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Young Farmer Starts Restoration Business
Fixing tractors started out as a necessity for Brian Wischmeyer when he was 16. The tractors he and his father worked on were the ones they used on their Ottawa, Ohio farm.
Eight years later, Wischmeyer is still at it with a reputation for good work that has spread from neighbor to neighbor. He recently started
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Young Farmer Starts Restoration Business SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 33-5-38 Fixing tractors started out as a necessity for Brian Wischmeyer when he was 16. The tractors he and his father worked on were the ones they used on their Ottawa, Ohio farm.
Eight years later, Wischmeyer is still at it with a reputation for good work that has spread from neighbor to neighbor. He recently started advertising his business, Brian's Tractor Restoration, to fill in his off time from farming with his dad.
Wischmeyer studied ag business at college, but gained most of his restoration skills working with an auto body expert who also rebuilds engines.
"My specialty is painting," Wischmeyer says. "Most guys don't take the time to get a tractor ready to paint, and a successful paint job is 90 percent preparation." He has invested in good equipment to power wash and sandblast all the grease and old paint. He also wet sands after applying primer and before adding a final clear coat. In addition to painting restored tractors, he paints new equipment for local dealers.
The 24-year-old can do more than just paint, however. He points out that there's no use painting a tractor to make it look new if there's something wrong with it. He offers complete overhauls, if needed.
"On the last one I took off every nut and bolt," Wischmeyer says. He buys parts books for every model he works on.
Many of his customers are collectors who appreciate his professional painting.
"I work on a lot of Ford 8N and Deere 420's and 730's also," he says.
Wischmeyer charges $25/hour and he estimates approximate costs ahead of time. Painting a small Ford 8N runs about $700, for example.
The work is satisfying, Wischmeyer says. He isn't fond of the prep work for painting, but likes the challenge of fixing tractors.
"The part I like the best is when you get it back together and painted, and it looks like new," he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brian Wischmeyer, Brian's Tractor Restoration, 13295 Rd. 8M, Ottawa, Ohio 45875 (ph 419 235-4339; briansjds@yahoo.com).
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