HD15 PAINT SHOP OPEN
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Construction and other equipment
Forum Description: everything else with orange (or yellow) paint
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=102852
Printed Date: 18 Jul 2025 at 12:54pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: HD15 PAINT SHOP OPEN
Posted By: AC Mel
Subject: HD15 PAINT SHOP OPEN
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 1:00pm
Painting has started with just a few pieces left to clean. Not all pieces were sand blasted. John use's some super clean then pressure washer for some blade parts. Are goal here is to have this done in time to take to the antique equipment display at the Redwood Region Logging Conference to be held in Eureka, Ca. March 19-21 The tractor has some history of Redwood logging in Sonoma Co. Ca. in it's early days. We think we're on schedule to make it in time (kinda like some reality tv show that I can't stand to watch)    Most of these little parts had been sand blasted and primed , some weren't    So even though we're in sunny California last Sunday morning it was 28 degrees which is not favorable to our outdoor organic paint booth. I did find all the pieces for the space heater.   It got warm and toasty under there, so David started there first   So there's still more painting to do but we started reassembly too.  But there's a lot of orange showing now.    |
Replies:
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 4:35pm
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Wow, great progress. Do you suppose the previous owner will come to the show to see it?
------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: hd16b
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 5:26pm
| Looks great mel. I just got Finished doing a in frame on my 16b.have it on youtube under 16b working.also have some under 22b digging sand son working on farm. Still looking for a winch and bang pads. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 7:31pm
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Mel, Thanks for posting. The crawler is looking real good! I like the shot painting underneath. And your small parts are half as big as the tractors I work on! Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 11:15pm
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2015 at 11:28pm
Ok, guess I'll try that again. John we have a call into the previous, previous owners from the 1950s / 1960s to see if they will provide us some history. Late this afternoon we got the blade C frame back on and were able to get some new cable on it It's a CARCO model L front cable control unit. So far it seems to be working ok. 
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Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 8:14am
| totally great thank you so much |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 8:17am
| Wondering how many gallons of paint will you have spray'd when you are done? |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 8:30am
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Mel, it is looking good from here too... Just awsome how you fellows take them apart, repair them and make them whole again for another life... HD6GTOM, I was wondering the same thing... and then Ithink back to a fellow that painted a little allis tractor with some cheap allis-chalmers orange and after several years, that thing turned PINK! Boy, that crwler would not look good in pink. LOL Mel, what kind of paint are you using? Is that dozer going to cost more in paint than what you paid for it? LOL ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 8:48am
| On equipment that big, with orange paint that covers so poorly (my experience), he must buy it by the 55 gallon drum, IMHO! |
Posted By: Mactractor
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2015 at 2:31pm
| Thanks for your great posts Mel. I hope that the pressure of getting the tractor ready in time for the show is not cutting the after work beer times. |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 11:41am
|
Ok, let me help with some of those questions. JC is right about using cheap paint. We've done that too and it does fade to pink. 2 years ago we used Finishmaster paint on the HD5 and we're very pleased with it. It was very expensive. (how expensive?) For this HD15 paint job we will have used 4-gallons paint @ 211.86 847.44 5-qt.s hardner @ 53.80 269.00 2-gallons reducer@ 30.85 61.70 3-gallons laquer thinner(cleanup)@27.00 81.00 Misc body putty 20.00 27-bags sandblast sand @7.50 202.50 tax- 114.83 TOTAL 1596.00 (or over 2000. I'm sure) tractor stories (priceless) Yes, the paint cost more than the tractor. Would like to thank John Guilliams again for donating the tractor to are collection. Would like to thank Bob Kirtland for stepping up at the right time and buying a TD14 International dozer we had for sale for his International Harvester collection (that was the funding solution for painting) Mactractor- The after work beer time rules are pretty easy to follow. "you can only drink beer if you're working on a tractor or not working on a tractor" Ok, I'm going out to put the final pieces on (i'll keep you posted, LOL) |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 12:40pm
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Was just thinking, could you have taken it over to the "ohoh, you better get MAACO' paint shop and got the $200 dollar job? LOL I will bet your paint job was a whole lot more thurough and will last a whole lot longer.... I actual figured you would be using up a couple five gallon pails in painting this old critter.. Mel, thanks for the info. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 10:54pm
Ok, so this is what happened since I made that last post at 7:30 this morning  Got he big Taylor sky crane to put the roof on (with Hooch's supervision)  Got the sweeps put on also  Went out and turned around  Front grills still fit after painting   Ok kind of looks like this now   We're waiting for new seat cushions and armrests and some more lettering,but wait there will be more! |
Posted By: Dgrader
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 11:11pm
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Mel, you guys did a great job. Made her look like new. ------------- Ya cain't fix stupid. |
Posted By: ACcrazy
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2015 at 8:12am
