OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Question On Scott Bonnar Cylinder Mowers Painting my SB45

Hi all,

Been having a terrible time trying to repaint my SB45. Had it sand-blasted then, thinking it was almost a match for the original paint, attempted to spray it in VHT Kermit Green Engine Enamel.
What a mistake that was!
Thought that the heat and chemical resistance of the paint would be a great thing for a mower frame, but The paint is extremely difficult to spray well. It ends up patchy when sprayed with a thick coat and has dust-like paint particles left on it if I try to spray in thin coats.
Tried everything but just can't get the finish I'm after with this paint, chucked the rest in the bin.
Getting the frame sand-blasted again tomorrow for a fresh start, I know nothing about paint, can anyone help me? Enamel or Acrylic? Where to get a close match for the original paint(late SB45 as shown in pic)?
Would definitely prefer spray cans and as close a colour match as possible.

Cheers,
David

Hi Dave

For the chassis, I would use an Enamel. If you can get a heavy duty industrial Enamel that would be the go. I buy mine in 1 litre tins and thin with 20% thinners and spray through a gun. Once it is dry, job done.

If your going the spray can route, I would be leaning towards a Watyll Kill Rust. Its about $20 a can, but it is not to bad. Even though it says it can be sprayed straight on you should be priming.

With a bare metal surface as you have mentioned, start with a coat of Etch Primer. You can then put a grey primer over the top if you desire, but you can spray straight over the Etch. You can get Etch in a spray can from supercheap or any auto store.

Cheap Enamel spray cans, dont have a good build quality and dont offer a particuarly hard finish.

Some or most automotive acylic paints require a clear top coat. The colour is simply a base. You can put an acrylic clear lacquer (nitrocellulose) which is available in a spray can, over the top. However the finish is only about medium hardness and required buffing with polish to obtain a shine, or it just looks like a Satin Finish. For best results use a 2 Pack lacquer like UPOL. It drys to a high gloss and is very durable.

The other option is to put a Green Hammertone finish on, like used on the older scott bonnars. You can get this in a spray can.

I just painted my mercury outboard with a acylic black with a clear over it, it come out very nice! I tryed engine anamel before that.. dull was no good.. you can buff it up easyier too.