How to strip a wooden aircraft?

[c hinds]

Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
Plywood wing skins and fuse.
What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
the underlying plywood and glue joints.
Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
Any advice appreciated.
Chinds

[Ed Sullivan]

(c hinds) wrote in message >...
> Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
> Plywood wing skins and fuse.
> What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
> the underlying plywood and glue joints.
> Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
> Any advice appreciated.
> Chinds

You didn't mention whether there was fabric over the plywood. Whatever
the case I wouldn't use any paint strippers on it as it might soften
the adhesive underneath. I would recommend careful sanding trying not
to penetrate the plywood.

Ed Sullivan

[O-ring Seals]

On 29 Dec 2003 10:05:43 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

>Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
>Plywood wing skins and fuse.
>What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
>the underlying plywood and glue joints.
>Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
>Any advice appreciated.
>Chinds


For starters, we need to know the type of finish being removed. Is
the wood actually painted, or is it covered with some type of fabric?

O-ring

[Lou Parker]

(c hinds) wrote in message >...
> Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
> Plywood wing skins and fuse.
> What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
> the underlying plywood and glue joints.
> Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
> Any advice appreciated.
> Chinds


First put on some good music.

[Roger Halstead]

On 29 Dec 2003 10:05:43 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

>Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
>Plywood wing skins and fuse.

I just finished up on one. I used a sabre saw, chop saw, and a really
big hammer....Oh yah, you wanted to be able to reuse the airplane.

>What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
>the underlying plywood and glue joints.
>Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.

I'd be very hesitant to use anything other than sanding. Even then you
have to be careful. That skin my be wood, but it is very thin. You
can punch you hand through it as easy, or easier than fabric...unless
of course you try to punch through over a rib or spar. That's really
hard on the knuckles.

A lot depends on how the wood surface was finished. It may be sealed
wood with paint, or many have a covering of resin and a very thin
cloth.

I'd be afraid that what ever would take off the paint would also take
off the resin and cloth. OTOH my experience with wood aircraft is
rather limited.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com

>Any advice appreciated.
>Chinds

[Lou Parker]

Roger Halstead > wrote in message >...
> On 29 Dec 2003 10:05:43 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:
>
> >Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
> >Plywood wing skins and fuse.
>
> I just finished up on one. I used a sabre saw, chop saw, and a really
> big hammer....Oh yah, you wanted to be able to reuse the airplane.
>
> >What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
> >the underlying plywood and glue joints.
> >Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
>
> I'd be very hesitant to use anything other than sanding. Even then you
> have to be careful. That skin my be wood, but it is very thin. You
> can punch you hand through it as easy, or easier than fabric...unless
> of course you try to punch through over a rib or spar. That's really
> hard on the knuckles.
>
> A lot depends on how the wood surface was finished. It may be sealed
> wood with paint, or many have a covering of resin and a very thin
> cloth.
>
> I'd be afraid that what ever would take off the paint would also take
> off the resin and cloth. OTOH my experience with wood aircraft is
> rather limited.
>
> Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
> (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
> www.rogerhalstead.com
>
> >Any advice appreciated.
> >Chinds



Try using a heat gun. Be careful not to burn the wood. It will soften
the glue that holds the plywood down, but also pay attention to the
strutural connections.

[Dan Thomas]

(Lou Parker) wrote in message >...
> Roger Halstead > wrote in message >...
> > On 29 Dec 2003 10:05:43 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:
> >
> > >Just obtained an all wood aircraft in sore need of repair and paint.
> > >Plywood wing skins and fuse.
> >
> > I just finished up on one. I used a sabre saw, chop saw, and a really
> > big hammer....Oh yah, you wanted to be able to reuse the airplane.
> >
> > >What is the proper method for stripping. Primary concern is damage to
> > >the underlying plywood and glue joints.
> > >Is it just sand, sand, sand ? or will chemical strippers suffice.
> >
> > I'd be very hesitant to use anything other than sanding. Even then you
> > have to be careful. That skin my be wood, but it is very thin. You
> > can punch you hand through it as easy, or easier than fabric...unless
> > of course you try to punch through over a rib or spar. That's really
> > hard on the knuckles.
> >
> > A lot depends on how the wood surface was finished. It may be sealed
> > wood with paint, or many have a covering of resin and a very thin
> > cloth.
> >
> > I'd be afraid that what ever would take off the paint would also take
> > off the resin and cloth. OTOH my experience with wood aircraft is
> > rather limited.
> >
> > Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
> > (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
> > www.rogerhalstead.com
> >
> > >Any advice appreciated.
> > >Chinds
>
>
>
> Try using a heat gun. Be careful not to burn the wood. It will soften
> the glue that holds the plywood down, but also pay attention to the
> strutural connections.

My experience with rebuilding two wooden airplanes makes me
really wary of further such projects. The poster says the airplane in
question is in "sore need of repair," raising concerns about hidden
vermin damage, mildew, rot, or glue joint delamination.
Refinishing the exterior surfaces are the least of his worries, and
as others have suggested, judicious sanding is likely the safest,
remembering the thinness of the plies of the wood. No power sanding.
I don't think I would take on another wooden airplane restoration
unless it was in really good shape, maybe just with aging fabric.
Easier to build a new one. Discouragement with what the rebuilder
keeps finding can cancel the whole thing.

Dan