Sandblasting a Tractor

jd2cyl1943 · Mar 22, 2023

Before you jump on me and tell me to get it running before I worry about sandblasting and painting, permit me to explain.

1. Being a John Deere two-cylinder there is a area under the block that will need paint.

2. I don't have the money to assemble it and then dissemble it because of how much gasket sets cost.

3. If I fully dissemble it and replace all the seals and gaskets it's not going to leak.

4. It is easy to paint before you reassemble it so you can get the hard to reach spots.

5. I can sandblast it without fearing I am ruining seals and gaskets.

6. I can clean out parts better dissembled.

Now that I have given my reasons why I am thinking about sandblasting and painting before I test start it, what is your opinion on sandblasting a tractor when it is running. Seems like a good way to waste money to me.

Patsdeere · Mar 22, 2023

Anything that has a seal/gasket/bearing
should never be sand blasted, in my
opinion. I know of very few things that
couldn't be reused of taken off after a
few minutes of run time. About the only
thing I can think of is the lead washers
on the head. I've taken many apart and not
replaced gaskets unless they tore/leaking
to start with.

Now if it was me and I didn't want to take
it apart again to reach hard areas,
anything that isn't removable (sheet
metal, seat, floorpan, etc) would get wire
wheeled, printed and rattle can green.
Then when you shoot the whole thing, any
little books and crannies would already be
protected and you wouldn't have to worry
about getting into the tiny areas.

That's my approach (after 6 restorations),
how you do yours is your choice. Good luck
and enjoy it.

tomturkey · Mar 22, 2023

Have at it. It appears that you have yourself convinced of the manner in which you would prefer to do it. I don't think anyone can think of
six reasons not to sandblast. When I had access to a blast cabinet, I indeed blasted a lot of the parts that would fit before I assembled and
painted, so much better than a grinder with a wire wheel. jmo gobble

rustred · Mar 22, 2023

That is the correct way to paint a tractor. Take as much
apart as possible. Sandblast or sand and get all sheet
metal painted before assembly, but it should be fitted
first to guarantee it all fits properly. Make sure tires are
off the tractor , and they are painted separately also. I am
not a big fan of sandblasting unless the pieces are
separate and disassembled then they can be blown out
and cleaned. Then primed then painted. a good painter
can make rattle can painting look pretty professional.
After the priming then I do your dust coat meaning a light
coat of paint. Then you give it another coat. Then you
give it more till the paint wants to run but make sure it
dont run. I have painted things and watched painters ,
just live and learn. Then when you go to assemble the
unit you use all new bolts for the sheet metal and they
can be touched up once everything is complete. You
should end up with a show room looking piece when
done. Lots more to it also and I am sure there
professional painters here that will give even better
advise.

redforlife · Mar 23, 2023

Sometimes it just makes more sense to paint
some pieces while it's apart. Just have a
plan put together as to how your not going
to blast what you have already painted.

Just remember if your doing this project
outside, you should really prime what you
have sand blasted right away. And paint
over the primer once the primer has
adequately dried. You don't want the bare
metal to get wet, or it'll just rust right
away. And you don't want the primer to get
weathered before you cover it with paint.

Re-blasting and re-painting areas is not a
problem. But just remember that you don't
want to be re-blasting painted areas that
you are not going to be able to hit with
the paint again.

caterpillar guy · Mar 23, 2023

Only real concern would be if you still have any bearings or seals still in the casting. They would collect a lot of sand in them and if not replaced or washed out very good would lead to part failure rather quickly. And don't blow dry ball or roller bearings. Any dirt in the air stream blowing can damage the surface ultimately being able to cause a failure.

BarnyardEngineering · Mar 23, 2023

The main argument against sandblasting is on ASSEMBLED tractors. You're jamming sand down into every crack and crevice and seal and gasket where it stands a better-than-average chance of working its way into the engine and causing you heartburn.

Since you're taking the tractor apart, blast away.

If you're paying attention as you assemble the engine and are replacing or renewing badly worn components, it will run when you are done, so go ahead and paint your brains out!

Randyscottsboro · Mar 23, 2023

Or you can go to the Pablo Picasso GP Love school of painting in Alabama, but let me warn you! It's the wrong color.

Richard G. · Mar 23, 2023

I will never sandblast an assembled tractor again.
Sand gets in everywhere and you will have to take it back apart to get all the sand out.
An idiot sandblasted a tractor I used at Clemson U and I found sand in many places that would hurt parts like the front spindles.
My son blasted a Case LA for me and then painted it.
Had to take the engine out, disassemble, and completely steam clean all the sand out.
An LA has hand holes on the sides of the block.
When I took them off and felt around, I found sand inside.
We tried taping everything where sand might get in, but it got in anyway.
Sandblast while it is apart and clean and paint before putting it back together.
I prefer cleaning with scrapers and wire brushes.
Richard in NW SC

grandpa Love · Mar 23, 2023

What's sand blasting?? Get a grinder with a wire wheel and a flappy sander disk. Don't go crazy, especially on the cast. It's way more important to get the grease and oil off than to get all the paint off.

Lots of hours in this paint job, most of those spent cleaning. I wouldn't waste the time , money or effort to sandblast.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 23, 2023

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Doesn't take much.

Rich'sToys · Mar 23, 2023

As has been mentioned, that sand will get in everywhere if the tractor is assembled when doing it.

Painting the pieces while still apart is a good idea, although the factory never did it that way. Any kind of paint job you do is in most cases going to be far better than anything the factory ever put on it!

Stephen Newell · Mar 23, 2023

Be sure to de-grease it first. If there is any grease present sandblasting will push the grease into the cast iron parts.

4wdtom · Mar 23, 2023

Rust-Oleum has an equipment paint that comes in the tractor shades. Supposed to be better than their regular paint. On a casting you can brush it on and it will be fine.
And a careful job of brush on sheet metal will look fine unless you are looking for perfection. Especially with a tractor apart paint the pieces while apart you will get
better coverage on the hard to get places or impossible places when it is assembled.

Goose · Mar 23, 2023

Like others have said, I wouldn't sand blast anything but sheet metal off the tractor. Sand from sandblasting just loves to get everywhere you don't want it.

BarnyardEngineering · Mar 23, 2023

Blasting is quicker and takes all the paint off vs. a wire wheel which is slow and doesn't remove all the paint.

Since he's not going to be committing the cardinal sin of sandblasting, let him do it.

Rich'sToys · Mar 23, 2023

We don't have to "let" him do anything. He's free to do whatever he wants. He just asked for opinions, and he's gotten plenty of those. Now he can decide what he wants to do.

BillinCentralMO · Mar 23, 2023

I agree you dont want to particle blast near the tractor. I have been using shredded corn cobs as media. It
is not abrasive. Worked great to prepare the JD 800 three point hitch I bought. Made a wonderful surface to
paint on. Its biodegradable. I dont use a cabinet. Just let the stuff blow away or blow it out the door with
the compressor. It was not terribly costly when I bought two big bags of it.

Crazy Horse · Mar 23, 2023

Goose .... and if you get the wrong guy blasting, you can warp tractor tin badly. Had that happen to me once, never again !!!

OregonAaron · Mar 23, 2023

I would not blast it unless you are planning on a 100% tear down. It s very hard to not get media where you don t want it. That stuff works it s way in every where! A friend of mine had a car body media blasted by a reputable shop and it turned out amazing- that was just the body/frame and nothing else. Also, what crazyhorse says is true- you can badly warp sheet metal if you do not know what you are doing. I have done it myself, luckily on a part that was not important.

Sandblasting a Tractor

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