Tractor paint

[strum456]

OEM surface prep is pretty much nonexistent. Any place I see paint peeling on new tractors or equipment, I either find shiny metal (no adhesion profile) or slag. OEMs would need to add the extra step of prepping everything, or using good paint would sill lead to peeling paint and unhappy customers.

I'm pretty certain most OEMs are using alcyd enamel, and on certain things, powder coat. Powder coat gets a bullet proof rep. from some, but it is worse than anything with inadequate surface prep. I have seen it peel back in large sections and hold moisture.

If OEMs were interested in doing it right, they'd dip their parts in e coat (a process used by automotive OEMs). I wouldn't expect a base coat clear coat finish for tractors, but I don't think that a quality single stage urethane would be too much to ask. However, I personally base / clear every tractor that I repaint. This is due to preference of processes, not durability.

 

[CADplans]

Nice tractor. Does it live outside?

No,, I doubt it has spent a night out in the last 15 years,,,

 

[GManBart]

Base coat/clear coat isn't durable when it comes to equipment like tractors with lots of vibration and occasional impacts. They tried that on my dump truck (before I bought it) and it looked great for a few years, but by the time I bought it paint was coming off in sheets.

 

[jenkinsph]

I find that the tractor paint is easier to clean up and restore for Do it Yourselfers. After 12 years outside my 110 will need some time and care spent on it this coming year. I will go over the entire tractor and cab to get everything back to new condition or close as I can get. Painting as needed is easy with enamel paint, two or three part with clear coat would be a nightmare with all the cracks and crevices on a tractor.

 

[strum456]

Base coat/clear coat isn't durable when it comes to equipment like tractors with lots of vibration and occasional impacts. They tried that on my dump truck (before I bought it) and it looked great for a few years, but by the time I bought it paint was coming off in sheets.

Is it the best product to use? No. A single stage urethane would be a better option. But base coat / clear coat is very durable, if done right. If it was coming off in sheets, it was not applied properly. I use it on every part of every tractor I do. It wears quite well on running boards, pedals, hitches, etc.. There is so much mythology when it comes to paint, it is often difficult for someone that is new to the subject to sift through all the personal experiences that people share.

Three rules to remember:

1. You get what you pay for with paint.
2. If you skip steps on surface prep, you are doomed to fail, no matter what paint you use.
3. Avoid "merical products" (there is no replacement for surface prep)

 

[ray66v]

I don't think that a quality single stage urethane would be too much to ask. However, I personally base / clear every tractor that I repaint. This is due to preference of processes, not durability.

They don't use the generally use air day finishes in factories, they dry to slowly for assembly lines.

 

[ray66v]

It is technically incorrect to make the blanket statement that a base coat/ clear coat system is not as durable as a single stage system.

There is more to applying a base coat/clear coat system, so there are more possibilities for incorrect application, and errors.

Having painted professionally for over 35 years, I have been through multiple, endless training, and warranty certification classes. And, I have spent time working directly with the chemists who develop automotive finishes, testing new products. So, I have a good understanding of what is involved.

There are lots of painters out there using base/clear systems, who either don't know the proper way to apply them, don't understand the chemistry behind why it's necessary to apply them in a particular fashion, or are not interested in doing things that way.

The nonprofessional, and untrained professionals, are almost always using lower end paint systems, which contributes to their issues.

Yes, there are also lots of vehicles which manufacturers, and their paint suppliers, who have messed up, trying to find the cheapest, lowest VOC way to get products out the door.

However, if applied properly, a base coat/clear coat system is just as durable as a single stage system. That's all vehicle manufacturers use now. And, durability is as high as it has ever been.

As further proof of that, manufacturers of high end jets are all using air dry, base/clear systems now. And, that's as difficult an environment as you can put paint in.

 

[strum456]

It is technically incorrect to make the blanket statement that a base coat/ clear coat system is not as durable as a single stage system.

There is more to applying a base coat/clear coat system, so there are more possibilities for incorrect application, and errors.

Having painted professionally for over 35 years, I have been through multiple, endless training, and warranty certification classes. And, I have spent time working directly with the chemists who develop automotive finishes, testing new products. So, I have a good understanding of what is involved.

There are lots of painters out there using base/clear systems, who either don't know the proper way to apply them, don't understand the chemistry behind why it's necessary to apply them in a particular fashion, or are not interested in doing things that way.

The nonprofessional, and untrained professionals, are almost always using lower end paint systems, which contributes to their issues.

Yes, there are also lots of vehicles which manufacturers, and their paint suppliers, who have messed up, trying to find the cheapest, lowest VOC way to get products out the door.

However, if applied properly, a base coat/clear coat system is just as durable as a single stage system. That's all vehicle manufacturers use now. And, durability is as high as it has ever been.

As further proof of that, manufacturers of high end jets are all using air dry, base/clear systems now. And, that's as difficult an environment as you can put paint in.

Agreed

 

[ovrszd]

People are tight and don't want to pay more money than they have to thus the manufacturers use cheaper paint to keep cost down, one of the reasons a lot of them have plastic fenders and hoods now as well. So, in conclusion people are tight.

Why's it always gotta be our fault!!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

No,, I doubt it has spent a night out in the last 15 years,,,

Mine neither.