Chrome spinner or polished aluminum?

[jelswick]

My Mooney just completed it's annual, but someone slipped taking out a screw and there's a pretty good sized scratch in the paint on the spinner.  My wonderful mechanic said he'd strip and repaint it to make it right, but I'm thinking of going polished aluminum or chrome if it's going to be stripped anyway and told him I'd pay for that part.  I found a helpful 2009 post thread on stripping and polishing the aluminum.  Is chroming the spinner an option and if so, any opinions on whether chrome or polished aluminum is the way to go?  Cost or options for having it chromed?  Pluses/minuses to either approach?  Thanks in advance for any opinions out there.

[KSMooniac]

I don't think chroming is an option...at least I've never seen or heard of it with our Mooney spinners.  I'd just go the polish route if it were me...mine turned out great.

[N33GG]

Quote: JimR

My understanding is that chroming, although fairly commonly found on certificated airplanes, is technically not approved by the FAA and can alter the metallurgy of the aluminum.  I'd go with a good polishing job, but you need to know going in that it takes a fair amount of work to keep a polished spinner looking good long term.

Jim

http://www.piperowner.org/component/content/article/70-should-you-chrome-plate-your-spinner.html

 

[rags]

i have a chrome spinner on my E. i have had no problems with it cracking of any other problems. the problem with stripping and polishing it takes a lot of work to take the paint off and then to buff the aluminum. i have tried it with varying degrees of luck. it depends on the condition of the spinner when stripped

[jetdriven]

i think getting chroming approved would be hard to do.   Mine is polished and needs to be polished maybe every 2 months, but I live on the gulf coast about 9 miles from the water. 

[jelswick]

Great, sounds like I have my answer and I appreciate everyone's quick helpful thoughts on this! 

[mooniac58]

Can anyone elaborate on products you use for polishing the aluminum?  My harzell top prop spinner is looking pretty dull these days...

[MooneyMitch]

I have used Flitz, and believe it or not, Honda Metal Polish.  Both work great!  Also, Happich Simichrome aluminum polish is excellent.

[mooniac58]

Most excellent.  Thanks Mitch!

[Shadrach]

Quote: jetdriven

i think getting chroming approved would be hard to do.   Mine is polished and needs to be polished maybe every 2 months, but I live on the gulf coast about 9 miles from the water. 

[Jeff_S]

Quote: mooniac58

Can anyone elaborate on products you use for polishing the aluminum?  My harzell top prop spinner is looking pretty dull these days...

[Hank]

I've had great luck with Mother's Aluminum Polish from the nearest auto parts store, big-box retailer, etc. Small jar [~3 or 4 oz], and from the little I've used the last four years, it's a lifetime supply if only polishing the spinner. Just have some good soap handy, and lots of clean cloths--polishing any metal with any decent polish will quickly turn the rags and your fingers black.

[Bob]

If a spinner has never been polished before I would pay a local metal polishing company to do the initial polishing.  Then I would maintain it with Fitz.

Making a part shine is a 2 part process, first polish, then protect with a sealer.  If I want to bring back a part that has been neglected, I start with Mothers polish and then finish it off with Fitz.  Mothers is more course while Fitz is a finer cut.  Both contain sealing agents but Fitz seems to provided a better sealer.  If I use only Fitz, I will work too hard  for the shine and if I use only Mothers the shine will be not as fine and won't last as long.

[John Pleisse]

One fellow on Mooneyspace (it escapes me who..pls speak up) sent his spinner to a professional polisher. He said it took several weeks. So I call the polisher and ask for a two week turn during annual. He agreed for a significant price (upper $300's). I have not dealt with him yet, but he seems fair and diligent.

Also, Richard Z., the nice fellow who runs the Mooneyland website does pay per inquiry chroming of spinners. He swears by it. Most other people I talk to say it will bubble, crack and flake....even if done right.

This is the guy I will try in the next few weeks. Pirep to follow:

Tony Brock
Mirror Finish Polishing
website:  http://www.mirrorfinishpolishing.com/

100% Guaranteed Metal Polishing Services

Phone:  816-529-6089
E-mail:  sales@MirrorFinishPolishing.com

Btw, I have been messing w/ Metall, Fltz, 1800g wet sand and other since last November. Hard lesson? No substute for elbow grease. My spinner was in bad shape. I was able to bring 85% of it back, but I have now given up and I am sending it out. I want it to look like the pipes on a Harley Soft Tail on biker weekend at the beach.

 

 

[sixsixX]

Definatly dont think about chrome, the process can lead to brittle aluminum on the spinner, I did use Tony brock did do mine, if you get him to do it  you will be pleased with the results, be sure you have a time frame discussed, mine did take 6 weeks to do !  There is the do it yourself route, and if done properly can produce good results, but nowhere near what a proper polish can do. My advice get it polished professionally, it will be easy to keep up with a good polish or wax and no issues with metal distress. It does look awesome and as close to chrome as possible. See my photo gallery for pictures.

[KSMooniac]

I stripped my McCauley spinner myself, and took it to a local polishing shop (Wichita) and they did it for $75, of which $15 or $20 was an expedite fee!  Well worth the cost to save me hours of my labor...they have the big machines and compounds to do it right, and quickly.    Cost would have been a bit more if they had to strip it due to the EPA concerns with the chemicals in a commercial shop.

[John Pleisse]

Something about a perfectly polished spinner that can transform an aircraft's appearance. It can make a #7 paint job look like a 10.

[thinwing]

I do a three part polish at every annual...mothers mag polish to get the serious oxidation than flitz followed by a coat of carnuba paste wax.Also I use a power buffer with a sheepskin bonnet on it...it will be jet black by the time your done.Also if the spinner is off the a/c at annual time i will use a bench lathe with polishing rag wheels to quickly buff out...but even with the wax sealer its always going to tarnish again...kpc

[Lionudakis]

I love the look of polished alum and/or chrome, whats not looked at much is powdercoating. There is powdercoating available now that you couldn't tell the difference from chrome, polished alum, bruched stainless ect. They can resemble any metal finish, from experience probably lessd than 100 bucks; and it will last forever.   Just an idea.

[Mooney_Allegro]

My spinner is chromed(previous owner had it done), and it looks just like a King Air prop spinner. I use to own a Piper Warrior and had to polish the spinner all the time to make it look nice.  I don't know much about the chemical properties of chrome, but I know it's a lot easier to take care of.  Just wipe the bugs off and no elbow grease.  I think it's been chromed about 10 years ago, and it looks just fine after all that time.  I haven't thought of powdercoating, but it's an interesting concept. 

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: Lionudakis

I love the look of polished alum and/or chrome, whats not looked at much is powdercoating. There is powdercoating available now that you couldn't tell the difference from chrome, polished alum, bruched stainless ect. They can resemble any metal finish, from experience probably lessd than 100 bucks; and it will last forever.   Just an idea.

[Txbyker]

I am having my prop overhauled and took this time to also polish the spinner.  I got Tony's contact info off this thread and he did his magic.  He worked with me on a quick turn and the price was very reasonable.  

 

Tony Brock

Mirror Finish Polishing
Website:  http://www.mirrorfinishpolishing.com/

Phone:  816-529-6089
E-mail:  sales@MirrorFinishPolishing.com

 

 

[DaV8or]

What I'm hoping for is, in the near future we will be able to have our spinners polished somewhere like Tony's and then coat it with the Never Wet coating in the other thread. Should stay shiney nearly forever.