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07-30-2011, 04:15 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
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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?

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07-30-2011, 04:23 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 384
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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.
Last edited by curtis : 07-30-2011 at 04:31 PM.
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07-30-2011, 04:31 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cedar Park, TX
Posts: 3,156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlad
Could I use avgas to clean oily underneath?
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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!)
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07-30-2011, 04:31 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Peachtree City, Ga
Posts: 1,040
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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
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07-30-2011, 05:12 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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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."
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07-30-2011, 07:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Posts: 981
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Quote:
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Could I use avgas to clean oily underneath?
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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...
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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
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07-30-2011, 09:09 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,653
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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.
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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
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07-30-2011, 09:30 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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Patrick, I've been told that Pledge has silicones in it... Keep it off your bare aluminum if you're thinking of painting later.
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Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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07-30-2011, 09:38 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MONTGOMERY, TX.
Posts: 89
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CLEANER
I USE A CHEAP PRODUCT CALLED AWESOME, AVAILABLE A 99cent or dollar stores. Be sure to dilute it.
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07-31-2011, 07:24 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,747
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For the leading edges, just water and bug sponge.
For the belly, Simple Green, Boeing spec. KGB approved.
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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)
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