Expo Paint Job

Cast parts:
- scrape and solvent wash all dirt and grease from parts - sandblast (off the tractor with critical openings masked off) or wire wheel on hand grinder
- prime
- paint

Sheet metal: - scrape and solvent wash all dirt and grease from parts
- weld patches over unwanted holes
- heat and straighten dents
- sandblast - body filler to restore the shape/straigthness (sand, sand, sand with long sanding block)
- spot putty to fill in the rust pits (sand, sand, sand!)
- high-solids primer/surfacer (sand, sand, sand -- down to 600 grit)
- color coat with hardener (wet sand to 1500 grit after three days of curing)
- 2nd top coat with high ratio of reducer and applied carefully to get gloss without runs.

There isn't enough room here to explain it all. I used PPG (Omni) epoxy primer, primer/surfacer, and single stage automotive paint with an HVLP gravity feed gun and was very pleased with the results. The gun and paint cost about $500. This is expensive, but if you are truly seeking an expo-quality job, you're going to have to expend a LOT more elbow grease and spend a little more $ and go with an automotive paint system. That is, if you decide to do it yourself. Many people take it to a body shop and have them do it all. It's up to you and what you want to spend.

Some thoughts. If an EXPO paint job is one that is so slick that a fly will slide off the hood, then it is not near like an original. Now if you are painting cast parts, it will be rough any way you cut it, the paint just has to be smooth and no runs. I have painted a bunch of parts on my popper while they were off the tactor and in my opinion they look better than some of the NOS parts I have bought. I don't expose, therefore that coined expression doesn't bother. It does take some experience to make the sheet metal look good. This is where all the correct police sight down the paint and get a good bounce from the sun or lights and then get in a huddle and talk about the paint. I plan to have my sheet metal done by a person with experience that I have seen tractors that he has painted. Details make the big difference like not hosing the paint on the tires, gernerator label, serial number, bird droppings, etc. Just my two centagos. Have Fun!