implement paint

[mcclaar]

What primer/paint works best for implements? Not looking for show quality. Its for an old disk that I still use.
 

[Stephen Newell]

I would use epoxy primer regardless of what paint you topcoated it with. You can always wash it off and topcoat it again if the paint fades or gets damaged but if it comes off to bare metal and rusts you have a big job to make it right. I haven't tried it yet but Sherwin Williams makes a paint called Sher-Kem which is formulated for implements. It might be a good alternative to alkyds.
 

[kylemorley]

Pretty sure Sher-Kem (if it even exists, S-W doesn't seem to use that name anymore though they have a Kem) is just a premium alkyd like Ben Moore's M-22.

There are a bunch of these premium urethane-modfied akyds around, just about all the big paint companies make them but much as we are all impressed by the word "urethane" it is real hard to figure out whether they are anything special or just a slightly better grade of plain old alkyd.
 

[Stephen Newell]

It exists. Its a catalyzed urethane. Its a lot cheaper than an automotive urethane so it can't be as durable but I have a hunch its a lot better than an alkyd though.

 

[kylemorley]

Where did you find that? I can't find anything on the S-W website or elsewhere except a few outdated documents and dead links. I

It's a subject of interest to me because it seems that with all the new paint technology there must be something a couple notches up from plain old 1930's alkyd, that won't chalk and discolor in a few years, but will still be cheaper than the exhorbitantly priced auto paints.
 

[glennster]

sherwin still has a pro-cryl acrylic primer, and the sher-cryl acrylic paint. heres a link
poke here

 

[Stephen Newell]

I plan to make some homemade attachments for a tractor I just restored and didn't want to use a high dollar automotive urethane on these parts like I did the tractor. I just went into Sherwin Williams and asked the manager for recomendations and he came up with that. I still plan to use epoxy primer even though it is billed out as a direct to metal paint. If I understand it correct is about a quarter of the cost of what automotive urethane runs. This is something they don't stock. They cater to house painting like most stores but they can get it for me. If you google Sher-Kem there is a good deal more info. It still has the isocyanide hardener that you need to protect yourself from.
 

[kylemorley]

Local dealer looked it up and Sher-Kem does exist, the dearth of info on the SW webpage notwithstanding. He couldn't tell me what the chemistry was - said it was a "hybrid" urethane - so I still suspect it is a modified alkyd.

An interesting thing about this paint, and Moore's very similar P22 (formerly M22) is that they are both available as a tinting base, so theoretically it can be had in any color rather than the limited assortment most industrial enamels come it- if you can find the proper code! The SW dealer I talked to said custom mixed costs the same as the stock colors.
 

[Stephen Newell]

I went that route with Sherwin Williams trying to find a code for tractor paint and they don't have any database for tractor paint. The easiest thing to do is make a sample with rattle can paint and have them computer match it. The site listed below seems to have info on what Sher-Kem is but it is in PDF and my computer doesn't do PDF. The stuff may be a modified alkyd but I'm sold enough to give it a try for implements.

www.paintdocs.com/webmsds/webPDF.jsp?SITEID...lang...
 

[kylemorley]

I don't mean to denigrate urethane-modified alkyds They may not be real urethanes, but they are apparently better than regular alkyds, although I am finding it hard to quantify just how much better. They seem like they may be the answer to the quest for something offering better performance than alkyd at a not-insane price. The DTM capability is a nice bonus - I've got access to a 20HP/5000psi pressure washer that does a wicked job on flaking paint and rust so I am hoping that using the washer then one of these paints could make a quick cost-effective two-step solution to painting machinery where getting a protective layer of paint on is more important than making a lovely job of it.
BTW I was in the local TSC yesterday and they had the last of the closeout Valspar Tractor and Implement paint - 5 one gallon cans marked at $7 each! - alas, it was all gloss white, prbably a good thing otherwise I might be tempted to use the stuff.
 

[Stephen Newell]

I really don't know what Sher-Kem is. I'm having a lot of trouble finding out specifically what kind of enamel it is. I've run across quite a few different people talking about painting their cars with it. This is encouraging. I don't think that many people would paint a car with an alkyd. I posted my query on another forum where there is a guy that is a second generation finisher with almost 50 years experience. If there is anyone that can figure it out he can.
 

[ruger1]

I just painted my Ferguson TO-30 with sherkem. You can see pics in the Harry Ferguson forum. Just search TO-30 pics. this was the first time painting anything with a gun. It's not show quality but came out pretty good i though. Its been very durable and only cost about 65.00 a gallon, no primer needed. I just bought a can from tractor supply and had them computer match the color.