I did a Christmas thing

I know imgur loves dessert first so here's the finished product

So i found this gem in the company storage unit just before thanks giving.

My boss is a great guy, but one of those guys that is real tough to find a gift for. This tractor was his as a child and his kids rode it and their kids, until now when it was tucked away safely. He just had a new grandchild so I figured let's keep the tradition alive. I talked his daughter into helping finance some of the build (seat, tires and decals).

Step one strip that mother down. The tractor is from the 40's or 50's and is cast aluminum. I was going to soda blast but decided not to for two reasons. 1) No blasting cabinet so i was using my yard and i have dogs. 2) Soda blasting requires a chemical cleaning after blasting because the soda is very basic (acidity scale, not white girls) and the chemical is $$$$. So i used crushed walnut shells

Prep is key people, 2 coats of primer for every part of the tractor

Lots and lots of parts... speaking of those rims, they don't come apart. I used a torch to take off the old wheels and microwaved the new ones to make the rubber stretch over those bad boys.

Safety first. Always use a mask (should have used a respirator but i don't do this that often). This is after ten minutes of spraying. Enamel in your nose and mouth is no fun. Use it & a face shieldwhen blasting stuff too!

First coat

Second coat

Details in the casting are amazing... they don't make em' like they used to.

I can't stress how amazingly built this thing is, every piece except the cast has hand welds and survived, (minus the seat)

Final assembly

Beautiful

1954 Eska McCormick IH Farmall M Pedal Tractor

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