Paint...This question is not intended to induce strokes

[MADSCIENTIST]

I have a '47 Cub that has served me well since I moved back to the country. I plow my 600' macadam drive in the winter and keep about 8 acres mowed every week with it pulling a 60" swisher deck. It really needs a paint job however. When I bought it 4 years ago the paint the paint was in fair shape, faded, but not too bad, but it's coming off in places, especially on the hood around the radiator cap. I would love to take it down, sandblast the castings and sand the sheet metal, and paint it the right way, but time, money and the fact that I need to use the tractor at least 2 days a week are going to delay this for awhile. I need to paint it now however, as it is starting to rust (just surface rust now) in places and my wife has taken to calling it an eyesore, which pains me deeply. Has anyone had any luck pressure washing lose paint and grease, sanding, and spray painting? Is there any better quality spray paint, not just the hardware store Krylon that would look OK and hold up for a couple of years? I know that this is a pretty poor way to go about a paint job but I gotta do something, and soon.

[Rick ('50, NC)]

This answer may really produce strokes, but the '50 A-C Model B that I own has been brush painted by the previous owner about 5 times with various shades of orange. He didn't want the tractor to rust - and there is not a speck of rust on the tractor - but, he didn't have the time nor the inclination to invest a lot of time or money in paint.

Since this is part of the history of the tractor, I will continue to use the tractor in the ways it was intended and touch up the paint with a brush just as it has been for over 50 years.

I would say that anything that you can do, including spray painting, to prevent the metal from deteriorating is acceptable to all but the most critical paint police. I know that I would do that to my little '50 Cub until I could do a proper job.

[Rudi]

My local paint shop - C-Max, which is owned by NAPA, mixes up and loads the paint into spray bombs, or rattle cans. It is not cheap. About 12 bucks a can, but it is the right stuff. No hardener though as it would be a brick by the time you used it.

On a cheaper note, if you have an IH dealer around, THEY sell 2150 in rattle cans as well as the blue, yellow, cream and silver - and that is just the ones I have seen. I think they are about 8 bucks or so -- Canadian, might be cheaper in the states.

[Carm]

I know its a sin, but I have a can of IH red from the dealer that I brush on when there is a need. Not the best, but its better than rust. Stand bakk 10 feet, it wont look so bad.

[artc]

and my wife has taken to calling it an eyesore, which pains me deeply.

since the tractor has become a source of marital unrest, and the tractor is needed every week, i would think that an equitable solution would be to procure a SECOND cub to perform those chores while you are making the FIRST cub beautiful

[Oscar Meier]

Mad:

The hood/gas tank is fairly easy & quick to remove. Since this represents most of the sheetmetal and is the first thing most people see on a tractor. Why not remove it - sand it up a little - prime - and rattle can it with IH paint.

Then pressure wash the rest of the tractor with degreaser and maybe wire brush and then do the brush trick with a quart of IH red to get a new coat of paint quick.

The hood will look good and from 10 ft the body will be clean. If you don't have a set of decals you can get a new set off E-bay for about $15.00.

Thats what I did with my working tractor a couple of years ago it took me about four days - it still looks pretty good and it's not an "Eyesore" anymore.

PS: A coat of HI-temp alum. paint on the manifold and exhaust muffler does wonders to dress-up the job.