Mineral spirits and plexi?

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

I've been working on polishing the plane with the Nuvite system. So far, it's pretty gorgeous:



As recommended by the excellent EAA Homebuilders tips video (whoops, I said something good about EAA), I'm using mineral spirits to clean the polish residue after every grade of polish ('cept for the last one).

I'm starting on the emp and working my way forward, which brings up this question: Is mineral spirits likely to be a problem with the plexiglas? I'm not particularly strong on knowing the chemical compositions and interractions of things.

Also, it seems like mineral spirits would be a good wipedown for cleaning the exhaust residue off the belly. Anyone ever used it?

[Slingshot]

Try it, you'll like it. This is the only solvent the canopy manufacturer recommends. Use it on a scrap piece first just to make you more confident.
Slingshot

[Mile High Relic]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Also, it seems like mineral spirits would be a good wipedown for cleaning the exhaust residue off the belly. Anyone ever used it?

Just yesterday I tried a little Mineral Spirits on the oil/exhaust gunk on the belly. I tried some diluted simple green first with pretty marginal results, and decided to test a patch with mineral spirits. It worked great, but I'm unsure of the long term effects. I was going to ask the gray counsel at the next EAA lunch what their thoughts were on using it.

I'll be interested in the responses here too.

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

I've I'm starting on the emp and working my way forward, which brings up this question: Is mineral spirits likely to be a problem with the plexiglas? I'm not particularly strong on knowing the chemical compositions and interractions of things.

While I don't know the answer about mineral spirits, I've always been advised to keep most of the liquids we use to clean parts away from the transparencies.

I used Lord adhesive on my windows on the RV-10, instead on the Weld-On recommended by Van's. It's a long story that I'll not go into now to save getting this thread off topic.

It was recommended to use PPG DT-870 reducer to remove any of the Lord adhesive that got on the plexy. It did a rather good job at that too, I might add. There was no crazing or immediate negative effectives that I saw. I've sinced used it multiple times to clean paint off that managed to bleed under that tape as well as any tape residue that was left.

[Greg Arehart]

I routinely use mineral spirits to clean the belly. No ill effects. Have not tried it on plexi - no need thus far as water and plexi cleaner work well there.

Greg

[az_gila]

From an LP Aero text on caring for their plexi windshields -

If you have to remove masking tape residue or other sticky or greasy stuff, the safest solvents are 100% mineral spirits or kerosene. Some alcohols are safe, such as isopropyl alcohol, but not all.

http://www.lpaero.com/CAREINS.html

Go ahead with the mineral spirits...

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by Greg Arehart

I routinely use mineral spirits to clean the belly. No ill effects. Have not tried it on plexi - no need thus far as water and plexi cleaner work well there.

Greg

Just to refocus this. I'm not asking if it's OK to clean plexi with Mineral spirits. What I'm saying is if I'm polishing the metal and cleaning that metal with mineral spirits, the odds are pretty good that a little mineral spirits is going to get on the plexi, even if I cover it well with paper etc. I'm trying to determine whether that's an adverse effect.

It's sound like the answer is "no."

BTW, I never had good luck with kerosene. I had some adhesive stick to the plexi in the years it sat in the hangar. I never was able to get it off. My solution was too stop worrying about it.

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by Mile High Relic

Just yesterday I tried a little Mineral Spirits on the oil/exhaust gunk on the belly. I tried some diluted simple green first with pretty marginal results, and decided to test a patch with mineral spirits. It worked great, but I'm unsure of the long term effects. I was going to ask the gray counsel at the next EAA lunch what their thoughts were on using it.

I'll be interested in the responses here too.

Thread creep alert...

If you use Simple Green, make sure it is the aviation safe version of it since the regular version is very corrosive to aluminum.

I use GOOP on the belly and it works better than great. Does not smell bad, is not toxic and is not flammable.

[rzbill]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

I've been working on polishing the plane with the Nuvite system. So far, it's pretty gorgeous:

Good on ya' Bob.
I'm polishing too and you are right, it looks great. Nuvite is good stuff.

I've done what I believe to be "the first round". It gets compliments but there are plenty of spots that showed up that I think need more work when I do it again. Still trying to figure out what painting will cover the grey primed fiberglass.

[Mile High Relic]

Originally Posted by Brantel

Thread creep alert...

If you use Simple Green, make sure it is the aviation safe version of it since the regular version is very corrosive to aluminum.

I use GOOP on the belly and it works better than great. Does not smell bad, is not toxic and is not flammable.

Roger that. Aircraft Spruce supplied Extreme Simple Green.