Another Painting Question

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

On 3 Dec 2004 07:03:49 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

scuff lightly with scotchbrite.
dilute phosphoric acid wash.
alodine to passivate the surface.
primer
top coats.

Stealth (watch your finger prints) Pilot

From: Stealth Pilot
Date: 12/3/2004 09:30 Central Standard Time
Message-id:

On 3 Dec 2004 07:03:49 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

scuff lightly with scotchbrite.
dilute phosphoric acid wash.
alodine to passivate the surface.
primer
top coats.

Stealth (watch your finger prints) Pilot

If there's any remains of adhesive from tape I'd get rid of it first. Acetone
works nicely.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Stealth Pilot wrote in message . ..
On 3 Dec 2004 07:03:49 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

scuff lightly with scotchbrite.
dilute phosphoric acid wash.
alodine to passivate the surface.
primer
top coats.

Stealth (watch your finger prints) Pilot

This is the perfect answer.. he is also correct about the
fingerpronts, always wear gloves and happy painting....

I'm still confused and I must have read every painting book out there, the
best of which is "How to Paint Your Car"/ www.motorbooks.com ..... however
it doesn't say anything about preping a plane. For that I look at what's
available from Aircraft Spruce and I wonder if the following is a good
idea........

1) Clean w/ Alumiprep #33 - Use to clean, brighten and transform badly
corroded aluminum to its natural appearance.
or,
1) Metal prep #79 - A brush-on, wipe-off aluminum cleaner and paint
preparer in one powerful, easy-to-apply formulation. It etches the metal,
neutralizes hand mards, is smutless on alloyu surfaces, removes oil and
grease and will not burn. It provides a firm and lasting adhesion between
aluminum alloys and paint.

2) Alodine #1001 - An invisible coat to provide indepth corrosion proofing
to the brightened aluminum surface and act as a firm barrier against the
elements and continued corrosion.
or,
2) Alodine #1201 - After precleaning w/ Alumiprep 33 or Metal Prep 79,
rinse with water. Apply Alodine without dilution by brushing or swabbing w/
a sponge. Rinse with water and surface is ready for paint. This is a visible
coating which leaves surfaces with a golden coloration. The alodized surface
provides protection against weather and firmly bonds paint.

3) Acrylic urethane....... base coat, clear coat.

What do you think?



"Ben Haas" wrote in message
m...
Stealth Pilot wrote in message
. ..
On 3 Dec 2004 07:03:49 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

scuff lightly with scotchbrite.
dilute phosphoric acid wash.
alodine to passivate the surface.
primer
top coats.

Stealth (watch your finger prints) Pilot

This is the perfect answer.. he is also correct about the
fingerpronts, always wear gloves and happy painting....

In article xEJsd.175583$cJ3.21636@fed1read06,
"larsen-tools" wrote:

I'm still confused and I must have read every painting book out there, the
best of which is "How to Paint Your Car"/ www.motorbooks.com ..... however
it doesn't say anything about preping a plane. For that I look at what's
available from Aircraft Spruce and I wonder if the following is a good
idea........

1) Clean w/ Alumiprep #33 - Use to clean, brighten and transform badly
corroded aluminum to its natural appearance.
or,
1) Metal prep #79 - A brush-on, wipe-off aluminum cleaner and paint
preparer in one powerful, easy-to-apply formulation. It etches the metal,
neutralizes hand mards, is smutless on alloyu surfaces, removes oil and
grease and will not burn. It provides a firm and lasting adhesion between
aluminum alloys and paint.

2) Alodine #1001 - An invisible coat to provide indepth corrosion proofing
to the brightened aluminum surface and act as a firm barrier against the
elements and continued corrosion.
or,
2) Alodine #1201 - After precleaning w/ Alumiprep 33 or Metal Prep 79,
rinse with water. Apply Alodine without dilution by brushing or swabbing w/
a sponge. Rinse with water and surface is ready for paint. This is a visible
coating which leaves surfaces with a golden coloration. The alodized surface
provides protection against weather and firmly bonds paint.

3) Epoxy primer to bond between the Alodinized aluminum and the top coat
of paint.

Old 3) becomes 4)

3) Acrylic urethane....... base coat, clear coat.

What do you think?



"Ben Haas" wrote in message
m...
Stealth Pilot wrote in message
. ..
On 3 Dec 2004 07:03:49 -0800, (c hinds) wrote:

O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark

scuff lightly with scotchbrite.
dilute phosphoric acid wash.
alodine to passivate the surface.
primer
top coats.

Stealth (watch your finger prints) Pilot

This is the perfect answer.. he is also correct about the
fingerpronts, always wear gloves and happy painting....

Has anybody pointed out that you had better make sure you know how your
aircraft was manufactured? Grumman used bonded aluminum to a honeycomb
structure in some of its aircraft. Use the wrong stripper, etc, and you
damage the bond risking failure. (So I've heard...) Don't know if anybody
else uses this process...

Carl

"c hinds" wrote in message
...
O.K. another painting question:

All aluminum sailplane, newly constructed.
1. Scuff with Scotchbrite pads, two part epoxy primer, wet sand,
paint? or...
2. Two part acid etch wash primer, epoxy primer, sand and paint? or...
3. Your recommendation

I was once told by a venerable aircraft builder to attempt to use a
paint process like the Schweizers (sailplane fame)used but cannot find
out what that process was/is. He said that it was subcontracted to
Grumman and they "got it right".

And, where does Zinc Chromate fit into the picture in terms of the
paint process.

Confused as ever.

Clark