I never painted a tractor

Brian806 · Jun 19, 2015

I have a few work tractors and they look like crap! So I was quoted
2000 and up to paint a tractor! So I was thinking I could take all my
sheet metal to a professional and have them do that! And paint the
rest of the tractor myself! How well will paint stick if I took a
steam jenny and got all the grease and loose paint off! And painted it
myself! Can I turn out ok if you get all the grease off! I don't wanta
do it and the first time I wash it all the paint comes off! I wash all
my tractors at least once a year! Yes I know a pressure washer will
blow most paint off if not used correctly! I figure if the sheet metal
looks good the cast won't show all the imperfectons!

Stephen Newell · Jun 19, 2015

A pressure washer isn't going to blow the paint off unless it's coming off anyway. In that case that's a good thing. Anyway anything you can do to cut the grease completely off the tractor is crucial to the paint job. If you have the patience I don't see any reason you can't paint the sheetmetal too. Just hammer the dents out as best you can and finish the job with bondo. Use a random orbital sander to bondo flat. Not having experience you might have to bondo and sand the same spot a few times before you get it but anyone should be able to do it.

What are your thoughts about the quality of paint. The best would be automotive paint but that is a lot more expensive and temperamental. Sherwin Williams sells a mid grade enamel, Sher-Kem Enamel that isn't quite as expensive. The least expensive would be an oil based enamel. Depending on the color and how the tractor is used and stored is only good for about 5 years.

auggy53 · Jun 19, 2015

i painted my yesterday , i power washed the heck out of it a while back and its inside . i had to replace the clutch so while i had alot of it apart i wiped it down with thinner and brushed it with rustoleum red . i will spray all the tin with the grey . im not after a show tractor just something cleaner . now i can see leaks and things that need fixed better . i looks plenty good enough to bounce off trees .

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2015

That's exactly how I do mine. I take tin work to buddy who paints for a living, and he makes it look like new. I rent a hot water power washer, scrape all of the grease and grime off I can, spray everything with oven cleaner and let it eat away for at least 1/2 hr. I then power wash off the grime, and repeat until it looks clean. I then brush on aircraft paint remover and power wash the paint off. Takes off 99.9% of grease, 99% of paint. Last hot water power washer I rented was close to 3000 psi, and was taking paint off before I put paint remover on (paint that was still stuck good and not flaking). I then let it dry, scotch brite, prime, paint. Working on one now, and I will post pics later.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 21, 2015

This is the 2nd tractor I've done this way.

Mike Fitz · Jun 24, 2015

You are on the right track, The clean up and prep. is the most work of the job. Decide on the paint you want to use follow the instructions and go for it, If it were my project and a work tractor I'd use dealer paint, better than cheap paint from farm supply stores, without the cost of automotive paint. Painting sheet metal isin't that hard just be patient( paint a couple of barrels or something to get the hang of it) you tube has how too, videos that are decent. Mike

DScott · Jun 30, 2015

Scout2008, that is very close to how I do mine. I strip it down with paint stripper/hot pressure washer like you described, treat it with phosphoric acid, clean it good and the prime. Back when this pic was made I used Deere primer but I have used epoxy since then. Then I paint. These pics were taken back in 2003. I have learned a few tricks since then. The last pic is the almost finished product. The paint used on this tractor was JD Classic Green.

I never painted a tractor

Brian806

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Stephen Newell

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auggy53

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Mike Fitz

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DScott

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