METAL PROTECTANT FOR POLISHED AL ?

[DCarlton]

Has anyone used something other than wax as a metal protectant for polished AL?  I'm buying a new prop spinner shell and I'd like to preserve it with something more lasting than wax while it's new.  There are several options for marine use but I haven't found anything recommended for aviation use yet.  For example:  

https://sharkhidestore.com

Has anyone painted a polished AL spinner?  I know some come prepped for paint; others polished.  

Thanks MS! 

[mike_elliott]

California purple

[201Mooniac]

I know of someone who had their polished spinner clear coated by a paint shop but I also heard that wasn't an approved method, AFAIK he never checked if that was a true problem or not.

[DCarlton]

40 minutes ago, mike_elliott said:

California purple

Looks like a good polish for long term maintenance but I was hoping right out of the box, the new spinner shell wouldn't need a polish; just a protectant.  

[Danb]

Years ago I had a chrome spinner on a 1977 J I owned which was on it when I purchased the plane. During its first and only annual under my ownership the MSC would not sign off on it being  an unauthorized unapproved part. It was very nice and seemed much better than the white painted one I replaced it with.  This has nothing to do with protection polish but the spinner. 

[47U]

To the question of protecting polished aluminum, I’ve found the best defense is to keep it covered.  Even if it’s hangared.  

Edited November 25, 2023 by 47U
My misinterpretation of the previous post.

[mike_elliott]

2 hours ago, DCarlton said:

Looks like a good polish for long term maintenance but I was hoping right out of the box, the new spinner shell wouldn't need a polish; just a protectant.  

I found it to also add some tarnish mitigation after one use. in fact, I didn't need to repolish it for at least 2 years when I sold the Bravo. Somewhere on here I have posted B4&after photos. Amazing easy to use and cheap.

[mike_elliott]

[A64Pilot]

Chroming if not correctly done can and will cause cracking and there have been spinner failures in the past, so they were actually correct about a chromed spinner not being approved.

https://www.aviationperformanceproducts.com/chrome-it.cfm

 

For example only one manufacture of propellor can be polished, all others polishing renders them un-airworthy, reason the FAA gives is the manual only includes painting, not polishing, Hamilton Standard apparently allows polishing, but I’ve never looked in the book to see.

[47U]

2 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

Chroming if not correctly done can and will cause cracking and there have been spinner failures in the past, so they were actually correct about a chromed spinner not being approved.

 

I have amended my previous post.  I read the word “chrome” but it didn’t register that it wasn’t just polished aluminum.

I apologize for my confusion.

[A64Pilot]

No problem, personally I wish chroming was allowed, in my opinion if there were issues with cracking it could be mitigated with inspection, but my opinion isn’t worth anything.

My J’s spinner is painted and I’m actually glad it is, because I won’t polish a spinner anymore,  I like the look but not the work, chroming would give me the look without the work. I’ve seen many chromed spinners on Ag planes.

As far as I know there is nothing to really protect polished aluminum from eventually corroding, except clear coating it and that changes its appearance, it’s just not as shiny. Clear coat is paint, and your allowed to paint a spinner and as far as I know I’ve never seen any prohibition on color your allowed to paint one.

‘If you clear coat and want a shiny spinner you will eventually be stripping it to polish it though clear coating dulls the shine.

[DCarlton]

After some searching, we ended up using GRANITIZE™ Aviation X20-18 AECI 3 Colorless Brightwork Aircraft Exterior Protector.  Not cheap but apparently it's been approved by several aircraft manufacturers.  A local aircraft detail shop uses it on corporate jets.  Looks great.  Will be interesting to see how long it lasts before the spinner needs a polish and re-coat.  

https://skygeek.com/granitize-x-20-18-xzilon-3-brightwork-16oz.html

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry that I’m late to the party. I have heard several old-timers swear by Everbright to keep polished aluminum airplane shiny.

https://www.everbritecoatings.com

[Hank]

I use California Gold, the purple stuff. The green is for cleaning up if required, then follow with purple. It's so much better and easier than Mother's!

[kortopates]

Hank and California purple wins hand down.

However, if one is starting with a really badly oxidezed spinner, IMO the first step is to take it to professional polisher whom can restore it a lot better than any product applied wby hand. But once past  that I don't see California Purple being beat. I've tried many too but far from all.

 

[DCarlton]

37 minutes ago, kortopates said:

Hank and California purple wins hand down.

However, if one is starting with a really badly oxidezed spinner, IMO the first step is to take it to professional polisher whom can restore it a lot better than any product applied wby hand. But once past  that I don't see California Purple being beat. I've tried many too but far from all.

 

I'll probably try a polish like the purple down the road.  My spinner was new so I went with just a protectant for now.  Curious how long that would last.  

[kortopates]

1 hour ago, DCarlton said:

I'll probably try a polish like the purple down the road.  My spinner was new so I went with just a protectant for now.  Curious how long that would last.  

In a hangar it last a long time, but out side on the ramp I suspect not that long. 

[Igor_U]

20 hours ago, DCarlton said:

After some searching, we ended up using GRANITIZE™ Aviation X20-18 AECI 3 Colorless Brightwork Aircraft Exterior Protector.  Not cheap but apparently it's been approved by several aircraft manufacturers.  A local aircraft detail shop uses it on corporate jets.  Looks great.  Will be interesting to see how long it lasts before the spinner needs a polish and re-coat.  

https://skygeek.com/granitize-x-20-18-xzilon-3-brightwork-16oz.html

 

 

Wow,

it is expensive but then it also have an "aviation" in description. 

[Pinecone]

I wonder how one of the ceramic coatings might work.

[MooneyMitch]

On 12/14/2023 at 11:46 AM, Hank said:

I use California Gold, the purple stuff. The green is for cleaning up if required, then follow with purple. It's so much better and easier than Mother's!

Oh, man..........my hands and fingers and wrists are aching just looking at that super polished unit............LOL.  Lots of love rubbing for sure.

[Hank]

21 minutes ago, MooneyMitch said:

Oh, man..........my hands and fingers and wrists are aching just looking at that super polished unit............LOL.  Lots of love rubbing for sure.

Not really. With the Purple stuff, there's no rubbing, just wipe on and buff with microfiber. Takes about 10 minutes every year or two. It's wonderful stuff!

Mother's polish was work, took a long time, and left me with tired arms and sore fingers. Looked good for a couple of months when hangared.

[MooneyMitch]

At least there's something good about California [California Purple] besides the climate and the beautiful scenery!!

[MikeOH]

1 hour ago, MooneyMitch said:

At least there's something good about California [California Purple] besides the climate and the beautiful scenery!!

Sorry to crush your dream but appears to be a Nebraska company!

 

[Hank]

1 hour ago, MooneyMitch said:

At least there's something good about California [California Purple] besides the climate and the beautiful scenery!!

Don't forget the extra elbow room. Half a million people moved out of Cali in 2022, per the Census Bureau.

Sorry, Mitch . . . .

[DCarlton]

4 hours ago, Hank said:

Don't forget the extra elbow room. Half a million people moved out of Cali in 2022, per the Census Bureau.

Sorry, Mitch . . . .

I urned down a job offer in Huntsville almost 40 years ago to move to SOCAL.  I would have been ok either either fork in the road.