Painting my implements to match tractor

[LS Tractor Owner]

Similar drive as you, I bought older used equipment and want it all color matched to my machine. So I clean them up, wipe them down with denatured alcohol, wipe grease areas with acetone, and slather on Rust-Oleum with a brush. It leaves a little bit of lines in the areas that I flood to deep, but I am okay with that.

I also order the stickers for brands and models, I just paint around the safety ones since I don't care much about them.

I know that I do not get spray finish quality, but I am very happy with the finish I do get. I have painted a good deal with the Rust-Oleum gallons and it always impresses me with the thick paint and how it covers and then how is lays itself smooth over night. It does take a few days to dry, so I leave the item in the garage for a few days while I wait for it to get hard. I don't use hardeners or anything, I just open the can and start brushing. It is a very forgiving paint for not so clean surfaces or dirt. Just paint the light/fine dirt/oil right in to the finish!

Nice job also! Doesn't look brushed on from here!:thumbsup:

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

My two neighbors laugh at me for washing my tractors after using them, but I do a lot of spraying with sulfur and other fungicides.

Someday, I may want to sell them, and can’t help but think the overall condition of the sheet metal will be a factor in attracting a buyer.

I keep hearing good things about the HF paint gun, I think I will try one out on my 25 year old scraper, if it turns out badly, It won’t ruin my day. Got one blue tractor, and one green one, so have to decide what color to use.

Definately have to go BLUE!:laughing:

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I do the same with brushed on Rust-Oleum, I'll do a coat of paint one evening and then wait until the next evening to slather on the next. It also takes Rust-Oleum a couple days before I would even consider moving the part outside. In the case of this mower, I'll leave it in the garage until this coming Friday or Saturday and that will be 4-5 days in a dry/heated garage before it goes out to meet the sun and rain. I will not put wax (synthetic sealant) on it for a couple months. I do actually wash and wax my tractor, garden tractor, implements, vehicles. I don't know why, but seeing water beading up on paint makes me all warm and fuzzy inside

Your not alone with washing/waxing your equipment. Last week, I just cleaned all the greasy areas, washed, then waxed the tractor. Nice and shiny! Even UV protected all the boots, plastic, and the seat.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks. I will copy and paste your instructions. I used to use regular sprayers but later found that using the ones with bottle on top worked better for thick tremclad. Thin it out and you loose the shine.

I too use the "on sale" sprayers from Princess Auto (Equiv of HF). For a while, I was even returning them. Went back to the store to purchase the internal filter which is never available. Oh, well, then I want my money back. No problem.

 

[spitter]

Last couple ofpaint jobs I did I used lacquere thinner with rustoleum . That made it dry a lot faster . Can recoat in about 2-3 hours. Hardened nice laid flat. Might try the magic hardner next time.Just fond lots of good info on the H.A.M.B. jalopy journal .:drink:

 

[3Lfarms]

I used that same Majic paint and hardened to paint my old Berti flail mower. I couldn’t bear putting it on my brand new (at the time) LS. Sprayed with a 15 year old HF HVLP gun and it turned out well. Painted it on the 4th of July and let it sit for a week before using it. The mower is kept inside to help prevent dry rot on the hoses, so I don’t know how well it will resist fading.
Before.

After.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Your not alone with washing/waxing your equipment. Last week, I just cleaned all the greasy areas, washed, then waxed the tractor. Nice and shiny! Even UV protected all the boots, plastic, and the seat.

Nice to know now that I'm not totally weird.....
Something about water beading off of it brings a sense of ah, she's protected.
Plus I use 303 on the tires as well as hyd. hoses and all things not metal.
Good UV protection and the tires don't track as much debris into the shop when it's time to park it for the night.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I used that same Majic paint and hardened to paint my old Berti flail mower. I couldn’t bear putting it on my brand new (at the time) LS. Sprayed with a 15 year old HF HVLP gun and it turned out well. Painted it on the 4th of July and let it sit for a week before using it. The mower is kept inside to help prevent dry rot on the hoses, so I don’t know how well it will resist fading.
Before.
View attachment 547140
After.
View attachment 547142

Nice work! Made a big difference in the look. There's just something about color matched implements.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Nice to know now that I'm not totally weird.....
Something about water beading off of it brings a sense of ah, she's protected.
Plus I use 303 on the tires as well as hyd. hoses and all things not metal.
Good UV protection and the tires don't track as much debris into the shop when it's time to park it for the night.

Haven't tried the 303. Do you think it is the best for our tractor needs...your thoughts

 

[Rock Crawler]

Haven't tried the 303. Do you think it is the best for our tractor needs...your thoughts

It's the best UV protection on the market. It's very well known in the auto detailing crowd.