Repaint of old Ford Dearborn two bottom plow

[LouieJunior]

I am picking-up an old ferguson plow this weekend -- covered in rust.
What's the best approach to removing the rust?

 

[sixdogs]

I am picking-up an old ferguson plow this weekend -- covered in rust.
What's the best approach to removing the rust?

Easy answer is "don't". Wire brush, use Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer and you're good to go.

Better answer is it depends on what type of job you're going to do. You could take it apart (take photos) and have it sandblasted if it's a museum piece but if you are going to use it just do as instructed above. Maybe sand the sides of the frame where the surfaces are flat and it will look 98% as good. Replace any washers that are damaged and every plow type bolt needs to go back into the same hole it came out of.

I painted my coulters red but they really should be bare metal, Same for the landslides, rolling landslide and mouldboards. Those parts need to scour. My mouldboards are bare and I figure the paint will wear off the lanslides and wheel fairly quickly. It's not going to plow two acres a year so I'm OK with that.

Another note on paint. I used the alkyd enamel red from a farm store and wish I didn't. It's taking forever to dry and is really not a good paint. A better, but more costly idea is to buy the Ford Red from a dealer and get the higher quality acrylic enamel. Dries way faster and will stay shiny longer.

EDIT--I just noticed yours is a Ferguson that is painted Ferguson Grey. I'll bet Massey-Ferguson still carries that color but if not you might be stuck with farm store paint. Use light coats and let it dry.

 

[sixdogs]

All done. Had to touch up the bolt heads and give a light coat on the flat surfaces and I was good to go. The moldboards have a light coat of flat black and will scour quickly. I painted the coulter blades and landslides red because they needed something but I think they will also scour quickly. Either way they are now red. This was so easy and turns a beautiful plow of yesteryear into a beautiful and functional plow of today. The quality of steel seems way superior to that of today and given my choice between one of these or a modern plow recently made, I'd easily take this old one.

If you ever do this yourself, take photos before you disassemble. All plow bolts need to go back in the same holes and chase any threads that are the least bit bunged up. I put a drop of oil on threads before I paint things and that way the paint won't stick and I can oil later in case stuff ever has to come apart again. Paint things apart the best you can, assemble and then finish coat it. If the item is in good condition it's now worth top dollar and I have found that people will readily pay up for something painted and done right. Plus look at the history being saved. Imagine the late 1940's or early 1950's when there were hundreds of these beautiful plows awaiting farmers looking for their slice of the American dream.















Here's the old "before" photo

 

[LouieJunior]

I would like to spruce-up my "new" plow. I have attached a photo below. How many hours do you have invested in the restoration?

 

[sixdogs]

Doing a plow like that is 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there plus I use an impact gun to get things apart. I'm going to guess two hours of which 45 minutes was spent on the rolling landslide wheel and hammering it straight. Maybe 2 1/2 hours but I don't think so.

Try your photo again.

 

[LouieJunior]

Here is the photo. I expect it will take me that long to disassemble it. Good news is nothing needs straightening.

 

[sixdogs]

That is a great plow and I am told the more desirable of them. It's in excellent shape and if you have a little penetrating oil and an impact gun, 20 minutes tops to take apart--and that's if you break for lunch. No impact gun so maybe 45 minutes. Take photos, got it?
That's a great plow in excellent condition so count yourself fortunate.

Here's a link on how to set one up.
http://www.wfmfiles.com/download/Ford_Plow_Book.pdf

Ask if you need any free advice and please post pictures.

EDIT--you know, you don't have to take it all apart--unless you want to. Take it down as far as I did and call it good.
Also, get some Ford Red paint from a NH dealer if possible. It's better paint and will dry faster and harder than farm store paint.

 

[LouieJunior]

I slopped on a double dose of Navel Jelly rust dissolver last night and it did an impressive job of reducing the surface rust - and bringing out the original gray tint on the frame.
Is there such ting as a clear coat for these areas to inhibit new rust -- rather than priming and painting?

 

[sixdogs]

Well, I suppose a clear coat. You could spray it with a blend of oil and diesel and then don't leave it outside. That'll do it.

 

[LouieJunior]

Well, I spent the better part of my weekend disassembling, priming and painting my "new" plow. Here is a snapshot of the plow now...