The paint on a tractor can take on a great deal of damage, from small scratches to dings and dents. This constant wear and tear is more than superficial. Without the paint as protection, the metal of the tractor, facing the elements openly and constantly, will quickly begin to rust. To prevent the rusting-out of a still usable vehicle, you'll have to apply a new coat of paint occasionally. For the new paint to adhere properly, though, you'll first need to spray primer onto the tractor.
Instructions
- 1
Sand any existing paint from the tractor using a random orbital sander with an 80-grit pad attached. Use small, circular movements with the sander to strip away the paint without leaving any groove lines in the metal. Keep the sander moving constantly to avoid heating the metal and causing warping. Go over any decals on the tractor with the sanding pad as well, to remove them from the tractor body. Use the sander to remove rust on the tractor body. Wipe the body of the tractor clear of any residue left from sanding with a piece of damp cloth.
2Place masking tape over any section of the tractor you don't wish to paint. Make sure you press the edges of the tape firmly to the surface to prevent the paint from slipping beneath and feathering the edges.
3Thin a lacquer-based primer with lacquer thinner in a paint pain enough to flow evenly through the nozzle of an HVLP (high volume low pressure) paint sprayer. Fill the paint sprayer reservoir with primer, set the air pressure to about 15 psi, and then test the effectiveness of the thinned primer on a piece of cardboard before proceeding. Hold the nozzle of the sprayer about 8 inches from the side of the tractor, and then press the nozzle to begin the flow of primer. Use a back-and-forth motion to apply the primer in lines in slightly overlapping across the tractor surface. Allow the primer to dry for the length of time suggested by the manufacturer.
4Sand the dried primer smooth with 350-grit sandpaper attached to a sanding block. Wipe the sanded primer with a piece of cloth to remove sanding residue.
5Apply three more light layers of the primer, allowing it to dry and sanding it smooth after each layer in order to build up a solid coat. Feel each layer for any irregularities, bumps or voids in the paint that will translate to the final topcoat. The finished coat must be smooth to the touch with no scratches across the entire surface.
