Stripping !!!!! Ok best way to strip paint on Alu

[Kyle Communications]

I have to strip a fair bit of paint off Mabel mainly the whole stab and elevator,fin and rudder also the cabin sides and front. Being aluminium I cant sand blast it as it will distort the outside and reshape the skins like peening. Caustic stripper isnt a good idea either as it can get into some of the gaps and seams..does anyone know of a non caustic/solvent way of getting the paint off around rivets etc on skins already painted.

 

Mark

 

 

[mnewbery]

Use what Boeing use. 1,1,1 Trichloroethane. Aka liquid paper thinner

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Trichlorethane and trichlorethane inhibited has been banned here. I used to use it years ago but its not allowed to be made ..I tried..Barrel Chemicals told me this

 

 

[mnewbery]

I used to use tonnes of it in a powder coating factory for the hanger hooks. Maybe chase the powder coaters up and see what they use now

 

 

[Litespeed]

Bicarb soda blasting is the answer.

 

Gentle and just washes away. Safe and alloy friendly

 

 

[mnewbery]

The next bet might be Benco B17 aka Methylene Chloride aka "drinking bird" fluid (yep it's a thing). Another volatile organic compound

 

 

[rotax618]

Soda blasting will take ages and cost lots if done out in the open (not in a cabinet). I used an organic citrus based paint remover, it fried up the paint and after it was dry the paint could be easily dislodged with scotchbrite, the silver base with clear came off cleanly but the Red 2 pack was a bit messy. Unless you are really concerned about weight just scotchbrite the surface and overpaint it, ask Danny, thats what he did.

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Tom

 

The paint on Mabel is pretty darn thick. I would be more comfortable getting it all off and repainting the whole aircraft properly. Remembering she is going to be a few kg's heavier due to the thicker sheet on the sides and wings. Spoke to Danny about it and he said the citrus stripper ..I have never used it and this paint looks like its all 2pack and its been pu on pretty thick

 

Mark

 

 

[Nobody]

I haven't used this but have used stewart systems paint and it worked well.

 

Doesn't seem too expensive....

 

Stewart Systems. EkoStrip - Gallon

 

 

[Jabiru Phil]

Wonder whether MEK would do the trick.

 

 

[mnewbery]

Ekostrip is 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone and won't work on 2 pack. Methylene Chloride will

 

 

[mnewbery]

Acetone and MEK are solvents for application of 2 pack not stripping

 

 

[derekliston]

Aircraft painting company at Archerfield used to use pressure washers. You might think that would distort the aluminium but apparently it didn't.

 

 

[ben87r]

Tequila and lemon usually works well but I hear vodka also has great results.

 

 

[Jabiru Phil]

Acetone and MEK are solvents for application of 2 pack not stripping

There is a product called Mar-Hyde.

 

Supposed to be good for paint removal of Aluminium.

 

 

[skyfox1]

I used citra strip on my 701 none corrosive paint stripper painted it on with brush then wrapped it in glad wrap left it on for about an hour then pressure washed it off did a great job came back to nice clean aluminium.

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

I used Turco 5351 from Aerospace Materials Tullamarine, better known as the Yellow Peril. It is formulated to take Cessna paint off Cessna aluminium. Did a better job than the various hardware paint strippers, but very expensive, and must be shipped as dangerous goods. It turned up in its own lockable mesh cabinet sitting up like the queen. I had used it before when I worked for a LAME. Expensive, but it worked on very old paint and Denis Behan's experimental paint mix over the top of the original. Lifted the lot & washed off.

 

Sue

 

 

[mnewbery]

Turco 5351 is ... 30-60% methylene chloride.

 

Mar-Hyde is a very interesting recipie. Mostly water, methanol and naptha

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Brake fluid?

 

Heat gun?

 

 

[mnewbery]

The only things that will shift 2 pack are VOCs, heat and mechanical force. Time helps but you'd be dead waiting.

 

Brake fluid is a kind of mineral oil that boils at very high temperature but is still quite thin (e.g. the opposite of volatile) It is usually a mixture of glycols which is why it loves sucking up water

 

 

[M61A1]

Go the Turco. Works exceptionally well. Use quality PPE. Burns like a bitch.

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

Turco also frizzes up brushes - use natural bristle - the synthetic ones look like an exceptionally Bad Hair day. Mark, I have some if you want to try it. Will have to check if it is in Springsure or on farm.