|
-
POSTING RULES
-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|
03-27-2007, 12:59 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Posts: 2,967
|
|
MEK and anodizing...
Will MEK hurt the anodized finish of the spars? I have some primer and paint overspray that I'd like to clean up a bit, and MEK should do the trick...but I don't want to hurt that finish. Far as I can tell, the anodizing is a surface treatment, not a coat, so it shouldn't do anything, correct? 
__________________
Chad Jensen
Astronics AES, Vertical Power
RV-7, 5 yr build, flew it 68 hours, sold it, miss it.
|
03-27-2007, 01:18 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: albuquerque, nm
Posts: 1,167
|
|
Anodizing is a surface treatment. When you anodize, what you are doing is forcing the outside couple of mils of aluminum to oxidize (corrode) in a controlled fashion. This layer of aluminum oxide, known as alumina is actually a ceramic. A very good, hard ceramic. It's one of the reasons that aluminum is such a miracle material. It's self protecting. That's why your skins are Alclad--the pure aluminum on the surface is self protecting.
To answer your specific question. MEK will not hurt the anodize. However, the gold color is a result of dying the alumina coating after the anodize process. The MEK may lighten the dye a bit.
In other words, MEK has a small chance of changing the color, but it won't harm the coating on your spars any more than it will hurt a coffee cup.
Regards,
Guy
|
03-27-2007, 01:24 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Posts: 2,967
|
|
Great, thanks Guy! Not concerned about a small color change. Just want to remove some of the overspray.
__________________
Chad Jensen
Astronics AES, Vertical Power
RV-7, 5 yr build, flew it 68 hours, sold it, miss it.
|
03-27-2007, 02:52 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 625
|
|
Chad:
The overspray is on hidden structure. Just leave it and you'll gain extra corrosion protection 
Jekyll |
03-27-2007, 03:25 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Posts: 2,967
|
|
I know, but it's messy, and I don't like leaving things messy. If I don't clean it up, it will bug me.
How anal is that??
This condition goes back to my scale modeling days...I used to paint the INSIDE of the fuselage and wings, knowing full well that they would never again be seen once glued in place. I know, I've got a problem...please tell me I'm not the only one!? 
__________________
Chad Jensen
Astronics AES, Vertical Power
RV-7, 5 yr build, flew it 68 hours, sold it, miss it.
|
03-27-2007, 06:52 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,867
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by cjensen
I know, but it's messy, and I don't like leaving things messy. If I don't clean it up, it will bug me.
How anal is that??
This condition goes back to my scale modeling days...I used to paint the INSIDE of the fuselage and wings, knowing full well that they would never again be seen once glued in place. I know, I've got a problem...please tell me I'm not the only one!? |
Chad, the guys who would leave that overspray there.....THEY'RE the one's with the problem. |
03-27-2007, 07:11 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,686
|
|
Great question Chad
I have some overspray on my spars from priming all those nut plate countersinks. I forgot to tape the holes up and it looks like ****. I agree with cleaning it up. Thanks for asking the question!
|
03-27-2007, 08:06 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,642
|
|
Chad-
Did whatever you spray on that have any etching properties? If so, and if you remove the paint/primer, then the etching might have removed some of the corrosion protection the anodizing originally provided. Leaving it on there is not an indication of sloppy building, particularly if taking it off would lead to other potential issues. This could be one of those cases where fixing a "mistake" is more problematic than living with it, especially since as it stands right now you merely have a cosmetic issue in a place where no one will ever see it anyway. Just food for thought. Good luck though.
__________________
Steve M.
Ellensburg WA
RV-9 Flying, 0-320, Catto
Donation reminder: Jan. 2021
|
03-27-2007, 09:35 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Posts: 2,967
|
|
Well, I'm not sure what a self etching primer will do to an anodized surface, since it is already treated for corrosion protection thru the anodized process.
I've already cleaned it up, and as far as appearances go, there was no sign of discolorization or lightening of the gold color. I did use a self etching primer under that white topcoat, but it came right off with MEK, and looks much better now.
__________________
Chad Jensen
Astronics AES, Vertical Power
RV-7, 5 yr build, flew it 68 hours, sold it, miss it.
|
03-28-2007, 10:09 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Canby, Oregon
Posts: 1,786
|
|
Chad...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by cjensen
I know, but it's messy, and I don't like leaving things messy. If I don't clean it up, it will bug me.
How anal is that??
This condition goes back to my scale modeling days...I used to paint the INSIDE of the fuselage and wings, knowing full well that they would never again be seen once glued in place. I know, I've got a problem...please tell me I'm not the only one!? |
Don't think of it as being anal... you're just trying to keep the weight down. 
Kent
__________________
Kent Byerley
RV9A N94KJ - IO320, CS, tipup
AFS 3500, TT AP, FLYING....
Canby, Or
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:26 AM.
|
Linear Mode
