Mowing 72" mid mount mower

joes_427_vette · Dec 22, 2019

When I stripped my 455 for paint. I spoke to the Deere dealer who related they did not have the paint. There was zero primer on the metal parts and paint was peeling in places. Take a look at some used tractors that are a mass of rust when not stored inside.
I was told the surface was cleaned, statically charged and sprayed. I can also scrape paint off the deck and it is shiny with no hint of any metal primer, metal etch or other.
Next your going to say it is like modern house paint, primer and paint all in one. I have redone several tractors, same story. Zero primer.

Industrial Toys · Dec 22, 2019

If it's a crappy paint job that's peeling off, sounds more like powder scab.

I would rather have two coats of paint than one primer and one coat of paint.

Could be just horrible prep, probably no degreasing. Mowers take such a beating. Clippings are corrosive and people don't clean them so you get the grass in there like a sponge holding the moisture, and they always seem to have places for water and filth to sit.

joes_427_vette · Dec 23, 2019

The problem is paint doesn't adhere to bare metal. Primer has properties that etch into metal. The only difficulty in some cases is the metal is so smooth ( sanded with 1,000 grit or finer ) there is no surface " bite ". There has to be some abrasive grain in the metal to hold and lock the primer down. Even SMC and fiberglass require primer. Its a common practice in agricultural products to paint over rough welds and unprepared surfaces. As long as it leaves the dealers lot its your responsibility.
In 1978 I purchased a F-100 Ford truck with an orange color paint. Primer was visible in surfaces through the thin coat of paint. The factory rep, Arcell Bishop, looked at the paint and stated it met Fords level of criteria for surface coatings . Not waiting for the blisters of midwest rust I sold the truck two years later never considering another new Ford product. He didn't solve the problem but I did.

Industrial Toys · Dec 23, 2019

I have to disagree with you completely. If paint doesn't stick to bare metal, then primer doesn't either. And I can generally scrape off the primer with my finger nail which is much harder to do with a paint coating. Do as you like. I have painted equipment for a long time and forgot about using primer a long time ago.

joes_427_vette · Dec 24, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
I have to disagree with you completely. If paint doesn't stick to bare metal, then primer doesn't either. And I can generally scrape off the primer with my finger nail which is much harder to do with a paint coating. Do as you like. I have painted equipment for a long time and forgot about using primer a long time ago.

This is why they are called opinions and practices. Working in a body shop part time any seminar with paint products will agree with my assertion. Common sense also in play here. Paint will adhere for a time period but it will be short lived with discouraging results. Do what works for you. I will not polish metal to brilliance and expect paint or primer to bind to it.
I don't imagine you use paint that costs in upwards of $800 a quart ( $2900 a gallon ) on your projects so failure on your part amounts to $7.99 a quart Rustoleum. I don't like repeating expensive failures so I will stick with my method of operation. Its time to move on. Sorry I disagreed with your professional beliefs and practices.