H paint and dirt sraper

Devin Arends · Nov 11, 2010

I recently began degreasing, undirting, and removing paint on my H using a wire brush on a grinder wheel. I started under the gas tank and noticed the grinder was cutting into the body...rounding corners and leaving "brushstrokes". What can I use to remove the old crud without hurting the soft metal???

Thanks!!

Tyler Jackson · Nov 11, 2010

What I did is got a wall paper scraper. you can get one at lowes for cheap. It's just a little flat peice of stainless witha handle but it works great if you don't have access to a pressure washer

Devin Arends · Nov 11, 2010

Well, I have been using a manual scraper but that will take all winter with all this crud. I have a pressure washer but I am afraid to soak it in water when I cannot start the tractor.

Tyler Jackson · Nov 11, 2010

My other thought was go to napa and get some degreaser but you would have to wash it off. This is a good reason why I like summer better than winter ha

Tyler Jackson · Nov 11, 2010

If you get most of the crud off by hand then coat it with degreaser then pressure real quick it shouldn't get to wet where it's sitting. I've done one in my barn like that before

Tom Fleming · Nov 11, 2010

Wire wheel.

Devin Arends · Nov 11, 2010

You are reading my mind. I have been loading it up with degreaser. I guess I should have power washed it when I had it running. Lesson learned.

Oelke · Nov 11, 2010

Oven cleaner works great.---------Harold

Anonymous-0 · Nov 12, 2010

Be very careful with those bricks holding up the front of your tractor. They weren't ment to carry a load in that position. In fact, I'd consider 6x6 cribbing.

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

I thought I may be ok with the jackstand spreading the weight to the edge of the block. However you arent the first person to tell me this.

Tom Fleming · Nov 12, 2010

WOW!!!! Kevin, good catch, you are absolutely correct. That block will fail.

Devin, before you do anything else, IMMEDIATELY either replace that block with cribbing (4x4's are fine), or lay the block on it's side, with the holes in the verticle position.

You well being and safety are VERY VERY much at risk here. I am NOT kidding. Cement blocks were designed to carry load with the holes in a verticle position, not horizontal or sideways.

Please, change that out right away.

rustyfarmall · Nov 12, 2010

You say you are using a wire brush on a grinder wheel? Could you explain just what that is?

Everything I see in the picture is made of cast iron, except for the radiator and the valve cover on the engine. A wire brush will NOT dig into cast iron, so maybe you are still digging into the dirt and grease?

A grinder wheel on the other hand, WILL dig into cast iron, and that is NOT what you should be using.

Kendog · Nov 12, 2010

I give you credit for taking off as much as you have and stripping the old gunk off, as the little details will make a huge difference in the end.

BUT, if you don"t support that front end properly you may not be alive to enjoy it. Wood blocks please!

To remove the gunk, I brush with kerosene and let sit a day, then power-wash the large areas. A wire cup on a grinder works great for stripping the rest off.

Good luck!

dhermesc · Nov 12, 2010

Gas and a paint brush takes off most of the old oil and greease that has turned to tar.

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

Picture of what I used and the damage caused

36F30 · Nov 12, 2010

YOU didn't do that. The FACTORY did that cleaning up the castings. your just cleaning them.

rustyfarmall · Nov 12, 2010

Exactly!! A wire bush WILL NOT do that. Although it does appear that someone at the factory did get a little careless with a grinder.

bjb in TX from Ne · Nov 12, 2010

You are pushing WAY too hard with that wire wheel. When I did my Allis B I used a wire wheel and I would only get those marks if i wasn't careful around the edges and those inside radii. You need to be especially careful around machined square corners. You should use very little pressure and keep moving around. If you are bogging the grinder down you are also pushing too hard. Also, don't try and get down to bare metal with one pass. First get all the grease off. then the old paint. Then when you can see the areas you need to touch up then you can slowly work on those areas (with a bit more pressure as needed).

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

Thanks for the tips everyone. It still looks like crap but it does make me feel better that I didnt do the damage. I guess I am going to use some gasoline or degreaser and keep working with the wire wheel.

