I am in the process of restoring a 1947 2n ford tractor and will paint it all grey as they were from the factory, or at least as close as I can. I have been doing some research on paint and to tell you the truth I don't know much more than I did before I started. Maybe a little more confused. What brand paint would you guys use. Hardener no hardener.
Thanks in advance,
Doug

It depends on where you do your research. There is a lot of info here in the How-To's and the Archives have many posts on painting your tractor. How much you want to spend on a restoration job is a big factor. Not all brands sold today are good and match to the original. TISCO is good and budget minded. Steve Dawbrowski did extensive research and found a brand that closely matches the original M2888. Most use hardnere too. Don't waste time and money with the stuff that says it is UV resistant, it is junk. You can contact him and ask what he used. Here's a photo of his early 9N.

Steve Dabrowski's beautifully restored, exact-as-original 1939 9N Ford-Ferguson -

The TISCO brand is a close match to original Ford Dark Grey M2888, made by Van Sickle Paint Co, and is for budget minded.

Interesting that my 39 should show up here, it was on my trailer going over Donner Pass on my way to a show in Gardnerville, Nevada. The background is the Southern Pacific railroad snow sheds covering the railway which still occupies the original Transcontinental route.

But, with regard to paint, I use Nason which was made by Duponte but now owned by another company. It is a two step urethane that uses a hardener and is pretty easy to use. The color was from a sample of a spray can of Rustoleum dark machinery grey that was close to the Ford color. I had the urethane mixed to match that sample. The urethane gives a good finish that retains its brilliance over time.

I get comments that it is probably better than new, but my goal was to present a tractor that looked like it would have in the showroom, and while it may be better than it looked in 1939, looking new has to be in the context of today's audience and what looks new to them so that justifies the higher quality paint to me. Good luck with your project. The paint is not cheap, but you will be happy with the result and not miss the money after it is done. Good luck.

steve, treid calling you, VM says mailbox not set up yet...???

I changed carriers, but I'm still getting VM's. My number is the 510 area code one.

I used Van Sickle paint, not their Tisco line, on my 860 and am very pleased with the results and life.

They are also very good about providing support to any questions you may have.

I did use hardener also. Be very well ventilated if you do.

Van Sickle Paint Mfg. Company
Lincoln, NE 68501
Call (402) 476-6558

Good Luck,

Jack

Just 8N's is one source for what you need.

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