Making new paint look old

rrlund

Well-known Member
I bought this tractor 15 years or so ago. The hood was rough,had no side curtains. This hood is off a second tractor,the curtains off a third. I made the huge mistake of sanding and priming the hood and sanding the rear side curtains. I've come to appreciate originals a lot more since I made that mistake.

Anybody have any ideas on how to put some paint on the hood and rear curtains to make it look decent without repainting the whole tractor? Sand them back to bare metal,mist a little paint on from a few feet away and park it out in the rain? I like the rust and dust look,but I just want a little green paint in and under it.
a132949.jpg
 
If it was mine I would replace that right side curtain. Should be a good used curtain available. Power wash it and sand it. I would use an epoxy primer and a good grade of paint. It's getting a little late to paint here unless you're in a warm state or have a warm building. Hal
 
Ya I bought two pair of those front curtains and that pair of rears at an auction for $30. The two fronts that are on it are the better of the two. I just stuck them on there to have some on it. They're a little tougher to find used than you might think. You can get new ones,but they're about as much as the tractor is worth.

I can paint the whole thing and make it look all shinney and new,but I can't say I'm in love with the darned thing. Don't really want to get rid of it either since it's an Oliver. I'd just like everything to match up a little better. Get'er looking like a little paint and a little rust,then park it someplace where it'll get good and dusty.
 
Hey Randy, if you can get the right color paint, just have the local paint supplier add , or give to you to add, some flattening agent which will make it completely flat and then while still wet, take an old wisk broom and just stub the bristles into it a few places to give the affect of a few rust spots under the paint. Once you do it a little you will see the affect and be able to get it just like you want. In the trade it's called "distressing" or "blemishing" or "retrostoreing" etc. By flattening it will also let you flash blend into the next panel so there is no distinct edge of color difference. It all blends right in being flat.
 
Here's what I would do.

Sand it good and smooth it out. Then prime it with red oxide colored primer. Then spray on a thin coat of Ollie green. When it has cured good put fine sandpaper in an orbital sander and start sanding. Sand through to the primer in some spots.

When you are all done I would clear coat all of the sheet metal so it is uniform and protected like it is. I've seen many guys do that treatment on a rat rod. Looks good.
 
My Wards garden was 40 years old before I painted it in 2010. The light gold paint was a Dupont mismatch and the blue was New Hollands blue. Both were acrylic enamel. Hal
a133063.jpg
 
A wisk broom. There you go. I'd forgot about what we used to say about bad paint jobs,saying they looked like they'd been painted with a barn broom. lol

I might learn a bunch of new tricks trying to get this one the way I want it.
 
Ya,I just painted this one a few weeks ago and made it look nice. I just want the hood and rear side panels on that 70 to look old like the rest of the tractor. Not trying to make a show piece,trying to leave that old used look while getting rid of the primer and bare metal.
a133077.jpg
 
I'd take the side curtain to a store that does the computerized scan to color match the faded-out shade of your Oliver (because Oliver green of the correct-new shade will stand out like a sore thumb.

Then I might talk to someone who does "faux" (fake) paint finishes - they might have some good ideas.

I took a class once and learned to paint a wood table top to look like marble... so thinking somebody somewhere out there has to have ideas to make metal look old, faded and distressed.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top