preparing metal for electroplating

[Sberry]

I just had ran the coarse that couldnt not have a place to paint equipment. The stuff was just old and fully depreciated and with a little care it all looked 40 years newer. I had enough I couldnt get someone to do the work, would been cost prohibitive, I tried some hired work and even couple shops but wasnt gonna get it.

 

[Sberry]

You can see the oem, the repaints are prolly 20 years in here and still look similar. The one has a red implement on the back. Lots easier to clean up and work on and the general appearance is so much different makes it look a little more modern.
Some of this I somewhat batch paint. I remember I did a fix to that back blade and it was sitting in the neighborhood when I assembled a couple fuel tanks and put them together and painted. I still have a few pieces could get done but they are not deal breakers, will gang it on at some point. I simply washed some big flat panels off on a used machine a while back and dumped a quart of green on them and make it look like a whole different machine. No one even notices I didnt paint the whole thing and every corner,,, I littewrally washed it off and painted it and didnt overspray the logos and man, 20 years difference simply covering some missing paint.
I paint up rigging and hoisting equipment, some of that going to last a long time and just doesnt look so home brewed.

 

[Sberry]

I am not a restorer, cars and light trucks just get so rotted out that while there is a point to paint there is a point they are simply too worn and depreciated. You can touch them up a little. But the tractor is still service worthy and maybe 4 a long time yet.

 

[Sberry]

This thing has its place but if this was much a real effort might even consider a single row tater digger. A digger is different than a harvester but it shakes the dirt out and leaves the crop on top.

 

[Sberry]

Pressure washing, painting are so obvious. It absolutely changes the impact and the perception. I am a fair painter, I have a whole cab full of exotic paint, this would get hardware store paint. I got no idea who would look at something like that and give the finish level a second thought. Not like its a custom Harley part someone puts on a new bike.
The tractor is slightly different, the book value not so much, quite a bit better painted but has such a long life ahead even as an alternative where its completely adequate and replacement would be expensive. I put a bearing I had in stock in the alternator and a battery in it last year. Added 4 quarts of oil to it maybe.