Can't say anything that hasn't already been said so, you do awesome work Mel!!  Just like your other machines, this one looks great!  While I'm thinking about it, one of my boat customers who is an owner/operator logger said he may have an AC parts machine. He doesn't remember whether it's a loader or dozer but he said he'd get back to me. I can't use it but I thought of you guys and maybe you could--if it's not too far gone. I asked him to please keep an eye out for old abandoned or what have you AC machines that he may come across during his woods work. He said he does know where a few crawlers are but they're Caterpillars.  |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2015 at 10:45am
| Mel do you have any HD 14's,uncle made a living with 2.They were still sitting last time I knew and cousin didn't want to let her dads stuff go.But her daughters boy friends had know trouble cutting things for scrape.They sure would be better in your collection than headed to China. |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 9:53am
Ok, this is almost the final, final. This was yesterday at 5:00 PM. We're waiting for all new seat cushions which should be here today or tomorrow and a couple of more decals.  The HD5 needs to be washed. It hasn't been run since the steamshow back in Sept. But it started, so almost ready for showtime.  We also have made contact with some of the original owners of the HD15 (1951). They are planning on coming to look Sat. afternoon.Needless to say the chance to learn some history will be very exciting for us. I will be making notes (and yes pictures).It took a couple of phone calls to catch up with them. I was able to forward this actual Forum link to them. Got the call, we have to come look. I'll keep you posted |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 10:50am
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DAY~UM they look GOOD!!! Nice job there Mel ... and all.. (dog included. LOL) That will be interesting to hear the stories the previous owners have to say and what they think of the old rig in its new skin. WOW! ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 2:59pm
| It is so great that you posting doing this. Looks great. If the owners have some interesting stories or any stories WE would like to hear them. We know how old cat skinners like to talk. Again a BIG THANKS. |
Posted By: Lazyts
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2015 at 3:46pm
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It's like stepping back in time- nice work for sure! |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 3:17pm
Ok, got a box of new seat cushions yesterday. We're almost done.  Did a quick inventory to see what adjustments needed to be made  I knew from speaking with Debbi at SPEER CUSHION CO. that we would have to use our hardware and brackets but there cushions would have the threaded inserts already  WOW! it worked great. I drilled out the old brackets and cleaned them up  So it hasn't been that many years ago that when you said you had a new tractor with the seat still wrapped in plastic, it meant NEW. So what do you think I should do, leave them wrapped? (It's pretty cool)   The Speer Cushion people made this job a whole lot easier. There catalog system which is online has almost all of the Allis Chalmers tractor seats listed by model/part number/and even dimensions. Makes it very easy to cross reference parts. It appears they have almost every other manufacturer also Cat / IHC/ etc. and new type seats also, So check them out http://speercushion.com" rel="nofollow - http://speercushion.com 1-800-5258156 |
Posted By: orangeman
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 3:37pm
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As always Awesome Work Mel! |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 6:06pm
| Did all of them have a buddy seat, like that? |
Posted By: AC Mel
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 8:34pm
| Dave, our guy John who is seen working on the tractor in several posts named it "THE LOVE SEAT" The operators side is adjustable but the passenger side is stationary. It was a factory option in the day and the Speer Cushion people made it affordable and we needed to offset more orange. But more importantly it looked like a place for kids and grand kids to be for a photo op. That usually happens at shows like this |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2015 at 10:59pm
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Mel, It sure looks awesome! I vote for no plastic, let that new vinyl show off. I like the LOVE SEAT! Great pictures and documentation! I might need this tip on the seat MFG if I ever get into my IH crawler project. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2015 at 7:14am
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I need to get a seat back for my old 7G, looks like a great choice! 15 looks great, wish mine had time for such attention. |
Posted By: speercushion
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2015 at 3:48pm
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Mel, Thank you for the opportunity to work with you on this fabulous project! I love that you showed the steps in the restoration project! We look forward to working with you on future projects!!Thanks again! Speer Cushion Co.
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Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2015 at 12:03am
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Welcome to the forum, Speercushion, I suspect you will pick up some more business from all the guys needing seats for their projects. I'll check your website as I need a couple for some machines.
------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: speercushion
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2015 at 7:59am
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John, That sounds great! We look forward to working with you on your future projects! Feel free to email us at speercushion@pctelcom.coop if you have any questions! Thank you! Speer Cushion Co.
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Posted By: darrel in ND
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2015 at 10:11am
| Hey Speercushion people, welcome to the forum! I have a couple tractors sporting your work. Very satisfied with em! Darrel |
Posted By: speercushion
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2015 at 10:17am
| Darrel! Thank you for your positive feedback!! |