Paint is expensive!!!

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
I want to paint a tractor about the same color as the tin on my friend's tractor below. Maybe slightly darker.
I can't just buy something from Valspar, etc.
So I've done a little checking around and can't believe the prices.
Dupont Centari will cost about $260/gal plus hardener and reducer.
It seems they don't even sell Dulux any more.
Sherwin Williams wants upwards of $400 for a gal of automotive paint - plus hardener and reducer.
I just can't justify that kind of $.
What are some other alternatives to spending that kind of money for the right color?
What are other people doing?
I want the paint to look decent and last but I'm not trying to make jewlery here.


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Look into the economy product lines available from the major automotive paint manufacturers. In DuPont, the economy line is NASON. In PPG, it's OMNI.
 
You are correct. Centari will cost you the same as buying Duponts top of the line Cromax urethane even though Centari is not as good.I suppose it cost so much because there isnt a lot of it left. Most jobbers I know do not have the toners and stuff to even mix it anymore. I have used lots of Centari years ago but I like the Nason I have used recently just as well...and it is priced right.
 
Well,
I might have figured something out here.
I went to TSC today and bought a spray can of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069FC99U/ref=asc_df_B0069FC99U3116622/?tag=prontocom100028-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0069FC99U&linkCode=df0" target="_blank">International White</a> which is kind of a light cream color and a can of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I19BRE/ref=asc_df_B000I19BRE3116622/?tag=prontocom100028-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B000I19BRE&linkCode=df0" target="_blank">John Deere Yellow</a>.
I sprayed some of the white in an old shovel then added a little bit of yellow and mixed them up.
It's pretty close to what I'm looking for color wise. So if I buy a gallon of the IH White for $35 and a quart of JD Yellow on Amazon I will mix them myself.
Wife has Amazon Prime so free shipping.
I have used this Valspar several times and have been real happy with it.

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You won't be happy with the TSC paint after a year or two. As another person posted check the Nason or Omni line, maybe Martin Senour at NAPA.
 
Mark, I will agree it is not one of the fancier brands of paint.
But you know, I painted the tin on my 3000 about 8 years ago with this same Valspar paint and it has held up real well even though the tractor has sat outside in sun, rain and winter for about 3 years of that time.
When I painted it I didn't know there was a hardener for it so it never did shine a lot.
But it hasn't faded nor chipped or peeled, etc at all.
I have painted 8 or 9 tractors with this stuff since and used the hardener and they all came out looking pretty nice - for an amature of course.
I am real happy with it so far and do recommend it to others who are interested in making a working tractor look decent but not like a new one and hold up to normal wear and tear.
I just ordered the paint and 2 cans of hardener and the total was $75.21.
That's at least $200 less than I would have spent elsewhere and money I'd rather put into other things.

ps, I changed the cowel/dash since I painted the rest of it.

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Here are a couple of other tractors I painted with this Valspar. I did use the hardener so they shine a little better.

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I used the valspar and bps paints for years. even the dealer alkyd paints. .. but now tsc switched to that new paint and I hate it.

I have switched to nason syn enamil.. goes on almost as easy, looks decent. I've shot 2 ford truck ( sides after body work ) for turned out nice. I went with their medium reducer and their quick cure hardner. i like the QCH better than the valspar hardener. mind you the paint and hardner is 2x the cost of the old TSC paint.
 
The stuff is expensive, but I think its worth it. Sprays well and retains the shine. I had a tractor done about 5 years ago and it still shines as much as when it was done.
Just ask for one of the lower lines in a name brand. Also, you will be surprised how much these paints cover.
 
I have used Valspar and the new TSC paint. As far as I am concerned, they are both medium grade barn paint. It is too much work to properly prepare and paint something you are going to keep with that stuff. I won"t do it again. I will spend the money for good paint or leave it rusty.
 
Automotive refinish paint from guys like Dupont and ppg are high end paints meant to be blended and matched to cars. Its a little over kill for a tractor. Look for PPG's Fleet coatings.

PPG Delfleet Essential (ESS) its cheaper and was meant for fleet trucks. Single stage (no clear coat necessary) and durable. You can probably find a gallon kit (with hardeners and catalyst) for half the price as regular car paint or less.
 
(quoted from post at 19:28:20 05/26/14) Automotive refinish paint from guys like Dupont and ppg are high end paints meant to be blended and matched to cars. Its a little over kill for a tractor. Look for PPG's Fleet coatings.

PPG Delfleet Essential (ESS) its cheaper and was meant for fleet trucks. Single stage (no clear coat necessary) and durable. You can probably find a gallon kit (with hardeners and catalyst) for half the price as regular car paint or less.

New Holland acrylic blue enamel

$61.95 gallon, pretty good paint
 

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