I'm sure it is obvious that I am new at this. I grew up in a suburbian townhouse. Then, seven years ago, I fell in love with the farmer's daughter then fell in love with the farm.

mkirsch · Nov 12, 2010

If the wire wheel is doing that, you are pushing WAY too hard.

However, I don't believe the wire wheel is causing that.

Cast steel is not that soft... unless someone broke a piece out of the casting and covered it up with lead...

Tom Fleming · Nov 12, 2010

Devin, your wire wheel did NOT cause those grind marks. I can see where paint is in one of them where you only part way got all the paint off. You are uncovering someone else's work.

I have never seen a wire brush cut into cast in that manner. Sanding disk, yes. Stone wheel, yes. Wire brush, no.

I would not get excited. Sanding primer will fill that in, so no harm done. Get 'er cleaned up with the wire brush. De-grease, and put a good etching primer on first. Then next coat with a sanding primer, and you will not notice those marks when final painted if you take your time, and use an appropriate amount of sanding primer.

My opinion, but your wire wheel did NOT do that...........................

Janicholson · Nov 12, 2010

There is no way that wire wheel ground the metal. As others have said, some one decided it needed abrasive decomposition. Use filler over it. Do replace the support, I had a principle at a HS that I taught at who was smashed to death from the same cause. Wood is wonderful, Jim

Anonymous-0 · Nov 12, 2010

Get a Knotted Wire wheel for your grinder. The little hairs won't fly off like they do on the one you have now. They also do a better job of removing paint and rust.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 12, 2010

Meant to say Knotted wire Cup.

randy hall · Nov 12, 2010

why do you call a gray iron casting cast steel?

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

I have two of knotted wire cups. Was going to start small and move on up. Thanks!

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

Thought I would show the original product since so many have joined in on the post. And, I will surely change out my cement blocks this weekend!!

Devin Arends · Nov 12, 2010

.

36F30 · Nov 12, 2010

Devin, get a twisted wire wheel for your grinder and get after that crud. You cannot hurt or dig in to cast iron with a wire brush, these are structural frame members they are not soft metals. I've used these on dozens of tractors without damage. You can overheat and warp sheetmetal but I use it for that too. Don't use these on Aluminum or pot metal. They are aggressive and like any wire brush will eventually throw wires out so eye protection is a must. A good dust mask aint a bad idea either.

Keep posting your progress and remember these were tractors made to work,not cars, they were not too concerned about the finish on the castings or runs in the paint.

Mike CA · Nov 12, 2010

That's actually a great looking H just the way it sits! I really like the way the dirt has darkened and highlighted different areas. Really nice!

But... you're gonna paint it pretty red, and that's good too. 8)

scotc · Nov 13, 2010

Yeah, don't stick your toes under them front wheels, we don't want the blocks to break and kill you.

Faster346 · Nov 13, 2010

Great looking H. Takes me back to my first H restoration. Here's some motivation for you from my hard days of sanding grinding filling and spraying for the first time.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2010

I found that "GREASED LIGHTING" degreaser is a great product. I buy it at Lowes in a 5 gal container and pour it into a 1 gal garden sprayer. Then rinse with water, power washer would do good.

When I redid my H, it had old red paint running off the block. Couldn't believe how well it works.

Dave I-9 · Nov 14, 2010

I used some cheap oven cleaner from the dollar store to degrese our 450, it removed paint and grease at the same time. I used the pressure washer to blast it off but im sure a garden hose and a scrub brush would work. just dont get any in your eyes!

D Slater · Nov 14, 2010

(quoted from post at 18:43:45 11/11/10) I recently began degreasing, undirting, and removing paint on my H using a wire brush on a grinder wheel. I started under the gas tank and noticed the grinder was cutting into the body...rounding corners and leaving "brushstrokes". What can I use to remove the old crud without hurting the soft metal???

Hate to disagree with so many other opinions but some wire wheels will dig in the castings and round corners, also remove metal at tops of bolt holes. have to watch the angle held and use a light touch at edges and machined surfaces. Have smoothed rough cast edges on old tractors with stiff brushes.

Thanks!!

H paint and dirt sraper

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads