How To Do Paint Touch Ups To Minor (?) Areas

[ZuluZulu]

  On 2/16/2022 at 5:15 PM, LANCECASPER said:

He delivered it back out this morning. I think he did a great job on it.

 

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Like it never happened.  Does he have an office in California?  

[LANCECASPER]

  On 2/16/2022 at 7:06 PM, ZuluZulu said:

Like it never happened.  Does he have an office in California?  

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No, but if we ever have a fly-in here I bet we could keep him busy for a few days.

[Danb]

  On 2/16/2022 at 5:15 PM, LANCECASPER said:

He delivered it back out this morning. I think he did a great job on it.

 

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Sweet 

[Bartman]

  On 2/16/2022 at 6:07 PM, GeneralT001 said:

Does it matter if its urethane or enamel or polyurethane or acrylic enamel?

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I defer to those more knowledgeable than me to answer questions about paint formulations and on a leading edge I am sure it would matter more than the location of my repair. Honestly the area I touched up will ever see any stress like a leading edge would and if I were addressing a leading edge I might have put more effort into it. My goal was just to get something on the bare aluminum but after several years you can’t see it or feel it and I’m happy.  
 

Honestly I probably got lucky using something in a rattle can and if I used it on a leading edge it would probably not last as long as on the side of the empennage.  What I do know is that preparation is one of many key factors for success. 

[PT20J]

I discussed the sanding and buffing blending technique with the person who does all the painting at the museum (because my leading edges need some work also) and he pointed out something that I didn't know. Paint manufacturers specify a minimum film thickness. He said if you overspray and then sand down to blend, the super thin paint film will eventually oxidize and the edge will become very apparent. That's why he always paints an entire panel unless he's using clear coat.

Has anyone used the sanding and buffing technique and noticed any deterioration after a few years, or does it hold up? Maybe it holds up OK if hangared and kept waxed? 

Skip

[carusoam]

Paint oxidizes and or gets dirty on the surface…

Cleaner/waxes remove the top layer… enough that the paint color shows up on the towel you are using to hand buff the surface….

Done enough times… the paint gets thinner and thinner… while looking really nice….

Until the thinnest layer becomes a missing area….

Not a big deal when done over a few years….

More of a problem for foreverplanes that are 40 years old living outdoors…. 

 

PP thoughts only,

-a-