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09-19-2013, 05:41 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Polishing vs painting?
My plane is painted except for the wings. As it looks good this way and, I have to admit, as I am not excited to interrupt my flying that has just begun, I am mulling the idea of polishing the wings rather than painting. I have heard people say that with pop rivets, the polishing will wear the rivets heads. Has anyone tried to polish his RV-12? (or any RV for that matter, notwithstanding the pop rivet issue). Also what polishing paste and buffing tool to use?
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09-19-2013, 05:53 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 663
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09-29-2013, 08:21 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 10
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Something I was wondering too
I am surprised there has been so little response to your post Jean-Pierre. The eaa site seems to relate only to aluminium rather than alclad - and that seems to be the 'rub' (pardon the pun). Alclad, the material, has no interest in polishing as it loses its pure aluminium coating in the process. I have tried hand polishing with an all metal polish but not impressed with the result.
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09-29-2013, 08:40 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonjonjon4
I am surprised there has been so little response to your post Jean-Pierre. The eaa site seems to relate only to aluminium rather than alclad - and that seems to be the 'rub' (pardon the pun). Alclad, the material, has no interest in polishing as it loses its pure aluminium coating in the process. I have tried hand polishing with an all metal polish but not impressed with the result.
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Good point jonjon. I was wondering about the Alclad factor and was surprised to find no mention of it in the EAA video or elsewhere about polishing. I am still inclined to go the polishing way but will proceed carefully after your warning. Note that the Alclad coating is of no use if you paint it so if polishing fails painting will still be possible,I will just have to rub the unsatisfactory polished surface with scotchbrite pads before priming.
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09-29-2013, 08:54 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,516
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Don't polish
Having owned a polished RV-8, I can assure you the alclad will not come off even after polishing many times over unless you take sandpaper to the aluminum.
The real problem is your pop rivets that will fill with polishing compound
and never clean up.
Although I enjoyed the attention I was getting with a polished airplane, I hated the glare off the polished wings. While the fuselage polished nicely and did not present a problem because of the polishing except for the tiny oil streaks that would ruin a top notch polishing job, I would strongly advise you against polishing the wings. Not only the glare but also the wobbly nature of the aluminum panels make polishing a real pain.
Seems that most people cannot be talked out of polishing, so do as you wish.
my advise, paint it.
__________________
Ernst Freitag
RV-8 finished (sold)
RV-10 Flyer 600 plus hours
Running on E10 mogas
Don't believe everything you know.
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09-29-2013, 08:55 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 306
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watch out for the reflections
Living in hot/sunny Texas, I've been warned about polished aluminum low wing aircraft with bubble canopies--instances of canopy sag have occurred. The other concern we've already experienced is the nasty reflections from the wings while flying. We plan to paint.
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Rob Reese
RV-12 #120332 N73HR
Austin, TX
TangoFlight Mentor
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09-30-2013, 07:31 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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You guys are giving me a pause here  . Only nay sayers here, no supporters for polishing?
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09-30-2013, 08:50 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prather, CA
Posts: 191
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Jean-Pierre, I've not polished an RV and I'm not very familiar with the RV-12, but I have done other aircraft types. As Ernst mentioned, the pop rivet construction of the -12 will greatly add to the difficulty each time you polish as each open rivet will trap compound. I don't know an easy way around that issue.
If you can deal with that and don't mind the glare by all means do as you like, it's your bird. Polishing an alclad coated panel presents no particular difficulty. Study up on the various processes, compounds and equipment used. Be advised it's a dirty job!
Good luck either way you go,
Doug
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09-30-2013, 04:47 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Cary, N.C.
Posts: 1,216
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JP, you should talk to Mike (SONEX) at the Chapter next meeting. Yes, I know Mike's plane is painted, but his friend Wayne at Siler City has a polished SONEX. With all the blind rivets in the SONEX, Wayne clan give you a PIREP on the polish solution.
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Noel
RV-6A N6NF
tip-up
flying
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09-30-2013, 06:15 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Marshall TX (KASL)
Posts: 1,783
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Here's an idea. Don't decide yet. Buy a 3 foot by 6 foot piece of alclad. Put a bunch of rivets in it. Leave it in your garage or hangar and vow to keep it nicely polished. Do that for a few months. Then decide about the plane.
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