Stihl 048 Rebuild

[Metals406]

You just jogged my memory! There's a good old fashioned hardware store in Findlay that mixes tractor and implement paint. They can scan and custom mix it as you mentioned. They even sell a hardener for it if I recall. It's way more economical than acrylic enamel, though I'm sure not as good. It would certainly be better than the Stihl grey. I would loose the convenience of an aerosol can though. A couple coats and then rinsing out the gun with Mineral Spirits wouldn't be that big a deal though. I'm headed up there this afternoon. I think I'll grab a new clutch cover and take it along. That stuff is designed for exactly the kind of conditions a chainsaw sees. Lots of oil, gasoline, and the like.

Implement enamel is pretty tough... The key to the stuff from Forrest Paint, is it has a Polyurethane element, and it's catalyzed.

 

[blsnelling]

Implement enamel is pretty tough... The key to the stuff from Forrest Paint, is it has a Polyurethane element, and it's catalyzed.

That should make it perform about like the acrylic enamel I used, right?

 

[Metals406]

That should make it perform about like the acrylic enamel I used, right?

It's my understanding the polyurethane element is the key... There are a lot of Acrylic Enamels out there, but this is an Acrylic Polyurethane Enamel... I believe Greg Davis, at the factory, would be better able to describe it's characteristics than I can.

I just know it's tough stuff, based on what they advertise.

 

[blsnelling]

Now you've gone and made me do it. This rebuild is going to be a lot more work now. But a nice old 048 deserves it. I was at the big harware store in Findlay today and bought the paint. I had a bar cover with a fresh coat of Stihl Grey on it which they scanned. The paint is Ace Hardware tractor and implement enamel. They also sold me a hardner/catalyst with polyurethane to add to it. This should be some durable stuff. The catalyst says to mix 1/2 to 1 pint with one gallon of paint. How would you recommend I mix it? I was surprised to see that it has a pot life of 24 hours once mixed. I would have guessed less. The quart of paint was onlyh $8 and the 1/2 pint of catalyst $13. That'll paint several saws. So it should be way more durable and cheaper than Stihl aerosol cans, just more trouble to clean up. Well worth the effort I'd say.

 

[Metals406]

Now you've gone and made me do it. This rebuild is going to be a lot more work now. But a nice old 048 deserves it. I was at the big harware store in Findlay today and bought the paint. I had a bar cover with a fresh coat of Stihl Grey on it which they scanned. The paint is Ace Hardware tractor and implement enamel. They also sold me a hardner/catalyst with polyurethane to add to it. This should be some durable stuff. The catalyst says to mix 1/2 to 1 pint with one gallon of paint. How would you recommend I mix it? I was surprised to see that it has a pot life of 24 hours once mixed. I would have guessed less. The quart of paint was onlyh $8 and the 1/2 pint of catalyst $13. That'll paint several saws. So it should be way more durable and cheaper than Stihl aerosol cans, just more trouble to clean up. Well worth the effort I'd say.

Did they give you mixing cups Brad? That way you can do the math, and mix a little at a time...

If they didn't give you any, you should be able to get them in any paint section of most stores. They're invaluable for mixing paints in the correct ratio.

 

[blsnelling]

I have the necessary mixing cups. What's unclear is that the instructions on the catalyst say 1/2 to 1 pints per gallon. I'm not sure why the range or what difference it would make.

 

[parrisw]

For mixing I use a paint mixing stick. Its got all different ratio's labeled on it, works for any paint, and you don't need to keep buying special cups to mix.

 

[parrisw]

I have the necessary mixing cups. What's unclear is that the instructions on the catalyst say 1/2 to 1 pints per gallon. I'm not sure why the range or what difference it would make.

I'm guessing its to do on how fast you want it to go off. I'd personally use the least amount necessary.

 

[blsnelling]

I'm guessing its to do on how fast you want it to go off. I'd personally use the least amount necessary.

Thanks. If I can get the benefit with 1/2 pint per gallon, that's what I'll do. As long as the durablilty is the same, I don't mind a few more hours drying time.

 

[parrisw]

Thanks. If I can get the benefit with 1/2 pint per gallon, that's what I'll do. As long as the durablilty is the same, I don't mind a few more hours drying time.

Ya, and it costs less too.

 

[Metals406]

Thanks. If I can get the benefit with 1/2 pint per gallon, that's what I'll do. As long as the durablilty is the same, I don't mind a few more hours drying time.

Brad, Use the max catalyst in the paint... It will make the paint more durable.

 

[parrisw]

I've never had a problem using the min amount. But I've never done it on a saw. So??? Do what you got to do I guess.

 

[Metals406]

I've never had a problem using the min amount. But I've never done it on a saw. So??? Do what you got to do I guess.

When Brad posted about the catalyst, I remembered something a body man friend of mine told me about hardener... The more hardener, the more durable the finish... So I Googled it to see if I remembered right.

I'm sure it'll be fine either way.

 

[parrisw]

When Brad posted about the catalyst, I remembered something a body man friend of mine told me about hardener... The more hardener, the more durable the finish... So I Googled it to see if I remembered right.

I'm sure it'll be fine either way.

I wonder how much a difference it will make?

 

[Metals406]

I wonder how much a difference it will make?

Dunno? All I remember is what my paint buddy told me, and I found that bit of info with a search on Google... The more hardener, the more durable the finish I guess?

It does cut down on your working time though. I guess Brad could try the min and then the max, and compare the two for durability?

 

[parrisw]

Dunno? All I remember is what my paint buddy told me, and I found that bit of info with a search on Google... The more hardener, the more durable the finish I guess?

It does cut down on your working time though. I guess Brad could try the min and then the max, and compare the two for durability?

Ya, got to wonder if it just makes the paint harder??? And maybe that would make it more susceptible to chipping??

 

[Metals406]

Ya, got to wonder if it just makes the paint harder??? And maybe that would make it more susceptible to chipping??

I think the polyurethane will make it not want to chip?

 

[parrisw]

I think the polyurethane will make it not want to chip?

Ya, your probably right. I'm just used the the acrylic enamel.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Ya, got to wonder if it just makes the paint harder??? And maybe that would make it more susceptible to chipping??

You got it right. I paint all my old restorations with polyurethane 3 component paint and have done 20 or saws so far. The least amount of hardner gives you the longest pot life and the paint takes much longer to set up and stays a little softer and is more chip resistant but less durable to abrasion/scuffing. The maximum amount of hardener shortens pot life to a couple of hours, the paint sets up real quick and the shine is locked in also but the paint will be very easy to chip off in bigger chips but the abrasion /scuffing resistance will be greater. I personally go with a halfway inbetween mix and cannot complain about the results. On work saws it stands up really well to all the things that damage regular paint, my 066 is used all the time in the woods falling and limbing plus bucking and has shown no significant wear since painting it in January.
Pioneerguy600

 

[parrisw]

You got it right. I paint all my old restorations with polyurethane 3 component paint and have done 20 or saws so far. The least amount of hardner gives you the longest pot life and the paint takes much longer to set up and stays a little softer and is more chip resistant but less durable to abrasion/scuffing. The maximum amount of hardener shortens pot life to a couple of hours, the paint sets up real quick and the shine is locked in also but the paint will be very easy to chip off in bigger chips but the abrasion /scuffing resistance will be greater. I personally go with a halfway inbetween mix and cannot complain about the results. On work saws it stands up really well to all the things that damage regular paint, my 066 is used all the time in the woods falling and limbing plus bucking and has shown no significant wear since painting it in January.
Pioneerguy600

Nice work, good to hear info from first hand experience.

Thanks