The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Beware of Alkyd Enamel Gloss Results!

Hey,Guys,(and Gals)! Last Spring,(2012),I painted '"Tater",using "Van Sickle" brand,"premium" alkyd enamel paint.The reason was because the price was right,and the manufacturer claims that this "premium" product is very durable,especially if equipment sits outdoors for prolonged periods. Since I don't have a garage big enough for a 2-ton,'"Tater"'s stuck outdoors all the time.There are NEW testimonials on the subject now,that weren't when I purchased the paint. Acrylic enamel will retain its gloss much longer(withstands U.V. rays),than alkyd. I didn't know this,at the time. Luckily,I painted my truck just to keep the surface rust at bay,until I have the time for a more thorough restoration. Now it looks like I painted my truck with a semi-gloss finish! I may apply an acrylic clear coat,(compatible for the alkyd application),but not sure if it would help much. Any thoughts??

Yeah with alkyd or synthetic enamel keeping the paint clean and waxed helps. You might try polishing the paint to bring back the shine.....

Wetwilly

I have been restoring antique tractors for years and always use Tallmans AG specialties Coatings which is Van Sickle enamel labeled for All states Ag Parts. I've talked to Van Sickle for custom colors.

The can doesn't specify what type of enamel. I don't know if they make both kinds. It thins and sprays really well, has a great gloss and I add the hardner. All of the tractors look great today. It's $33 a gallon.

I didn't even know they still made alkyd enamel. That was being used back in the dark ages when I went to body & fender trade school. That is some nasty stuff. Every exposed hair on my body was that color when I was done painting. Looked pretty comical at times.

Zero rust and Rustoleum are alkyd enamels. You can also add a UV protectant to them, as well as a catalyst to make it harden faster.

I want to bring out a shine,that didn't happen with the initial application.Finish looks like satin,not gloss. Thanks Truckrolet,but I'm questioning "Van Sickle Premium Alkyd Tractor/Implement", paint,here. Is this paint "buffable/wet-sandable"??

It's TRACTOR paint... they don't cut and buff tractors.
If you want shiny now with what you've got shoot 3 or better 4 coats of clear coat over it (If the CC doesn't react with your paint when you test a spot first)
then you could cut and buff it.

The tractor paint lays down a high gloss finish when properly thinned and sprayed. That's it. Shines better than my wife's car. The only thing you do after that is hose it off once and a while

To cut and buff it, it would likely have to set a year or so to really harden up. Unless you use a hardner. Look at some of the youtube videos of the rustoleum paint jobs. Seems they don't wait too long to buff etc.

Yeah when they were doing those paint roller paint jobs with Rustoleum, they seem to wet sand in about 24 hrs or so. I'd think the paint would still be rather green yet....

John

I did Rustoleum paint on my '38. It still shines like this after a year being in my carport. It took 4 coats rolled and sanded after 24 hours.

Rustoleum paint

The fenders are painted with satin black.

Nice truck Wayne.
John

Thanks

Question, Truckrolet, what kind of catalyst can be added to rustoleum oil based enamel?

25 or so years ago I used to mix industrial enamels with DuPont gloss hardener, not sure if that is the correct term. If I remember right the paint was an alkyd enamel. It worked great. Good gloss and very hard.