sheddcanyon wrote:

what's the benefit of going with enamel as opposed to a single stage urethane (or two stage urethane for that matter)?

I tried single stage urethane when I painted my d2 and didn't have very good results.  The urethane was considerably more expensive also
 

  I used Krylon new equipment yellow, it's very close to hiway yellow and it covers good.
I can't remember the price but it was very reasonable. I used the Krylon reducer and hardener. It was readily available locally.

Guess we have to make em look like Squatch tractors, lol, no paint.

I work at a repair shop that is a dealer for Walker brand zero turn mowers (very well built machines). They are painted Cat Hi-way yellow. not sure how paint is offered from Walker. I know we always get aerosol cans and once in a great while quarts. I could sure check into it, but there are Walker dealers all over the world. They are made in Fort Collins, Colorado.

enamel is the easiest and cheapest with good durability.(you can add enamel hardener to improve drying time and durability a bit, BUT that adds some isocyanate to the mix not as much as 2-pack but its still there)
also unlike the others there is no catalyst required for enamels.
the catalyst for most 2 pack is rather nasty and very toxic as its isocyanuric acid. and should not be sprayed at home in the backyard, it also requires positive pressure (PAPR) or supplied air type respirators (supplied air needs special filters on your air supply so you dont breathe oil vapours and die from chemical pnumonia) these are expensive.

the danger with isocyanates is some of them are so toxic you are well over the exposure limit before you feel affected. and it is a a group of cyanide containing compounds.

iso free 2 pack is available but very expensive. in general 2 pack is double the price of enamel iso free 2pack is more expensive again.
enamel has none of that and is very forgiving, is more tolerant of poor surface cleanliness. you can get a good finish with a brush or even the cheap nasty $50 spray gun 2 pack require better equipment.

while 2 pack is very durable and has excellent chemical and fuel resistance it can be too brittle for some applications and can chip and flake rather then flex.

enamel has the advantage in touch up too simply clean, rub back a bit, clean again and apply. no special tools you use a spray can unlike 2 pack.(yes 2pack spray cans exist but expensive) you can even touch up enamel while at a display a quick squirt from a aerosol and done.

if you want a really good enamel paint that is tough and durable have a look at the POR15 range of paints and restoration chemicals.

walker have there own colour but yes its very close to higway yellow.

trainzkid88,

The POR-15 paint looks pretty interesting based on their website. I had never heard of it. They only have a Safety Yellow that is close to the old Cat. How close is it to old Cat Yellow? Also, is it a regular enamel? It looks like you can just brush or spray it on. They claim their topcoat can go directly on over rusty surfaces. Have you had any experience with it?

HI! I pulled this from one of my One Safe Source catalogs that I got from my Caterpillar dealer.

Here’s what I use here in CA. Get from my local DuPont paint dealer. About 120.00 a gallon with the hardener. Been using it for years
 

Robert, the Wallace Machinery dealer sticker is a great touch. Wallace was in the Paso Robles area a long time. Lots of Cats around here still sporting the decal.