STD Color 595B - Off White

Q. I have a question relating to FED-STD-595. Specifically, I have a drawing that calls this standard out, and specifies color number 17875. However, the color 17875 has been called into question, and 17925 had been suggested as its replacement.

Can you shed some light on this, please? Has 17875 been superceded by 17925? We at ILC do not have a copy of 595, so I cannot just look it up, and everything I have seen on the web requires you to buy it.

Many thanks,

Brian C. Williams

A. Thank you for your email. I do not know why one color is in question while another is not and in this regard I cannot help you. However, I do have in front of me sample color cards for numbers 17875 and 17925. The first is a very pale blue and the second almost looks white but has a very small blue shade to it. Although both colors are extremely light the #17875 is slightly darker than the other.

I don't know if this helps you since you don't have the colors in front of you, but I should imagine that any paint store can easily tint a white paint to either of the two colors.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph