Stripping and Painting

[jchronic]

For SkyMac:

Dave-

Sincere thanks for all the info and pictures, all very helpful in contemplating the project and whether to try it myself. One other question re covering the joints and seams with the tape: After the panel, etc. is stripped, how do you go back and strip the seam area? Hand sanding or very judicious use of the gel/liquid stripper?

My airplane has (I think) the original factory paint, over which a previous owner who wanted an O2 lookalike painted a military camoflage scheme, so the stripping is going to be quite a job. But thinking about dropping $15K or so and hearing about several less than satisfactory 'professional' jobs, I'm tempted to give it a try.

I've prepped and painted two large (30') boats myself, one with one-part polyurethane, and they came out quite well.

Many thanks again for the response and any other info you have.

Joe
joechr@msn.com

[SkyMac]

Hi Joe

When it came to the seams between cowls etc and other areas where we applied the tape we have used two methods to remove the narrow strip of paint.

Firstly the main reason for leaving cowls etc on, is it's far easier to strip assembled and there is a lot less covering to do. What we do is remove the cowl afterwards and apply a small amount of stripper to the edges and remove it. When it comes to the areas on the main fuselage we again apply stripper in small amounts were possible, remove the strip of paint, wipe excess off, scrub with thinners and wash of using a sponge and a lot of detergent / water, no excess water as with the cowls off your engines etc are exposed. Just take your time.

Secondly in areas that we don't want stripper near, we use a fine or medium scotch brite wheel attached to a drill. I normally buy a few of these when I'm in the USA every 3 months or so, lot cheaper than Aus. Care must be taken to ensure you don't work it to hard and use mid range RPM on your drill. This is slow, but I find satisfactory for the small amounts you have to remove.

As the group have explained there are a number of jobs you will get depending on what you want to pay. If you are going to strip the aircraft yourself, continue to research into it. You can do it with a lot of hard work, if you have experience in painting with poly paints, but research the paint you intend to use also, don't buy cheap paints.

One last thing on all joins or skin overlaps, after a few days we went over every part of the fuselage where their was join or overlap with a fine pointed scribe (one with a 90 deg bend) to ensure that there was not residual stripper left tucked away, easy to remove any as it is normally dried and hard after a few days.

I have chosen to use Jet Glow Express after reading some of Herb's postings and looking at his pitcures, just the finish I'm after (Thanks Herb). This is not an easy paint to use, but gives a great finish and consist's of 3 parts. At present we have removed all inspection covers, stripped, prepped and painted them, plus all the gear doors except one so far. This was just to get used to the paint and to see what sort of finish we could achieve, very happy so far and it was a great excuse for me to buy a new spray gun.

Joe I have time on my side, and I like things done right hence why we are doing this or should I say I. But everything I do is striclty controlled and watched by my engineers. When it comes to putting it back together then thats their job, I become the lacky.

I like all of use want to continue to fly these great machines, but cost is always a concern and will continue to be so for many. By getting fully involved, learning and understanding more about the 337 will enable me to keep cost's down when it comes to future work, if I can do basic dissasembly for the the engineer to gain access, then you save a little.

Painting your aircraft should be more than just applying paint, it's a chance to get to know it, what you do with that knowledge is up to you.

Dave

[jchronic]

Dave -

Once again, very sincere thanks for taking the time to provide this detailed followup info. I'm edging toward taking on the job myself. Although I realize there are distinct differences, as I noted I have a lot of experience with nasty preparation steps and materials and poly paints redoing boats. And since I mainly use the airplane for marine survey work from January through mid-June (a 'hobby job') and am otherwise retired, I have plenty of time.

Plus I have a great A&P/IA who let's me do most the work resulting from my annuals, and keeps me on the straight and narrow safety and regulatory-wise.
If I take the plunge, I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again-
Joe (aka Capt Ahab)

[SkyMac]

Hi Joe

Just thought I would put a few more notes down for you seeing your keen to have a go at this task like I am, hope they help.

Regards
Dave

[jchronic]

Sir, you are a gentleman, a scholar, and a credit to Aussie - U.S. relations!!

Joe

[jchronic]

Dave -

One more and I'll quit bugging you (for awhile): How did you protect the windshield/windows during the stripping process? Obviously don't want to get the stripper on them, but is masking tape/masking paper adequate, or is something more robust and solvent-resistant called for?

Thanks (again) -
Joe