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Quick Build Fuselage Corrosion on Bolts and Nutplates
- Thread starter danlh
- Start date
sansoneservices
Well Known Member
Plane to be stored in a dry climate or humid? You could lightly spray them with Boeshield or a similar product.
I’d replace the hardware, not that difficult or expensive
I’d think about the risk of failure in flight or while landing, and ease of inspection. I’m no corrosion expert but I’d think also about surface vs structural issues. Does scotchbrite and oil fix it? If so I wouldn’t remove all those nutplates.
You can start or add it to a list of things to re-inspect every time you tear down to look in Phase 1, and at least every 100h after. Hopefully this list includes other areas where the structure isn’t perfect or you modified from plans.
There were certainly people out there who made mods or ignored problems and didn’t look before it was too late. Just don’t be one of them. Look. My 2c. Someone with knowledge of steel corrosion might look and say “replace!” I’m waiting to see if that happens. If it were aluminum I’d scotchbrite or sand and then polish it off and protect with primer.
You can start or add it to a list of things to re-inspect every time you tear down to look in Phase 1, and at least every 100h after. Hopefully this list includes other areas where the structure isn’t perfect or you modified from plans.
There were certainly people out there who made mods or ignored problems and didn’t look before it was too late. Just don’t be one of them. Look. My 2c. Someone with knowledge of steel corrosion might look and say “replace!” I’m waiting to see if that happens. If it were aluminum I’d scotchbrite or sand and then polish it off and protect with primer.
Bolts are cheap, replace.
Nutplates, I’d mask them off, use a small brass wire brush to clean them up, than a spray with RustOleum rust paint.
Nutplates, I’d mask them off, use a small brass wire brush to clean them up, than a spray with RustOleum rust paint.
If you do that, screw a fastener in before spraying or you'll fill up the threads with the paint. Then remove the tooling fastener and install the flight one.
Dave
Dave
I’m in Bill’s camp.
The most difficult part about installing nut plates is drilling them and countersinking and that is done.
Drill the tails off the rivets as you’re not trying to save the nut plates. Use a drill stop and don’t go deeper than the tail is tall.
I would be curious to see if there is any corrosion under the nut plate or heads and shaft of those bolts.
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I hit the bolts and nutplates with LPS2 spray. Some people dislike the idea or spraying lubricants inside their plane because it attracts dirt, but the light coating of oil will hopefully keep the nuts and bolts rust free. Other people also hate the idea of cleaning off lubricants residue before painting.
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Where can you Gert one of these? Thanks.
I would be careful with using a blast media even at a focused area. You will have some abrasive to clean up, no way to keep it refined to just the nut plate. It will go through the nut plate hole. You will also be faced with priming the areas around the nut plate and the nut plate.
Sounds like a lot more work than simply replacing them to me with a lot of questions on how this will even work.
Regardless of their marketing, spot sandblasting has been around, well, since blasting has been a thing.
Sounds like a lot more work than simply replacing them to me with a lot of questions on how this will even work.
Regardless of their marketing, spot sandblasting has been around, well, since blasting has been a thing.
No dog in this fight, but to add to Lester's question, where was that QB fuse stored ?
Curious as I have loads of hardwear, bolts, screws, platenuts (nutplates ?) etc, that are in bins or laying around on a shelf in the hangar and some of them are 10 -13 years old.
No trace of any corrosion.
Your's seem to be a unique, if not freaky occurance...
Good luck
Google spot media blaster. Plenty of options
I had exactly the same on my QB Fuse, I emailed Vans and they told me to replace the hardware. The nutplates clean up easily with a stiff nylon brush and I've bought replacement nuts and bolts. After I received my QB Fuse I had stored it in the unopened crate inside a shipping container for 9 months which I assume caused this issue on mine.
Thats about when I took delivery.
The fuselage has been stored in the hanger. I uncrated the day I received it.
I plan to replace the bolts and nuts. Their also showing some corrosion.
aeroaddict
Well Known Member
"After I received my QB Fuse I had stored it in the unopened crate inside a shipping container for 9 months which I assume caused this issue on mine."
Sorry to hear of this. It has been some of my experiences that parts should not be stored in a closed wooden crate. For extended periods of storage, the wooden crate should be open to allow the moister from the wood to escape.
Sorry to hear of this. It has been some of my experiences that parts should not be stored in a closed wooden crate. For extended periods of storage, the wooden crate should be open to allow the moister from the wood to escape.
