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Antique Tractor Paint and Bodywork

Paint Myself or Have it done?

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Tony

02-22-2004 19:05:55




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Hello all,

I have been reading posts on this board for a few hours now and am sad to say I learned a lot that make me wonder if I should be painting my tractor. With all the dangers related to iso's it is evident I can't be using paints with hardeners without investing big bucks in breathing systems, which I am not willing to do, as I do not plan on any more paint jobs anytime soon. Not using these hardeners appears to put long-term results in high question.

Does this sum things up fairly accurately? If so, I probably need to either wait to paint until a few years from now, or have it done by someone else. How would I find a person to do a quality job on an F-20? I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

If I can find someone, how would they expect to receive the tractor. I have been working to get it into as many pieces as possible so that as much metal as possible would get new paint. This would make it hard to transport, but not too hard. Keeping everything as organized as possible would be very important of course. Or would I be better off putting it all back together and getting it running before having it done? Any guess what it might cost me?

Thanks,

Tony

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Rusty Jones

02-23-2004 13:20:57




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 Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to Tony, 02-22-2004 19:05:55  
Say, i think, before you get too involved with tearing the engine apart, you'd better enlist the help of a local mechanic, and ask him to evaluate the repairs needed on the engine! See if anybody locally may be able to give you advice! If you go tearing into the engine, without any engine rebuilding experience, you're going to probably screw it up! There are ways to get things apart, short of a ten pound hammer and a crow-bar! Your description of what you have already done makes me cringe! There are books available that show/ tell how to go about engine dismantling and repair! The local library should have books on the subject! The principle behind internal combustion engines is practically the same for all. Diesels are a bit different, but basically the same! And, go thru the previous posts in YT--there's lots of advice in here, relative to engine/ tractor restoration! If it were me, i'd get the engine running, then concentrate on dismantling the rest of the tractor! An engine stand isn't too expensive--trying to work on an engine on the floor or bench is time consuming--yer always chasing the thing, trying to keep it in position to work on it! The painting part will come later. Get the engine running, then do painting. Ask here in the forums, or read the posts! Especially what CNKS writes! Rusty Jones And, don't take too much apart at the same time--yer gonna forget how something goes together, and then you'll be S.O.L!

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Tony

02-24-2004 05:47:39




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 Re: Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to Rusty Jones, 02-23-2004 13:20:57  
Thanks for the replies everyone. Believe it or not, almost everything I have done so far, including the use of force but excluding the day one manifold adventure, has been a result of what I have learned from posting on the Farmall board, reading archives, and receiving off-board advice from those who read my posts. As for the engine, I think I have it as far apart as I plan on taking it, as I know I don't have the experience to tackle a bottom side project. Before it gets reassembled I will take measurements on what I can get to per the suggestions in the "How to Restore Tractor Engines" (probably not exact title) book. Other than previously being stuck, most everything else seems to be in good shape so far.

I have been on the fence about putting it back together and making it run before spending time on paint, and have received a lot of feedback on both sides of the fence. Its a fairly simple tractor by today's standards, thus either option would make some sense (not a lot of (dis)assembley). This also helps me in avoiding getting lost by taking a lot apart. This would apply if I started to tear into the tranny or rear end I'm sure though. Luckily, I have two other F-20's, all the manuals, and about 200 digital pictures taken so far during the process.

I do appreciate the critical feedback, as to date I have received a lot of suggestions and positive feedback but not really any slaps upside the head, which are needed too I am sure.

More opinions on the paint first or make it run first decision would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tony

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CNKS

02-23-2004 17:49:29




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 Re: Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to Rusty Jones, 02-23-2004 13:20:57  
Especially what CNKS writes??--I learned everything I know from you, Rod, Butch, and Cliff.



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Rusty Jones

02-23-2004 19:12:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to CNKS, 02-23-2004 17:49:29  
Aww, c'mon CNKS, you know more about the modern paints than i do! I got out of the painting end when the place i worked at closed the body shop! (1992) Then i went to work at a place where the owner did all of the painting, and i only used primer with hardener, and only on small parts. I was doing restorations of older cars, making body parts if they couldn't be bought, rebuilding frames and unit body parts! And, i got everything ready for painting the final coats. They primed parts in the shop, and that got my allergies going, so i retired! And, that's when i got into tractors and mowers, etc. Was going stir crazy with nothing to do! Rusty J.

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CNKS

02-22-2004 20:00:43




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 Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to Tony, 02-22-2004 19:05:55  
Just because the posters on this board, including myself, prefer hardener doesn't mean you have to to use it. Actually, the results you get depend more on your skill than what you use. If you practice first and use quality paint, you will probably be pleased with the result. I am not sure (someone else can answer) how much hardener adds to the life of the paint job as far as fading goes, I am sure it adds some. Good acrylic enamel without hardener is probably better than poor synthetic enamel with hardener. One disadvantage of not using hardener is that if you need to repair or repaint something, you have to wait longer to sand out defects in unhardened enamel, or else strip it and start over. -- so the results are going to depend on your technique. Also, remember that if it does fade, it can be waxed to bring the color out. Just like the 50's and 60's cars and trucks.

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Cliff Neubauer

02-22-2004 19:28:59




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 Re: Paint Myself or Have it done? in reply to Tony, 02-22-2004 19:05:55  
I would ask around in your area to find somebody with a good reputation for painting tractors (painting a tractor is alot different than painting a car) and find out from them how they will want your tractor before they paint it. I like to paint the small peices seperate from the tractor so you can get better coverage on them so if you are sure that your mechanical work will be done I see no reason to put it all back together only to take it back apart to paint. As to the price that will depend on a lot of factors like how much work you do ahead of time and how good of paint you want to use, I would say $500-1,000 for a good job. I would be leary of anybody who will paint it for much less than that (including the cost of the paint) because unless they like doing it for fun I don't think you can get a quality job for that price, likewise you should be able to get a good job done for $1,000 since it isn't a very big tractor.

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