need advise on preservation

[oliver77guy]

I bought an old mule plow a few weeks ago and i cant bring myself to restore it. It is original with paint and decals still in place. What can I coat the whole thing with that will not let it deteriorate or attack the original paint? I have seen tractors with a satin finish over the rusty/original paint before but dont know what it was coated with. thanks in advance

 

[Stephen Newell]

At automotive paint shops there are satin clear coats available. Polyurethane would be the better type. These finishes are intended to be put over existing paint. They are really not made to be put directly to metal. If you are going to display the plow outdoors you could expect the clearcoat to fail within a year or two on the bare spots. If you still wish to use it, sand the plow with 220 sandpaper to roughen it and clean as much of the rust off as possible. Then wash with soap and water, let dry and clear coat it. It would probably take two coats.

 

[JMOR]

Polyurethane will not stand up to sunlight

 

[Mike Aylward]

I have been told by a friend that does this that a mixture of one half linseed oil and one half mineral spirits will preserve what you have. This is done after a mild washing with soap and water. Mike

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 20:43:47 12/13/11) I have been told by a friend that does this that a mixture of one half linseed oil and one half mineral spirits will preserve what you have. This is done after a mild washing with soap and water. Mike

inseed oil will turn wood near black over time. I have the black shed & deck.

 

[ShadetreeRet]

Whatever you use, test a small area where is is not too noticeable, that way if does not work you will not have messed up the entire plow.