Tips for Painting Your Racing Lawnmower

The first thing that you have to think about before painting your racing lawnmower is the color scheme. This is important as some colors add more appeal while others make it look dull and lifeless.

Bright colors like orange, red, bright green and yellow appear to be the favorite choice among racers, although there are some who say that green is bad luck in racing. Good thing speed was never what John Deere was after.

Dark colors like black and brown don’t look as good on a racing lawnmower. They may look good on cars, but they appear lifeless and are less noticeable under the lights. The main goal for painting your racing lawnmower is to catch the eyes of spectators and potential sponsors.

It is also important to choose the right decals for your mower. They need to contrast with the paint so it can be noticed. Stripes are a good idea as they make your mower look faster on the tracks. Two-tone paint jobs with bright decals are becoming more popular.

Paint jobs should be done during the winter. This gives you all the time you need to break down your racing lawnmower and paint individual parts. You can even paint the engine and the frame to make it stand out and get noticed by potential sponsors.

As for the engine, you might use light color paint like yellow. This way you can immediately notice if the engine has an oil leak. This alert could save you from the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish).

Before painting your racing lawnmower, make sure that the surface is ready. Sand the entire surface with a minimum of 200 grit. After sanding, make sure to thoroughly clean the surface with water to remove dust, you don’t want to start painting while there is still dust on the racing mower.

You’ll also want to use a solvent-based cleaner to get rid of excess oil or grease on the surface prior to painting your racing mower.

For those parts you don’t want painted, like the wirings and tires, it is advisable to cover them with newspaper or a drop cloth and masking tape to keep them from spray. Although, who knows, you might start a new racing mower trend with yellow tires.

Safety is always a concern when painting your racing lawnmower. Make sure that you are in a well ventilated area when painting. It is advisable to wear a respirator to protect your lungs from the chemicals. You’ll also want to wear a hat unless you want your hair to match the color of your racing mower.

Dust ruins all paint jobs, so before painting, either wet the floor or cover it with newspaper or some sort of drop cloth.

The key to a professional looking paint job is to apply a coat of primer first, then wet-sand the surface with a 320 grit or higher fine paper. Clean the surface once again with a solvent-based cleaner and you’re racing lawnmower is now ready for the finishing coats.

2 to 3 coats are advisable for the brightest finish. You may also consider applying a clear coat for added sheen. If you choose to do so, apply the coat 12 hours after your last coating.

After that, you can go ahead and take the racing mower for a spin. Don’t forget to take a few racing lawnmower photos for your sponsor as well.