VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 07-30-2011, 04:15 PM
Vlad's Avatar
Vlad Vlad is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
Question How to clean bare aluminum?

My plane is dirty. Just finished Phase One it was intensive flying. To clean windshield and cowling was easy but bare alclad I didn't touch yet. Flown through a rain for a brief period and there are streaks everywhere it looks not nice. How do you clean yours unpainted? Could I use avgas to clean oily underneath?


__________________
Where is N666BK?

Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-30-2011, 04:23 PM
curtis's Avatar
curtis curtis is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 384
Default

I keep a spray bottle with water and a few drops of Dawn dish soap in the hangar. After each flight I spray the leading edges, cowling, prop, and canopy to clean the bugs off. Note: I do not use the same towel for the canopy that I use on all of the other surfaces. I use a microfiber towel on the canopy.
__________________
RV-6A Slider
550 hours +

Build it light and cheap

Last edited by curtis : 07-30-2011 at 04:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-30-2011, 04:31 PM
scard's Avatar
scard scard is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cedar Park, TX
Posts: 3,156
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlad View Post
Could I use avgas to clean oily underneath?
Tanya cleans the oily under side of her airplane exclusively with avgas. She has tried all kinds of stuff but likes avgas the best. She just recently (after 4yrs) got herself a creaper and has seen the light! I've been telling her that she needed one for four years .
__________________
Scott Card
CQ Headset by Card Machine Works
CMW E-Lift
RV-9A N4822C flying 2200+hrs. / Cedar Park, TX
RV8 Building - fuselage / showplanes canopy (Done!)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-30-2011, 04:31 PM
Vern's Avatar
Vern Vern is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Posts: 1,040
Default Cleaning Aluminum

I worked in an aluminum extrusion plant years ago. We kept lacquer thinner on each workbench.

I still use it. Keep it off painted surfaces though.
__________________
Vern Darley
Awarded FAA "The Wright Brothers 'Master Pilot' Award"- for 50 years safe flying

RV-6A N680V / RV-10QB N353RV
Luscombe 8E N2423K 50+years
Hatz Biplane N2423Z soon to be birthed
Falcon RV Squadron Founder
KFFC Hanger D-30
Peachtree City, Ga
770 310-7169
EAA Technical Counselor #5142
EAA Flight Advisor #486336
ATP/CFI/A&P/DAR
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-30-2011, 05:12 PM
Mike S's Avatar
Mike S Mike S is offline
Senior Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
Default

Spray bottle with mineral spirits.

Wipe with a rag you plan to throw away---------or at least take to the laundromat to clean, dont wash in your own machine
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-30-2011, 07:28 PM
Jerry Cochran's Avatar
Jerry Cochran Jerry Cochran is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Posts: 981
Default

Quote:
Could I use avgas to clean oily underneath?
Highly unlikely to explode unless of course it has a source of ignition... Please use mineral spirits instead... OK, so call me an old fuddy-duddy...
__________________
Jerry Cochran
Sherwood, Oregon

RV-7a 707DD Bot from David Domeier 12/01/11
Lycoming IO-360 Catto 3 blade Panel upgrade in progress

RV6a 18XP 1st flite 03/21/07 sold to Dale Walter 10/22/2011
Superior IO-360, Hartzell Blended, GRT/Dynon

Happily "autopaying" DR

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."

Mark Twain
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-30-2011, 09:09 PM
flion's Avatar
flion flion is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,653
Default

I'm not a big fan of mineral spirits; it tends to smear and streak. And avgas can stain (it has dye in it, albeit not much). Simple Green is good for getting the tough stuff off the bottom, soap is Ok for the rest. I've been afraid to use it on my plane since I do intend (someday) to get it painted but I use Pledge on my bike to remove bugs from the chrome; it also helps to make future bugs easier to remove. If you are going to paint, be very cautious what you put on your plane; even overspray of some canopy cleaners.
__________________
Patrick Kelley - Flagstaff, AZ
RV-6A N156PK - Flying too much to paint
RV-10 14MX(reserved) - Fuselage on gear
http://www.mykitlog.com/flion/
EAA Technical Counselor #5357
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-30-2011, 09:30 PM
Snowflake's Avatar
Snowflake Snowflake is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
Default

Patrick, I've been told that Pledge has silicones in it... Keep it off your bare aluminum if you're thinking of painting later.
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-30-2011, 09:38 PM
DENMACRES DENMACRES is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MONTGOMERY, TX.
Posts: 89
Smile CLEANER

I USE A CHEAP PRODUCT CALLED AWESOME, AVAILABLE A 99cent or dollar stores. Be sure to dilute it.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-31-2011, 07:24 AM
tkatc's Avatar
tkatc tkatc is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,747
Default

For the leading edges, just water and bug sponge.

For the belly, Simple Green, Boeing spec. KGB approved.
__________________
My ATC opinion is NOT an official FAA recognized opinion, so any advice you get from me is ONLY my opinion.

Track my RV7A!!

Bought my flying -7A
Building an -8! (Fuse)
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:53 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.