Painted wing storage....when can I?

GLPalinkas · #1 05-23-2010, 01:14 PM

Ok paint guru's.

I painted my left wing 1 month ago (yes, over 1 month ago) using PPG Concept DCC single stage paint. Two coats of white and a leading edge coat of red. It looks and feels hard and dry. The spec sheet lists an air-dry time of 8 hrs. but says nothing about long term handling.

I want to store the wing in a carpet sling type stand but I don't want the leading edge to imprint from the carpet. I know from reading somewhere on these forums that paint is still moving and drying for an extended period of time.

Here is the question:

So it it ready to store?

Thanks for any help.

robertahegy · #2 05-23-2010, 01:41 PM

I stored mine by clamping the mainspare to a table and supporting the outboard end with a 2X4 screwed to a sawhorse and into one of the lightening holes. Yes, the paint is actually fluid for months and could be mared if supported for long periods on the paint. Two sturdy sawhorses and clamps and boards should easily support wings instead of slinging.

Roberta

rvbuilder2002 · #3 05-23-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertahegy

I stored mine by clamping the mainspare to a table and supporting the outboard end with a 2X4 screwed to a sawhorse and into one of the lightening holes. Yes, the paint is actually fluid for months and could be mared if supported for long periods on the paint. Two sturdy sawhorses and clamps and boards should easily support wings instead of slinging.

Roberta

I agree with Roberta. Do not lay the painted surfaces in in anything if you can find a way to avoid it (I usually do what she did).

The time to cure to full depth of the paint varies with the different paint systems. How heavy of coverage you have, relative temp and humidity. It is possible that 4 weeks is not enough depending on some or all of these factors.

Paul Thomas · #4 05-23-2010, 03:16 PM

It takes month for the paint to fully cure. It cures from the outside in so while it may feel cured, it likely isn't.

Randy Walls · #5 05-23-2010, 03:31 PM

It's very depressing when you lift your newly painted Cessna 120 wing off of the sawhorses and the sawhorses come with it.

GLPalinkas · #6 05-23-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

I agree with Roberta. Do not lay the painted surfaces in in anything if you can find a way to avoid it (I usually do what she did).

The time to cure to full depth of the paint varies with the different paint systems. How heavy of coverage you have, relative temp and humidity. It is possible that 4 weeks is not enough depending on some or all of these factors.

OK I have the definitive answer and I tend to agree. Why take the chance. I don't what I was thinking as I was going to move them to a corner in my hangar. My wife is gone for a while so I'll just store them in the dining room... on saw horses. I might have to move them when she comes back in a few months though...LOL

Thanks for the thoughts Roberta, Scott and all.

hydroguy2 · #7 05-26-2010, 03:52 PM

Finished painting my wings on 5/14. They stayed in the booth over the weekend, then on Monday 5/17. they were moved in a covered trailer to their new home. The painter who helped me said they could be put in service anytime, but warned against letting the surface rest against anything for any length of time for a month or so while the paint full cures.

here they are with the spar resting on 1 steel sawhorse and a piece of PVC stuck in the other end sitting on the other horse.

rvbuilder2002 · #8 05-26-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydroguy2

The wings look real nice, but I am curious... what is that on the wall?

PainterJohn · #9 05-26-2010, 06:54 PM

the sawhorse under the spar is the best plan.. Although i have never had a problem with putting painted wings in a sling, just as long as you have some kind of soft cotton and CLEAN rags with between the painted areas and the slings. Typically Urethanes (if mixed and sprayed properly) will be fully cure in less than 2 weeks.. obviously it will vary depending on conditions when they were painted

hydroguy2 · #10 05-26-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

The wings look real nice, but I am curious... what is that on the wall?

It's an approx. 10'x20' topo map of Montana on my friends hangar wall. The white areas are mountains made of drywall mud. It was a winter project a few years back, the little yellow tags are different airstrips as they visit them.