Piloto Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I heard of WD-40 used for deicing car locks and other ice related applications. I decided to see how well would work on a frozen surface covered with ice. I sprayed WD-40 on the aluminum surface first. Then put a drop of water on it. Put the sample in the kitchen fridge for 6 hours. After 6 hours the drop was solid ice but it slided down with minimum surface inclination. I did the same test with the Rust-Oleum deicing product but the droplet stick to the surface. On my next flight to KAGC I am thinking of spraying the wing leading edge with WD-40 and hope for some ice to see how it works. Has anyone here tried this experiment.? José Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinwing Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Go for it Piloto!...If that doesn't work ,try feminine hygiene spray! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LANCECASPER Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 2 hours ago, Piloto said: I heard of WD-40 used for deicing car locks and other ice related applications. I decided to see how well would work on a frozen surface covered with ice. I sprayed WD-40 on the aluminum surface first. Then put a drop of water on it. Put the sample in the kitchen fridge for 6 hours. After 6 hours the drop was solid ice but it slided down with minimum surface inclination. I did the same test with the Rust-Oleum deicing product but the droplet stick to the surface. On my next flight to KAGC I am thinking of spraying the wing leading edge with WD-40 and hope for some ice to see how it works. Has anyone here tried this experiment.? José That makes sense since WD stands for water displacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kortopates Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I've heard first hand accounts that Pledge spayed on the leading edge actually works - as long as it last there. But I have never tried it. You'd think it has the potential to last much longer than WD-40 - not that either is likely to last very long. But maybe help you get on top. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 So, spray one wing and leave the other one bare. Go find a real dark cloud at about -5C. Fly in there until you get about an inch and let us know the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvesg Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Is the WD-40 chemistry compatible with the aircraft paint? Yves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 What worked for deicing my Mooney on the WV/OH border was a hangar. I've since implemented the best deicing scheme: I moved back South! Havent scraped my windshield this winter, but I probably should have twice. I just kept hitting it with windshield cleaner because it's difficult to pull a credit card out of my wallet with gloves on . . . Seriously, though, I've heard about using car windshield deicing spray to deice wings. In my seven winters on the Ohio River, I never needed it, and when I travel I cover the windshield. Don't recall ever having a problem with frosted wings, a side benefit to not departing early in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 I think it would make a mess that no one would want to clean up. Moving further south would work better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 I think José is talking about structural ice as if flying through a cloud kind Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert C. Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 De-Ice or anti-Ice? For de-icing I recently read (think in AOPA magazine but not sure anymore) to use a mix of 80% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol - any drugstore) and 20% water. Put it in a spray bottle and had it with me 2 weeks ago when we had snow residue and frost on the wings and tail. Sprayed, wiped and clean wings Works like a charm and no worries about how it interacts with paint or leaves a residue. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 FYI most rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl. You can find 99% if you look for it and titer appropriately. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 De-Ice or anti-Ice? For de-icing I recently read (think in AOPA magazine but not sure anymore) to use a mix of 80% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol - any drugstore) and 20% water. Put it in a spray bottle and had it with me 2 weeks ago when we had snow residue and frost on the wings and tail. Sprayed, wiped and clean wings Works like a charm and no worries about how it interacts with paint or leaves a residue. Robert FYI most rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl. You can find 99% if you look for it and titer appropriately. I've used rubbing alcohol for years without any issues. The remaining 30% is mainly water. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpilot Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 Actually, common IPA found at Walgreens, CVS, etc is 91% alcohol. For a fuel additive to prevent ice crystals in 100LL, I use iso-HEET (red bottle), which is 100% IPA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 54 minutes ago, neilpilot said: Actually, common IPA found at Walgreens, CVS, etc is 91% alcohol. For a fuel additive to prevent ice crystals in 100LL, I use iso-HEET (red bottle), which is 100% IPA. You have to read the labels. Much is 70%, but I've found it in drugstores as low as 50%. Used to buy it by the pallet at work, in quart bottles and spray heads, at 70%. The good stuff, 99% IPA, generally comes from chemical or science supply businesses (we used Fisher Life Sciences), in brown glass gallon jugs. It's not suitable to store in plastic bottles for a long time, it will absorb water from the air and not be at 99% very long. For our application, it mattered; to melt ice on your wing and tail surfaces, it won't matter, but it is significantly more expensive Buy what you can find but read the label before adding (more) water . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpilot Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 17 hours ago, Hank said: You have to read the labels. Much is 70%, but I've found it in drugstores as low as 50%. Used to buy it by the pallet at work, in quart bottles and spray heads, at 70%. The good stuff, 99% IPA, generally comes from chemical or science supply businesses (we used Fisher Life Sciences), in brown glass gallon jugs. It's not suitable to store in plastic bottles for a long time, it will absorb water from the air and not be at 99% very long. For our application, it mattered; to melt ice on your wing and tail surfaces, it won't matter, but it is significantly more expensive Buy what you can find but read the label before adding (more) water . . . Appreciate the lecture on Isopropyl alcohol. Before I retired last year, I used to make about 120,000 lb/year of IPA. It was a byproduct, and we burned it in our steam boiler as a supplemental fuel. But suffice it to say I understand IPA packaging and handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarmaster Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 How about it Jose?? Any PIREPS?? Inquiring minds want to know... BTW, still love my $5 door seals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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