Hard wax v/s liquid wax

On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 2:30:44 PM UTC-4, wrote:
...My old PIK-20 was a bit better with 400 surface than polished.
When it would drop off in climb, I'd scuff with 400 back about 4 inches
and the climb got better.

Hank! That's a hell of away to remove bugs!

I haven't see any other airfoils that showed that characteristic.

Only because newer aircraft owners won't let you try it.

On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 3:56:25 PM UTC-4, Steve Leonard wrote:
On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 12:26:43 PM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:

"It's more fun to win in a ratty looking glider than to lose in a perfect
one"

Dan Sazhin, I think you need to put that on a tee shirt!

Micro-turbulated LS3. Currently being "restored", so we'll have a before/after example.

On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 3:44:58 PM UTC-5, Papa3 wrote:
On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 3:56:25 PM UTC-4, Steve Leonard wrote:
On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 12:26:43 PM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:

"It's more fun to win in a ratty looking glider than to lose in a perfect
one"

Dan Sazhin, I think you need to put that on a tee shirt!

Micro-turbulated LS3. Currently being "restored", so we'll have a before/after example.

From what I heard, I believe that would be more accurately described as a "Macro-turbulated LS3".

I believe the SGS-1-35 (and others) had the same/similar airfoil. They did not seem to do well with a waxed surface, even worse when wet/bugged.
Sorta along the lines of the dimples on a golf ball, a little roughness reduced the huge drag at airflow separation. Better a little when/where you want it, than a huge trip somewhere else.

An old trick was to clean the wing, then sponge down with liquid soap to about the spar. Then, if it rained, the water sheeted instead of beaded. The L/D dropped, but not as bad.

Good example, years ago at Mifflin PA, from the SE returning home, a flight of about 6. A couple ASW-20's, I believe Ventus, an LS-6 and a 1-35.
8 miles out, we hit a little rain. The glass ships all got marginal on final glide, the 1-35 sank fast compared to us. We crossed the last ridge OK, the 1-35 had some trouble.

As to blow holes, they are more like a "variable turbulator strip", the amount they trip the airflow is roughly linear with the airspeed.

Getting back to "what is hard wax?" M&H tells me it is also known as Jeweler's rouge, a stick of a very hard wax that contains a very fine abrasive such as iron oxide (reddish brown) and is used with a cloth wheel to polish metals (or gelcoat).
It is totally different from softer, protective waxes such as paste wax, Carnuba, etc. and is used as a polishing agent, not for protection.

What is recommended for polyurethane finishes?

Non silicone containing good quality (preferably UV filtering) car hand application polish is ideal for PU.

On Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11:38:56 PM UTC-4, Soartech wrote:
Getting back to "what is hard wax?" M&H tells me it is also known as Jeweler's rouge, a stick of a very hard wax that contains a very fine abrasive such as iron oxide (reddish brown) and is used with a cloth wheel to polish metals (or gelcoat).
It is totally different from softer, protective waxes such as paste wax, Carnuba, etc. and is used as a polishing agent, not for protection.

The rouge provides polishing action and the wax carrier is deposited on, and worked into the surface by the resulting heat of polishing. This seals the gelcoat.
After completing, I usually go over with Scotchgard Marine Liquid wax to do final clean up and provide added protection. I think M&H does the same thing.
UH

On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 8:30:22 AM UTC-4, FranCP wrote:
Hi,
Can hard wax be replaced by liquid wax application? Of course silicon free, as well as other harmfull adds.
Although i've seen guys maintaining their gliders purely on applying liquid wax regularly, i guess it wont seal & protect the gelcoat as well as a good anual hard wax buffing.
¿Any advice?
Thanks

Is there any evidence that waxing is beneficial - or is it just part of the lore?

On Sunday, September 2, 2018 at 7:15:52 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 8:30:22 AM UTC-4, FranCP wrote:
Hi,
Can hard wax be replaced by liquid wax application? Of course silicon free, as well as other harmfull adds.
Although i've seen guys maintaining their gliders purely on applying liquid wax regularly, i guess it wont seal & protect the gelcoat as well as a good anual hard wax buffing.
¿Any advice?
Thanks

Is there any evidence that waxing is beneficial - or is it just part of the lore?

In my case almost 40 years of observing and evaluating the condition of polyester finishes that have and have not been kept well polished and waxed.
Polished and waxed is far superior.
UH