Starting tractor paint shop advice

[Dave from central MN]

Any advice for proceeding. Hoping to be set up for business within two years. Any advice on what to have set up for the operation is greatly appreciated. I want to cross reference with our plan for anything over looked or better options. Do plan on being able to sandblast on site. Thanks in advance.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I don't know. If you ever painted a tractor you should know what it takes. If not I would paint a few tractors at home before considering going into business. I don't see how you can make a business of it. It takes more work than you can charge for. Most of us paint our own tractors for that reason. I don't remember ever seeing anyone with a tractor body shop. Better consider painting cars too. There is plenty need for that given the way people drive today.

 

[David G]

What experience do you have?

 

[glennster]

take a road trip to your favorite local body shop and ask them what the federal, state and local requirements are, epa regulations ect. you will probably need a downdraft booth too.

 

[Welding man]

I personally do not see how anyone could make a living painting tractors. I have painted a lot of them over the years.There is just too much time spent disassembling and cleaning and reassembly. About the only ones I have ever done for a customer is if I was doing a lot of other work on it, such as an engine rebuild and already had it mostly apart. It hard to get someone to spend 3 grand on a paint job on a $3500.00 tractor. But good luck with your endeavor.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Contact Nashville Bob at WVAL radio in Sartell. Seriously...he used to have his shop East of St. Cloud. I believe he did similar work at Mies Eq.

 

[showcrop]

There is treason hat most of he tailer manufactures don't use paint, but powder coat instead.

 

[DR. EVIL]

Back in the mid-1960's mechanic at the local car/truck/tractor repair shop moon-lighted repainting tractors. He did Dad's Super M-TA and '39 H, Did darn nice work. $50 each, included OEM paint and new OEM decals. Muffler and rims removed and painted silver, gauge faces and distributor cap/wires masked off, Dad had him paint the grills white so they looked like a 350/450 from a distance, cost $5 extra. He worked out of his 2-stall garage. Wasn't too many years later he quit the repair shop and bought a body shop in the next town 5 miles away.

 

[JD Seller]

You need to check you local area for market for a tractor paint business. I have two guys here local that do them. The one does farm quality jobs and they will be $2000-2500 plus interiors and such. The other fellow does "show" quality jobs and his jobs cost $4-5K plus parts other than paint related ones. The one fellow does a lot of general repair work as well as the painting. The show guy farms and only does the painting in his "off" seasons.

You need to check out all the regulations on painting too. Being a true business means you will have EPA and OSA rules to follow with employees.

 

[Ragnarok]

There are at least three places around my area that paint tractors/farm equipment.

I don't know how much of a full-time career it is for any of them. At least two places paint tractors as a way to keep personnel busy during the off-season. Don't know about the other paint shop