Aircraft product inquiry

C

charlesaferg

New member
Since there is no "aircraft" section, I'd assume I would find the best advice here.



First off, I landed a job detailing an aircraft after detailing a client's black Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, which looks gorgeous BTW - (pics will be linked at the bottom.)



Anyways, I have done some good research as to the process and other things. What I'm concerned about most is the products that I will need. I know that marine products are for gelcoat and fiberglass, and I'm not quite sure if this will suffice for an aircraft.



I figure that I should buy some heavy cut from megs, and use a heavy wool pad, then follow with a lighter compound and a foam or lighter wool pad.



Also, what is the correct product to use to degrease the underbelly?



Again, I have searched and have read through the threads already present on the board, so any information on these specific topics would be extremely helpful.



Heres the Carrera-

B4

http://a785.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/42/l_5b07d6b54356960c726b6485339f6150.jpg



After, I apologize for the bad pic, but theres nothing but some dust and a dog hair :P

http://a949.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/57/l_70a1a4a6dadaebf95d712fe6486100e4.jpg



http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/60/l_921ca6f37bc614f496791a828b3b7fe0.jpg



http://a760.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/12/l_661aafa4edf61b0c34467de8be066f67.jpg



http://a471.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/59/l_68da0284fa64747674097b56a8f2dec6.jpg
 
Aircraft can be a big pain. Charge accordingly (think of a price and double it.)



We were using Meg's boat line oxidation remover/heavy wool, then M66/foam for most of our planes. The M66 was wiped off with Aquawax to add additional gloss.



Swirl removal was not a goal, just gloss improvement. We tried 10-15 different degreasers on the bellies before finding that Stoner's Tarminator and a long handled brush was the way to go.
 
Heya, Charlesaferg...



My family used to own a 1977 Cessna 172. Dad and I used to keep it detailed back in the day. I also used to work as a Lineman (cleaning airplanes, pumping gas, etc) back when I was learning to fly.



You'll find that alot of airplanes are finished with Imron paints. Imron is very hard stuff. Most airplane paint jobs are quite similar to the automotive counterparts. Either SS or base/clear coat, but as mentioned, the majority of them are *hard*. And there is a ton of surface area. The surface area of our 172 (including both sides of the wings) was about equal to a 40 foot motor home. Most all the surfaces you'll be working on are either primed, painted, and clear coated aluminum, or painted plastic (moldings and farings). Pretty much the same as a car.



Your plan of getting heavy, medium, and light cut polishes sounds like a good one. Just think of it as being a big car.



Any good APC should handle the oil/grease on the belly. I bet Meg's APC would work well.



Just keep in mind that there is a *ton* of surface area. Bill accordingly. :)
 
What about cleaning the interior? Do they use wool carpets, or just fire-retardant treated materials? I have extensive experience with automobiles, I just want to cover as many bases as I can. I'll only be working on what I know, and that will be definitely good enough.
 
Very similar to cars. Some airplanes actually have astro turf style carpet. Most Cessnas, Pipers, Beechcraft, Mooneys, etc. Use very lightweight and cheaply made interiors. Think GM in the '70's kinda stuff. You can pretty much plan on treating the interior like a car, too.
 
That's what I thought.

I did a tour of a local hangar in Hillsboro, Oregon recently - a friend of mine worked there for a summer. Interesting how I remember all that stuff about the paint and materials.



Oh, if I don't have any "plexus" cleaner on hand, I wonder what store-bought (auto parts store or whatnot) cleaner I should use on plexiglass... Suggestions?



Ah, once a detailer always a detailer. We're always thinkin' it aren't we...?



I appreciate the info very much, and I'll post photos as soon as I get them in. I'll explain what I'm thinking, and I'd love more input when I show you guys what I've come across.

Again, thanks.
 
Ah, yes, the plexiglass... What was the stuff we used to use... Hmm. I'm drawing a blank. I'll have to call up my Dad and ask him if he remembers the name of the stuff. It works really well.
 
Had to satisfy my curiosity and you're right - they do make a fuel additive too but they also have the product I remember. It's a plexi cleaner spray can type product. I remember the FBO I used to visit had it for sale.
 
themightytimmah said:
We tried 10-15 different degreasers on the bellies before finding that Stoner's Tarminator and a long handled brush was the way to go.
Click to expand...



I detailed a small 4 person plane back in 03, don't remember what is was tho, but I used diluted SG on the belly and it wiped the junk right off like nothing to it.
 
SuperBee364 said:
Ah, LoL, I was only familiar with the fuel additive. Was the plexi cleaner any good?
Click to expand...



I thought so at the time but that was before I got into detailing and all the crazy stuff we use. I remember it having a "rainx" type qulaity to it that helped rain bead and runoff well.
 
First of all, here are some photos - I went and looked at it yesterday...

http://a648.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/80/l_2c179a5288dbb0f074cb4a24a0880abf.jpg



http://a437.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/l_f18879180d915c989bdb78fa05a69dbc.jpg



Not very good, but I'll take better ones. I do have more though.



If anybody has experience with the amount of rivets I will encounter, do any of you have advice on pad types? I would have immediately thought wool, because even if it gets torn up there will be wool beneath the damaged section to take it's place. I figured that foam would tear up and polish in uneven rings because it would easily shred on the rivets, causing empty spots. My CCS pads rely so much on even contact with the surface, I couldn't see any performing well unless I used my extremely soft grey and blue finishing pads, but then I wouldn't get very far in terms of correction.

Can anybody with some experience with this chime in?
 
If the belly is really dirty use mineral spirits.



For the plexi glass use Meg's Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner followed with Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Polish.
 
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