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  #1  
Old 11-30-2013, 01:40 PM
Pittsartist Pittsartist is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 160
Default 16 year old plastic film

"It's always the things that you least expect that take the most time"

Not sure who said it - but boy they were right.

I can personally testify that 16 year old plastic film adhesion is just as strong as welding

I decide to remove some of the (clear) plastic from the top skins yesterday. One side came off in less than 40 seconds ..... the other took 7 hours.

After numerous different strategies, the best I could come up with is heating until it goes clear & gooey, scrape with blunt steel and then almost immediately scotchbrite with a pad soaked in cellulose thinners.

What a HORRIBLE job !!!. I don't suppose there's an "easy" way ?

What makes it stick like that ...Time, UV, Damp ?. Whatever it is, I sure intend to avoid it once I know why !
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Old 11-30-2013, 03:25 PM
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GLPalinkas GLPalinkas is offline
 
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Richard, I don't know how much "easier" it is but getting an edge up and rolling the film up on a broom handle (or something similar) worked well for me. Even AFTER 14 years of adhesion. No heat required. Also doesn't bend the skin all up if done correctly.
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Old 11-30-2013, 03:31 PM
PCHunt PCHunt is offline
 
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I would be wary of scraping with steel. Might leave tiny particles in the aluminum, which could cause corrosion later.

I could be way off base here.....................
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  #4  
Old 11-30-2013, 03:49 PM
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Bill_H Bill_H is offline
 
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Location: Marshall TX (KASL)
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Scotchbrite always, never steel wool on AL I was told. No pencil either, use a sharpie. I still do not understand why some spend the time with a soldering iron to leave the maximum amount of blue film on as long as possible - unless you intend to later polish the plane. Before painting you have to scotchbrite every square inch!
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Old 12-01-2013, 02:48 PM
Pittsartist Pittsartist is offline
 
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Location: UK
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The stuff on mine was really strange, loads of it came off no problem in one piece.

In the problem areas I could not even lift fingernail sized pieces to start a "run". it seemed that the adhesion was 10x more and the film seemed thinner somehow - just not enough strength in the poly to break the bond.

Even when I'd got the film off the adhesive underneath stayed put - thinners would not soften it on its own - so I had to use scotch pads and thinners at the same time.

After this experience I've been removing film elsewhere - mostly OK.

All being well the project will be flying in about 6 months, painted - If I leave the stuff on any longer that could be 2 years just to get it all off !
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  #6  
Old 12-02-2013, 07:14 AM
jim plaster jim plaster is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: N.C.
Posts: 144
Default Plastic film removal

Might try a heat gun..or roll it out into the sun and warm the film/ metal a bit first....hope this helps
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Old 12-02-2013, 01:10 PM
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Rhino889 Rhino889 is offline
 
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Any corrosion under the plastic after 16 years?
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Old 12-02-2013, 04:08 PM
SR2500 SR2500 is offline
 
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Location: Colorado
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Richard,
I agree with Gary. Mine was 15 years old and I keep several sizes of PVC tubing underneath my workbench. Get a corner started and then use a PVC tube to roll it on. Its much easier on the fingers and it works pretty well.
Best,
Jerry Folkerts
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  #9  
Old 12-03-2013, 04:41 AM
John R. Graham John R. Graham is offline
 
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Location: Alpharetta, GA
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Richard,

Might want to try D-Limonene (Orange Oil) organic solvent, which softens a variety of temporary adhesives. It's absolutely great for removing paper labels. I tried it on some (non-problematic) 5-year-old blue film still attached to some scrap and it did seem to make the film release a little easier (however, not the dramatic difference I was hoping to report). It available from Citrus Depot, among other places.

- John
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Old 12-03-2013, 11:51 AM
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Doug Doug is offline
 
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For me I think the film that was exposed to sunlight (UV?) lost its strength and could no longer be peeled from the aluminium. It simply fell apart well before lifting off the skin.
I used some pretty strong thinners to remove the mess.
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