How do you refurbish an old implement?

[Laminarman]

I'm looking for an old but very workable corn planter, and thought it might be fun to refurbish one. I'm waiting for a reply from Ken Sweet on this item. How does one go about getting old "crud" and rust off a 40 year old planter, paint it all shiny green (or black or whatever)?? Do you sandblast the whole 'dern thing? I know a lot of photos say "very fine working order" but those planters look like they've seen WWI and II. I have a 6hp air compressor so don't know if that will let me bead blast very well.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I've never done an implement, but I like to restore tractors, I presume the process would be pretty much the same. Take it apart, hand sand or sand blast, pound out the dents, fill in the rust holes with weld or bondo or weld in some new metal, replace the worn parts with new (it helps to know a good machinist who can make stuff that is no longer available), prime, paint and assemble. Good as new? But as the lovely Mrs_Bob is known to say "what are those 'extra parts' for . . . don't they belong somewhere on that tractor?" Uh, yea, I suppose so!

 

[johan3400]

"what are those 'extra parts' for . . . don't they belong somewhere on that tractor?"

That just goes to show the engineers did not need to put all that junk on there in the first place /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

I love restoring old implements as much as I do reworking old tractors. I'm just finishing a 2-row cultivator. It was a rust-ball when I started. My plow I use for the garden was much the same way. I've done a couple 2-row planters also.

Start by dismantling them. Take a wire wheel (on a 4-1/2" grinder ?) to as much as you can, and/or sandblast. Straighten parts that are bent. Replace (if possible) any parts that are too badly damaged. I like to prime and paint while everything is apart. Re-assemble, and shoot a final coat of paint. Decals are available for most John Deere (as that is what I have experience with) equipment, and I'd assume they're available for other brands also. (I get MOST of my decals through K&K TRACTOR, in Shelbyville, Indiana)

There's a great deal of satisfaction in restoring anything old. Add to that, there's a great many older implements that just aren't available new anymore (i.e. plows...)

As soon as I get the bugs worked out, and can post pictures on here, I've got several completed projects I'd like to show off. Plows, a disc, a couple 2-row planters, cultivators, a baler, even an old pull-type Deere combine.

And half the "fun" is the search for replacement parts for all the old stuff....

 

[moeh1]

You can also take the rust off with a battery charger and some washing soda in water. I ( and others) have put some posts up on this before - do a quick search on rust removal. I have a couple Oliver parts cooking in the garage right now. It really works! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You can also take the rust off with a battery charger and some washing soda in water. I ( and others) have put some posts up on this before - do a quick search on rust removal. I have a couple Oliver parts cooking in the garage right now. It really works! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>

Electraulisis..... I've done that a few times also. Works good in some cases. Another way I've used to clean a few parts is to "hot tank" them. A buddy runs a radiator repair shop. We've dropped a few nasty parts in his caustic soda tank and cleaned them right up. Takes paint off quick! You just don't want to forget and leave something on too long, for it won't be there when you go back to get it... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Laminarman]

Thanks guys. I look forward to trying my hand at it.

 

[Glenn9643]

I don't know what you'll find with your planter, but I acquired an old "Herd" broadcast seeder that had been out in the weather for many years with no use and the works were just about solid rust and grime, even though the hopper was OK as it was galvanized. I was excited to find that parts are still available and that model is still being sold, but after I spent a day or two taking it apart using about three cans of penetrating oil I found that it works and I don't need parts yet. For me, if I can make it work, it's refurbished. Good luck with your planter.

 

[johnday]

Laminarman; I'm refurbishing a 6' landscape rake right now. I don't know what brand it is. It sat unused for 10 years out in the weather! I had to grind the nuts off all the tine bolts. The tines are in good shape. The only real bad rust was the tine mounting crossmember. So far, I've disassembled it and scraped the rust off as much as I could, then painted some rust converter on it. According to the label, I have to let it dry for 3 days before I can paint it. I got 34, 3/8X1 1/4" stainless bolts, washers, and self locking nuts to remount the tines. Anyone want photos of this? It seems to be a pretty wellmade rake, I guesstimate about 300lbs in weight. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I've also picked up a 6' disc harrow from RonJHall. It's in better shape than the rake was, but I also plan on repainting it too.

 

[RalphVa]

I've used electrolysis and wire brushing. No matter what you do, it's a good idea to apply some Rust Reformer (Rustoleum brand) or Rust Extender (NAPA brand) to the metal/rust. It reacts with rust (iron oxide) and turns it iron sulphide black. ANY surface that gets worn to bare metal can be treated with this material to keep it from rusting further. I did my snow plow a couple years ago. It still hasn't rusted where supposedly bare metal is showing. You can paint over the stuff; use a primer first.

Ralph