Men love their toys. There is the grill, old skill saw, that worn-in hammer or a wrench.

And then there are the bigger toys, like tractors and automobiles. For some men, there is nothing better than getting greasy under the hood of their tractor or car.

Adding oil to an already running machine is not always the situation when a man is out working on an engine. There can be a lot of work involved in refurbishing an antique.

“I love getting an old tractor and rebuilding back to the point of where it works, and my sons or I can use it on the farm,” Isabella resident Gerald Smitherman said.

Although cars are normally the classic rebuild for most men, there are those who find more joy in getting the rust off of an old tractor.

When starting a project like this, it’s a good idea to check out your resources and the amount of time and money required to get the job completed.

One thing that you have to check into is whether the tractor is running. If the engine is already up and going, restoring the frame may be a short job. If the tractor isn’t running; however, there can be a lot more time, money and work needed.

When restoring a tractor, there are parts that can be removed, sandblasted and refinished to make your final project worth taking to a show.

“Most of the time when I get a tractor I have to start from scratch and take the full engine apart. That requires a lot of time and patience,” Smitherman said. “But I love getting out the sand blaster and making the old rusty parts come back to life after they are all cleaned up and back in running condition.”

Restoring an antique tractor may not be on your list for a fun summer project, but, for those who find it exciting, there are places that you can turn for help to get started, find parts and determining what to do with your tractor.

Smitherman said that although he has taken his tractors to a few shows, he mainly restores them for use around his farm. When he needs help, parts or support he visits http://www.yesterdaystractor.com, which is open to everyone who needs to know more about tractors and restoring them to their original condition.