Spiveyman said:
Not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but it's as close as I could find. I just bought my first tractor, Ford 6610. I bought it on the internet, so I don't really have any local contacts tractor-wise. It's generally in pretty good condition for a 1991 with 4,000 hrs, but there are some spots that I'd love to have touched up, or just have the whole thing painted. Problem is, NO ONE seems to paint tractors around here any more.
First: Aany locals (central KY) have a clue who might be willing to do this for me?
Second: If not, anyone have any advice if I decide to do it myself? I don't know much about painting, or have the equipment. I've heard one "tip" so far, cut the paint with gasoline when you spray because it will leave a really good shiny finish, but keep a flame burning on the ground and fan going to control and disipate fumes.
Or, should I just accept the tractor as is with some character because it's going to look like that again in a few years even if I do paint it.
Here's the photo's from the internet ad, I haven't taken any of it yet.
First and formost, don't take any more advice from whomever gave you the "tip" involving the gasoline as thinner. What they told you would probably put you on the front page of the local newspaper and IN intensive care or a burn clinic. That isn't a tip. That is a set-up that might kill you. Gas vapor is highly explosive. The open flame is an ignition point. That isn't a risk. It's a sure thing to blow up.
If that was my tractor, I'd start off by simply cleaning it up a bit. The paint looks better than average as it is, Repainting a tractor, unless done in a very professional manner, doesn't do anything to increase value, and in many cases, DECREASES the value of a tractor, especially a later model that's already in good condition.
Take a drive to SHELBY SUPPLY in Shelbyville, Ky. (or call, Ask for Mark Allard [owner]) (John Deere dealer) That should be just a short hop from Richmond. Behind their parts counter is a bulletin board with the name and location of a "tractor painter" who does "class A" grade restoration painting. There's several pictures on the flyers, as well as a number of references. Last time I was there, the painter had basic pricing information listed on his advertisement.
I've painted about 15 tractors. A couple were just a quick clean-up and respray. Most were complete dis-assemble-strip to metal-leave nothing to chance-restoration. Doing a paint job "right" requires a certain amount of disassembly, a LOT of prep, and the right materials. Long story short, no one can tell you in a few paragraphs what you need to know to do a professional grade paint job. It takes experience. Short and sweet, you won't go into your first paint job with zero background and do any sort of decent job, especially one that looks anywhere near as good as what you have to start with already.
Any paint of good quality takes a very controlled environment to turn out anything like "original quality". Alkyd enamels, such as the paint you get at TSC can be sprayed with varying degrees af success outside under a shade tree, but good acrylic enamels, uerethane enamels, ect, require more of a controlled environment. Those cheaper akyd enamels won't hold up to time or exposure to sunlight like OEM acrylic enamels. Better grades of paint require more skill and experience. Low quality paints will look good initially, but they don't hold up. BTDT. It looks good from a distance, and takes a nice picture while it's fresh, but in short order it will begin to fade as well as offers less resistance to wear and scratching. Alkyd enamels are nothing more than a form of exterior grade house paint. They haven't been used in OEM automotive level painting for 75 years or more. If you go to all the trouble of painting an already decent looking tractor, why downgrade the finish to far less than what's already there?
The "shine" you probably want comes from using hardeners or activators in the paint. They are extremely harmfull to very LETHAL. Breath enough hardener and you'll end up with symptoms of asthma, emphysema, or a trip to the morgue. It's not anything to mess with unless you use proper saftey precautions. Hardener (icocyanates [sp?]) can even be absorbed through the skin. A charcoal mask is simply trying to fool yourself.... They won't filter the hardener. It takes a fresh air system. They aren't cheap. Some people (myself included) try to fool themselves into believing that "it won't happen to them", but it does. Repeated exposure to hardeners will FINALLY get you, even in very small concentrations, and very limited exposure. After my first paintjob, I started having some asthmatic symptoms. I bought a fresh air breathing system. With that one single incedent, I still have breathing problems at times. It won't go away, it won't heal. You get to live with the results for life....provided it doesn't end your life. Hardener isn't something you might be "alergic" to. It is harmfull to anyone with lungs. You would be "alergic" to it in the same sense as being alergic to a bullet. (Except you might heal from a gunshot wound. Ico poisoning won't go away) Go over to Yesterdays Tractor website, post on the painting forum any thoughts of hardeners being something that some people might be alergic to, and let the experts take their shots at you. Many full time painters on there. Hardener is bad stuff. It CAN kill you on the first exposure.
Long story short, unless you're willing to A.) learn as you go, making mistakes and repainting a few times, B.) Invest in equipment, including breathing equipment, C.) plan on painting several tractors to make the investment in equipment worthwhile, it's probably better to find a qualified painter to do the job for you. Short cuts and cheap materials almost always net you a mediocre paint job.
I'm going to be VERY blunt with you on this one..... If you even for an instant, fell for the gasoline and open flame "tip", you need to skip "tractor painting 101" and let someone else do it. That's possibly the WORST advice I've ever heard anywhere. Someone is looking to get you killed.
