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9GT 02-07-2017 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackinMichigan (Post 1146928)
I know a very good automotive painter. He has painted airplane parts and knows how to prep them.

Our RV-10 is finished. It is setting in the shop with the wings and tail parts un-attached awaiting an opening for a hangar at the local airport (promised late April).

Now is an excellent time to start the painting process.

A well respected airplane mechanic stopped by the other day to look at our plane. He said "Do not use an automotive painter".

1. He does not know how to paint aluminum
2. He will make your control surfaces unbalanced with too much paint (which could cause flutter)

I am not worried about #1.

But #2 has me thinking. If the amount of paint on the control surface is so critical wouldn't Van's mention it and give you some checks to make sure your surfaces are "balanced" properly.

As you RV-10 owners know, there is a lot of fiberglass that has to be prepped for painting. I really trust my automotive guy to do an excellent job on the fiberglass. I am not sure I could equally trust an airplane painter.

Any thoughts guys???

This guy is full of himself. I had ZERO experience painting painting planes and nothing more than touch-up on autos. Purchased and studied the DVD by Sam James Painting 101 and got respectable results on a Cozy MKIV and my RV-10.

rleffler 02-08-2017 06:55 AM

I think that you won't have any problems with an auto painter. I did and didn't have any issues. Although he was an auto painter during the day, he also had three EAB aircraft too.

Just talk with your painter and tell him that you need to minimize the weight of the paint. How he reacts and the following dialogue will tell you if you should proceed with them.


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