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12-08-2018, 07:52 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: La Conner, WA
Posts: 9
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Cleaning painted parts before painting?
Hi gang, I'm not a RV builder but VAF has a bit more experience than our support forum, hope you don't mind me tapping your brain trust.
My kit (SeaRey) comes with some metal parts already painted white, my build got delayed for a few years (life, usual stuff), we're finally getting her ready for paint and the parts have a fine layer of hangar dirt on them. Any suggestions for cleaning without leaving residue behind or causing them to rust? I was thinking Windex or 409, tried just wiping them down but it's not enough, and I don't want to go the full "bathtub full of Dawn and rub-a-dub-dub" route unless I have to.
Thanks
Last edited by Rookie : 12-08-2018 at 07:54 PM.
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12-08-2018, 08:52 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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Mechanical adhesion
I think the bigger issue is abrading the surface with 400 so the next coat of paint has some tooth to stick. Of course after scuffing, you'll have to wash.
Dawn is a good choice followed by a thorough dry then a quick wipe with a solvent and finally a tack cloth right before spraying.
If you already plan the prep and just want to clean the hangar dust, I would go Dawn. Other cleansers may leave unwanted resedue.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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12-08-2018, 09:48 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Medford, NJ USA
Posts: 283
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For cleaning parts prior to painting Southern Polyurethane's (SPI) 700 Waterborne Wax and Grease Remover is my product of choice. SPI's website is here https://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/ and the product info here https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/8ced3...3ca106bb47.pdf
A fine alternate is dawn dish soap and then after it is dry cleaning with Naphtha (it is also sold a camping white gas). I feel it is important to add a solvent cleaning step in addition to the water based dish soap to insure a clean part.
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12-09-2018, 03:32 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: La Conner, WA
Posts: 9
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Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help.
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12-09-2018, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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It sounds like rust isn't a problem, so that is good!
You can try Aviation Simple Green. Not the stuff you get at your local auto parts store but the expensive stuff from Aircraft Spruce.
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Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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12-09-2018, 04:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: La Conner, WA
Posts: 9
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Right now I'm trying some Windex and it's working great. Recommended by some car forums.
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12-12-2018, 11:54 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Aptos, CA (previously Reno, 21 years!)
Posts: 247
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You probably know this as well but be sure to not use just any old shop towel to wipe down your cleaned parts (before tack cloth and paint). If the "shop towels" were washed and dried with other greasy rags or fabric softener used, or in a dryer with a lot of fabric softener build up in the drum, the shop towel may have a little bit of residual product that may give your paint some attitude when coating or drying (fish eye, etc). I've used shop paper rags before too, be sure the product is clean and dry with no additives put in for other purposes and your gloves are on so oils from your hands don't come in contact with the prep surface as you work.
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Flying is Freedom
RV-8: IO-360, WW RV200 CS Prop, P-Mag-Slick Combo, Advanced EFIS 3500
Last edited by Eddie P : 12-12-2018 at 11:56 AM.
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12-12-2018, 07:32 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: La Conner, WA
Posts: 9
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Didn't know that, Eddie, but Thanks. I used an old t-shirt I had never worn or washed.
I'll be sure to talk to the gent doing my painting before we start, knowing him he'll probably have me wash them all over again under his watchful eye. Which is fine. 
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12-12-2018, 10:57 PM
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mount Vernon, Wa
Posts: 643
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I've been using denatured alcohol and new from the bag yellow microfiber cloth (the big bundle from Costco) as the final wipe just before paint or primer.
On bare aluminum, I'll clean with acetone to get all the ink and skin oils from handling. Then, follow up with the alcohol. Once I begin the final wipe with alcohol, its clean nitrile gloves only.
Primed surfaces get a sponge wash with distilled water. After complete drying and when surface is up to temperature, final wipe with alcohol and new cloth.
Is this not the right way to do it?
__________________
Ken W.
Mount Vernon, WA
2020 VAF Supporter
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12-13-2018, 11:33 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,456
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N804RV
I've been using denatured alcohol and new from the bag yellow microfiber cloth (the big bundle from Costco) as the final wipe just before paint or primer.
On bare aluminum, I'll clean with acetone to get all the ink and skin oils from handling. Then, follow up with the alcohol. Once I begin the final wipe with alcohol, its clean nitrile gloves only.
Primed surfaces get a sponge wash with distilled water. After complete drying and when surface is up to temperature, final wipe with alcohol and new cloth.
Is this not the right way to do it?
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+1 for alcohol. Not as harmful as acetone for your health, get it at the drug store and it is a good degreaser. I also use it for degreasing prior to welding anything - steel or aluminum. Also, if you have anything with silicone on it, get it the heck away from anything you want to paint. A guy here with a paint shop won't even allow tubes of silicone to be in the shop! If you have applied some caulking and cleaned off the excess with a rag, get rid of the rag. Oh, also +1 on scuffing with 400 grit.
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Scott Black
Old school simple VFR RV 4, O-320, wood prop, MGL iEfis Lite
VAF dues 2020
Instagram @sblack2154
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