Paint Type Choices

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Howdy all! I'm new here.

I have been reading all over the place for the last couple of weeks and I think I may be more confused than when I started. I had a medium size tractor fire when brush cutting on my father-in-law's Allis Chalmers 170 diesel recently. I'm in the process of not only repairing the fire damage, but also fixing 50 years worth of band-aids and neglect.

While I have it apart I really want to paint it. I don't want to spend an absolute fortune on paint and supplies, but I also don't want to waste my money by using paint that will fade and chalk up after a few years. I've seen lots of reviews of off the shelf tractor paint doing just that, even with the catalyst hardener. I had originally decided to use Rust-Oleum farm paint with Majic catalyst, but then I found a paint on Summit Racing's website that is about 50% more expensive and I have not seen any negatives due to weathering. It's an acrylic urethane single stage paint. I'm ok with that cost.

So... do any of you have great insight on paint types or other paint distributers? Is the Acrylic Urethane as good as I'm going to get for the budget? I don't have any idea where to buy automotive paint locally or I would go there and bug them about it.


And since we all like pictures...

 

[JD Dave]

It depends on what you expect from a paint job. Do you want it to be super durable show job or do you just want a good look and it's a work tractor. You can save a lot of money and still do a good job with high-end Rust-Oleum or one of the better high quality enamels sold by most dealers. Hardener can provide a bit more durability but it's not necessary. Preparation is key. Any bare metal should be coated with self-etching primer or you can spray the whole thing with this. Any decent preparation, cleaning, wipe-down with Prep-Sol or equivalent and the use of a high quality topcoat will probably be twice as good as the factory job. Make sure and read the instructions from the paint manufacturer.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I want it to look good for a working tractor. What are you calling the high end rustolium? I had been looking at the "stops rust" paint from them.

 

[JD Dave]

I'm talking paint from a reputable manufacturer. And I would NOT reccomend water-base paint.

 

[showcrop]

I Rustoleum is good paint to put over a five hour prep job. It sounds like you are putting a lot of time into it so you want it to hold up for more than three years. I can understand not wanting to pay $3,000.00 for paint like my friend did recently for his restored Chevy pick-up. $300.00 is a lot compared to Rustoleum, but very cheap in the real world. You want the acrylic urethane.

 

[Mark-Ia]

Do you have a Sherwin-Williams nearby? They have a good paint for your tractor.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Do you have a Sherwin-Williams nearby? They have a good paint for your tractor.

Yes but they just do house paint.

Unless something changes, I'm planning to order paint and primer from Summit Racing. Their house brand of single stage paint has colors that should be plenty close enough to match, it's reasonably priced, and no worry of fading or chalking up.

 

[560Dennis]

I had good success durability wise with van sickle on Fordson Gray ,Brushed on or spray. They sell it here on YT . Clean s very well .simple wash with auto car wash and oil comes off surfaces.
I have not found that with majic for example over time I’m saying .my Red will fade ,had to rub it out to get back luster.
Can’t say about rust oleum Allis Chalmers orange on plow , will fade and loose the luster in two years .
Sherman Williams enamel all purpose mix ihc blue fades fast exposure to sunshine. Touch up yearly.

All depends on what you want .

 

[560Dennis]

Yes but they just do house paint.

Unless something changes, I'm planning to order paint and primer from Summit Racing. Their house brand of single stage paint has colors that should be plenty close enough to match, it's reasonably priced, and no worry of fading or chalking up.

Sherman Williams does make tractor paints also . But you decided to go with Summits, so let us know how it turns out in the future .

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Sherman Williams does make tractor paints also . But you decided to go with Summits, so let us know how it turns out in the future .

I meant, the Sherman Williams store here only does house paint.

 

[560Dennis]

Gotcha!
Our store in here Middlefield sells it . Big sign in window,larger Rural community .

 

[showcrop]

Sherman Williams does make tractor paints also . But you decided to go with Summits, so let us know how it turns out in the future .

I don't know or care what a tractor paint is. I go by formulation. My time spent on prep is worth something to me. Sherwin Williams now has excellent automotive paint in different grades.

 

[MM-TX]

I don't know or care what a tractor paint is. I go by formulation. My time spent on prep is worth something to me. Sherwin Williams now has excellent automotive paint in different grades.

How do you go about comparing formulation of off the shelf ag paint to auto paint store paint?

 

[showcrop]

How do you go about comparing formulation of off the shelf ag paint to auto paint store paint?

Sometimes the label will tell. Sometimes you have to go to their website. Implement paint is usually alkyd enamel which is cheap and doesn't last. Acrylic enamel is much better. Better yet is 2K Urethane. it takes a reducer and hardener. Above that is automotive paint which is beyond my budget.