Polishing a Blanik L-13?

The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

Papa3 wrote:
The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

A shiny L13 would be an abnormality, and would be rejected by the thermals. They
have to look like hell to fly properly ;-)

Seriously - their skins appear to be made of different compounds, and have an
almost random finish. The internal parts are also made of different grades and
hardness of material, not directly comparable to western compounds. (At least
the parts we have had to fabricate were hard to match) I would expect that the
corrosion protection would be impaired by polishing. Does anyone know whether
this is so?

The only decent looking one I have seen is painted over the aluminium.
--
Bruce Greeff
Std Cirrus #57
I'm no-T at the address above.

Papa3 wrote:
The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

Each year we take ours to an open weekend to give pleasure flights. We
give it a good wipe over with oil which makes it shine beautifully.
Lasts for weeks afterwards.

On 20 Apr 2006 07:44:24 -0700, "Papa3" wrote:

The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

I used 3M Brand Super Duty Rubbing Compound Part # 05954 on my L-13
and L-23. I used an inexpensive electric buffer. After buffing the
residue needs to be wiped off with a damp cloth. Worked well and
shined up nicely. I did not try to remove scratches with it, just
took out the dullness of the finish.

BTW, there is no silicone in the product, so no problems if you choose
to paint it later. It is available at any good auto paint supply
store.

For a GREAT polish on aircraft aluminum try Nuvite. Go to their
website for info-- www.perfectpolish.com. You will need a good
electric buffer and some tome--but the results are unbelieveable.

Skip Guimond

Skip (or others),

I saw this product used on a Beech 18 years ago with great results.
But IIRC that was on AlClad 2024 aluminum skins. Does anyone have
hands-on experience with Nuvite on a Blanyuk? I guess we could just
do a small test on the underside of one wing, but I'd love to hear if
anyone else has done the work for me...

Erik

"Papa3" wrote in message
ups.com...
Skip (or others),

I saw this product used on a Beech 18 years ago with great results.
But IIRC that was on AlClad 2024 aluminum skins. Does anyone have
hands-on experience with Nuvite on a Blanyuk? I guess we could just
do a small test on the underside of one wing, but I'd love to hear if
anyone else has done the work for me...


I wonder what was used on this bird?
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-14/N14LH/N14LH.htm


Erik

Wayne Paul wrote:
I wonder what was used on this bird?
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-14/N14LH/N14LH.htm

I know Todd, I'll ask him. It does take considerable work to keep it
that way, it doesn't look quite that shiny lately...

Marc

Another great one is Met-All. It's a little coarser than Nuvite or
Rolite, but works quicker to take of the "barnacles" that develop over
the winter months. A great way to take off the black residue from
polishing aluminum is to use a terri cloth towel or one of the car
washing mits with corn starch on it. The corn starch REALLY soaks the
stuff up. Be liberal with it!

Scott


wrote:

For a GREAT polish on aircraft aluminum try Nuvite. Go to their
website for info-- www.perfectpolish.com. You will need a good
electric buffer and some tome--but the results are unbelieveable.

Skip Guimond

JC wrote:
On 20 Apr 2006 07:44:24 -0700, "Papa3" wrote:

The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

I used 3M Brand Super Duty Rubbing Compound Part # 05954 on my L-13
and L-23. I used an inexpensive electric buffer. After buffing the
residue needs to be wiped off with a damp cloth. Worked well and
shined up nicely. I did not try to remove scratches with it, just
took out the dullness of the finish.


Our soaring club has (3) Blanik L-13's and I have found that eagle one
wax seems to last the best. I would not recommend using an aluminum
polish because the Blanik's are not made with aluminum. The metal
used on the Blanik's is DURUAL (Sp?) which has a lot of magnesium in
it. There is a clear coat painted over the metal and it is meant to
prevent exposing the metal to the elements. Once this coat is
jeopardized, the metal will tarnish to the elements in the air. This is
not like trying to polish a Cherokee 150 or something similar. You
should never rub through this. Of the three Balnik's we have one is
painted white and the other two are the original metal. The painted
white one seems to always look like it's clean.

Tim
Adirondack Soaring
Saratoga Springs, NY




BTW, there is no silicone in the product, so no problems if you choose
to paint it later. It is available at any good auto paint supply
store.