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09-30-2013, 09:45 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 551
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Paint!
I purchased a polished RV-4. Now I don't know the implications of pop vs. driven rivets, but I have learned something about polishing.
Polishing is forever, I mean you'll never finish. It looks great for a few days after you finish, and still looks pretty good from 50 feet thereafter. But if you want your aircraft to look good close up continually, buy plenty of polish.
If I had the money right now, I'd paint the whole thing.
Jim
N444JT
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10-01-2013, 07:05 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas, Fort Worth
Posts: 1,237
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Burn baby Burn (Polish)
Jim has it right. Polishing is high maintenance. Paint cost more but is low Maintenance. You have to polish at least quarterly and if you fly in rain then get that polisher out and polish away.  Oh don't forget those pesty bugs that hit you all the time. 
__________________
John
RV12 N1212K
Flying Since June 2010
1020 Hours as of 9/30/2017
Johnrv12@icloud.com
RV14 Wing, arrived and building at Rdog's new Hanger at 16X
S/N 140014
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10-01-2013, 07:39 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WingedFrog
You guys are giving me a pause here  . Only nay sayers here, no supporters for polishing?
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It's one of those never-ending debates. That's probably why the pro-polishers (myself included) refuse to engage. There's a whole section on the forums covering polishing. Go there to get the real scoop on what it takes. I can't imagine an entire airframe polished, but my paint scheme will include sections of polished skin. I like the look and have already polished some parts. It is a lot of work initially but the ongoing effort is much less. With the right tools and techniques, a once over with the finish grade polish is all that's needed.
Caveat: If you live in a corrosive environment (coastline, acid rain, etc) I'd probably opt to paint it.
__________________
Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
RV-7A - Partially completed, Sold
RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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10-01-2013, 04:39 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TWIN WATERS, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 89
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paint prep
Quote:
Originally Posted by f1rocket
It's one of those never-ending debates. That's probably why the pro-polishers (myself included) refuse to engage. There's a whole section on the forums covering polishing. Go there to get the real scoop on what it takes. I can't imagine an entire airframe polished, but my paint scheme will include sections of polished skin. I like the look and have already polished some parts. It is a lot of work initially but the ongoing effort is much less. With the right tools and techniques, a once over with the finish grade polish is all that's needed.
Caveat: If you live in a corrosive environment (coastline, acid rain, etc) I'd probably opt to paint it.
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Hi Folks, I'm thinking of having wings, stabilator, rudder painted soon, - I am wondering what is the best way to remove the little sharp burrs on the pop rivet heads. Thanks for any advice, cheers, DEAN...
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10-01-2013, 08:14 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dinowal
Hi Folks, I'm thinking of having wings, stabilator, rudder painted soon, - I am wondering what is the best way to remove the little sharp burrs on the pop rivet heads. Thanks for any advice, cheers, DEAN...
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How dare you polluting MY polish thread with a question about painting? 
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10-01-2013, 10:40 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
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Just curious: If you polish the aluminum what do you do with all the fiber glass?
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10-02-2013, 05:22 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFSchaller
Just curious: If you polish the aluminum what do you do with all the fiber glass?
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My plane is painted except for the wings. I had planned to paint the wings too but since I have been flying, many people found the Al wings looked good with the fuselage and empennage painted. The flaperons are already painted and even the wing tips (including the fiber glass housing for the lights) will be painted. I feel that what's left to polish is not that a big deal as far as labor is concerned, especially if you remove the wings. I was the first one to be surprised by how good looking this plane was half painted!
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10-02-2013, 06:36 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFSchaller
Just curious: If you polish the aluminum what do you do with all the fiber glass?
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There are a couple of options. First is to design a scheme around the fiberglass parts ala Van's personal RV-12. Second option is to use mylar on the fiberglass parts to simulate polished aluminum. A third one I guess is to use the "aluminizing" process but that can get very pricey. Not sure about the durability. Think about the Audi commercial with the "chromed" R8.
I'm going with option 1.
__________________
Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
RV-7A - Partially completed, Sold
RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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10-02-2013, 08:39 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Canby, OR
Posts: 53
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Strange things can happen ...
I know of one RV-10 that melted the side window from the reflection off of it's polished wing. It was replaced and the wing was painted.
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