hardener

Has anybody had any luck using a hardener with JD OEM paint? If so, what do you use? our paint dealer was relluctant to recommend any since JD is a synthetic paint and the 202 PPG hardener we were using was for acrylic enamel.
Thanks a bunch

Subject has been brought up plenty of times in past. My opinion on the subject is as follows. There's a reason one chooses John Deere store paint even tho he knows it is the most ancient of chemistries to choose from and that John Deere doesn't make it and it isn't the brand that the John Deere came with when new. Just something about that can with that name on it and being closest to original I guess. So why then would want to add hardener to it? Why wouldn't you want it to "age" like the original did ? There are reasons John Deere stores don't list a hardener for it. Liability from people spraying it without supplied air is one major issue. The auto stores paint says right on the can " for professional use only" just for that reason. John Deere has chosen to just not offer the hardener in the first place since 90% of people buying the paint are NOT professionals. No brainer. Does hardener do the same thing in synthetic enamel as it does in acrylic enamel or acrylic urethane or poly urethane?? Absolutely NOT. Does it even help it at all? For obvious reasons,I have never tried it in my 45 yrs in the business. If the experimenters say it works then I guess it must have for them. Like I've outlined above, I just don't see the point. There are speciality companies that still make the old nitrocellulose laquer used on some old antique cars back when, just so they can say it has original type paint. All fine and well but then don't try to doctor it up with x/y/z brand additives to achieve modern characteristics. John Deere paint is probably as close as you will come to original paint along with all it's limitations. You may also want to forget using primer as a lot of the sheet metal and other parts were painted at JD without primer. that's why ( 2cyl era) most if left outside, were turning brown in less than 10 yrs. Lots of choices and all are yours to make.

good info. lets go at it this way then- if I were to use PPG paint, is the color close to original. i know ppg is good, however its only as good as the people mixing it, and i have seen some too blue and some too yellow. Anybody have personal experience?

Just an FYI, I am painting a 1977 4430, not looking for classic green. anybody have the correct PPG code? I know they offer a lot

Don"t try using acrylic hardner! We have used in body shop since in the 70s,Dupont Plus 77S it is synthetic enamel hardner. We did a lot of work for JD dealer and Dupont rep recomended it back then. I still use it in the classic as well as the new green. I have been using automotive paint products since the early 1960s and still do.

I might also add after reading post about thinner below. We used Dupont 3812 reducer, which was changed to low VOC, by the EPA about 15yrs ago. The JD TY25650 in my experence is close to what the old 3812 used to be and I use it now with the JD paint and Dupont 77S hardner.

The shop I go to will mix any color you bring them . You have to go out in the sun to match.

Take a part that has been protected from sun/elements in to a reputable (recommended by dealership body shops) PPG jobber and have them do a reading off it. Works very good on solid colors. Have them dip one of their spray-out cards in a pint before you buy it. When dry check it against your tractor. Have them make adjustments as needed before ordering more and paying for it. Next best would be ask them if they have a JD customer that already has a good formula. You are always dealing with operator error. Even the people setting up the equipment to fill JD green orders.

I used PPG's single stage on my Troy Bilt tiller in 2006 without hardener. It still looks good. Hal

Yes, I have had good luck with hardener with John Deere paint. I am not sure exactly where some are getting their information, but Deere paint is made by Valspar and most dealers sell Valspar hardener for use with their paint. I have been told that the Deere paint is the best paint that Valspar makes. I know that is not comparable to 2 stage Urethane, but it is also only $60/ gallon.
I really like the JD buff primer and I use it under most everything. I have used it under acrylic enamel, urethane enamel, and 2k urethane. I wouldn't think twice about painting a JD tractor using JD paint and hardener. I know the color will be right and it will last a long time.