McGrew 460 #1 Posted June 30, 2019 The hood of my Raider has fresh paint. I took it back to bare metal and put on 2 coats of Rustoleum primer. I then spayed it with 3 coats of Rustoleum Regal red, in aerosol cans. The final coat was applied 32 days ago. I have new hood decals from Vinylguy (they look great!), but do not want to apply them before the paint is fully cured. I put the hood back on the tractor 2 weeks after the last coat, and believe the paint was a little soft, as some of the paint came off where it contacts the butttons I installed on the hood stand. So my question is this: When will it be safe to install the new decals? Thanks for any input! Danny 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,214 #2 Posted June 30, 2019 We use Rust-Oleum 2X here. I find that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to approach "cured". I know you've been that long and it would probably be fine.... But I'd wait another couple weeks unless you want to "show" it somewhere. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,880 #3 Posted June 30, 2019 McGrew When was doing painting I had the luxury of have a second floor in the garage. In summer it is like a furnace so I would leave all parts up there for the summer made the paint harder less scratching on assembly. Enjoy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,222 #4 Posted June 30, 2019 2 hours ago, Retierd Wrencher said: McGrew When was doing painting I had the luxury of have a second floor in the garage. In summer it is like a furnace so I would leave all parts up there for the summer made the paint harder less scratching on assembly. Enjoy. When I painted mine I just put them out in the sun after the paint got dry enough that nothing would stick to it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGrew 460 #5 Posted June 30, 2019 Thanks guys! Since time is my friend, I will let it sit a while longer before applying the decals. Although patience is not a virtue I am known for , a couple more weeks won’t kill me... I have a hundred other projects waiting for attention. Thanks again! Danny 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 8,861 #6 Posted June 30, 2019 with the new decals Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGrew 460 #7 Posted June 30, 2019 Oliver2-44 consider it done! This tractor will never be a trailer queen, but I am pleased with the results so far. Right now, it is a combination of at least 2 colors of red... I am cleaning it up a little at a time. Danny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,332 #8 Posted June 30, 2019 You can use this after that time get this and rub it out. Then use the wax to finish it . Worked great for me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGrew 460 #9 Posted June 30, 2019 Thank you Tool Crib! I debated whether to compound it, but since the paint is not as smooth as I would have liked, I am definitely going to compound and polish. And I like Meguiar,s products. My wife calls him smiling Barry... Danny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGrew 460 #10 Posted August 25, 2019 Okay guys, it took longer than I planned (it seems that is the norm...) to get the decals on and get some pictures taken. But I got it done. I modified the hinge mounting points to make the hood fit correctly, and made new brass bushings for them. I applied the decals a couple weeks ago, and they went on without a problem, and look great! The rest of the paint on the tractor is some color my Brother put on it when he restored it over 20 years ago. One day, I will find the time to make it entirely Regal Red, but this tractor is a worker, and the two tone paint has not kept it from working! Here are the results: 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,748 #11 Posted August 25, 2019 I like what you did with the head light, looks as though it's always been like that. Can you give us a close-up picture of that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGrew 460 #12 Posted August 25, 2019 Rjg854, sure! I cannot figure out how to post a link to the thread on my IPad, but if you do a search on this site for “LED Headlight Upgrade” you will find a thread I started back in May of this year. It details the install. I have not had many chances to get it out at night, but the light it puts out is pretty incredible. Danny 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites