Unrestoring paint

The old saying that "they are only original once" is not true anymore, at least not in the tractor game, where many tractors that were restored, often badly, 30 or 40 years ago, are now being brought back to original-before painting condition. I would like to do this with an old Deere that was painted about 50 years ago with what appears to be a bucket of farm store paint and a broom. Can any of you recommend any resources as far as books, youtube videos or anything else on how to accomplish this?
Would like to have the tractor end up looking more like this when done.
Thanks

 

Sand blast it clean, and then let it set out in the rain, preferably near a large body of salt water for some period of time. It will look rusty again in no time.

Seriously, why go through all that effort and not repaint it properly to restore it to look like it did when it left the factory???

 

It's a new trend. I think that a lot of car restorers think that an early auto is more interesting with original patina than a high gloss paint job.

 

Plow a couple hundred acres with it

 

Actually, you use peroxide and vinegar. That much I know.

 

What do you think the framer who used it in the field every day would have done?

 

I’ve been attending antique tractor and gas engine shows for at least 60 years, and “restored” is where it’s at. If it’s not in original condition, trying to make it look unrestored is not going to work…

 

So..... you want to reverse an old paint job to go back to a "done today" fake original pre-painted version of what you are calling patina....??? And you want to do this on a tractor?

My opinion? The only original ones are the original ones.....

 

Trends come and go.
I try my best not to follow them.

 

I would, in an inconspicuous area, use some paint stripper, to check if they painted over the rusty/patina original surface or if they sanded/sandblasted prior to brushing on the paint you want to remove. If the surface under “new” paint is actually rust/patina…you are lucky, just continue paint stripper job. If there is no rust/patina under the “new” paint…you are out of luck…but could try blocking out the brushed finish, to level it out somewhat, so it looks more like an original factory spray job!

 

A friend of mine restores two cylinder John Deere’s . He takes the tractors completely apart. Every nut and bolt is cleaned. Everything is primed, assembled and painted. The final product looks better than what Deere rolled out of the factory.
Take a cloth rag soaked in paint thinner and lay on the paint in a hidden spot. Leave it for a while remove the rag .See if that’s the look you’re going for .

 

Pretty sure that old saying of "They are only original once" still applies whether it is a car or a tractor. Anything other than that is fake as best I know. I get the trend, but as mentioned, also try to avoid trends since they come and go. From what I have seen, trying to fake patina takes about as much work as just making something nice. I have considered restoring my tractor to make it nice. But, then I would have to be careful with it. So, I'll probably just keep using it with the multiple colors of flaking paint.

 

Strip it, paint it with tractor paint and put it to work. It will develop a real patina very soon.