paint before new glass, or after. does it matter?

[Jamie]

I keep getting conflicting advice about this. Is it better to get the window plexiglass replaced before a paint job or after? The "do it before" argument seems to be that doing it after will result in damage to the new paint. But if you replace the glass after the paint job, there's less risk of the paint stripping process damaging the windows, and you don't leave stripper in the window seams.

 

Thoughts?

[Bob_Belville]

1. Strip the plane,

2. replace the Plexiglas,

3. paint the plane?

[RJBrown]

1. Strip the plane, 2. replace the Plexiglas, 3. paint the plane?[/quote Now that makes way too much sence. Done at the same time by the same shop leaves liability/responsibility in one place.

[N601RX]

If its older and uses screws to hold the windows in I would say remove the screws, windows and all the old sealent before painting. Some of the screw heads is likely going to have a little corrosion under them which can be cleaned off and painted over. Also it is likely that whatever is used to remove the sealer may run down the outside of the plane. The old windows could be just taped back in and painted over. After the paint is dry, then install the new windows. This would likely save a little money over doing it seperately.

[Jamie]

I admit I didn't consider the (now, completely obvious) three step process. If I had infinite money, soooooo many aspects of airplane ownership would be simple. It's more of a budget thing. For stuff that's arguably cosmetic, it'd be nice to spread the cost out over a couple of years. New glass, new paint, new engine monitor (I lump that in cosmetic because I just want the new digital display), etc.

 

So. If you -had- to do one before the other... would it siginficantly complicate the painting if the glass were already new?

[Jamie]

If its older and uses screws to hold the windows in

 

This would be on an '81 J. I'm not sure if it uses screws or rivets.

[carusoam]

Windows are cheap compared to paint and engines....

So change windows before and after paint.

Windows come precut, but not pre drilled. Buy yourself the special drill bit for windows from the window supplier.

Multi step process.

- remove old windows, first remove associated interior plastic.

- clean old sealant

- temporary mount windows, mark for drilling, drill and countersink holes

- apply new sealant

- mount windows with new SS fasteners.

Mooney windows are held in place using screws. Cleaning sealant takes love.

Interior plastic can be attended to at the same time.

Start with the door window for practice, to minimize the challenges.

Updating the score now...

- new glass

- new engine

- new paint

- new interior, plastic and carpet

- new Garmin panel

It will look and behave as new....

Best regards,

-a-

[Lionudakis]

I stripped the plane, painted, replaced glass, then masked the seam from glass to paint for a thin film of sealant that covers the seam. If the labor for masking the side windows was counted in, it almost covers the time of replacing the glass all together. I also used a soda blaster to make quick safe work of stripping the sealant on the edges of the skin/glass. 

 

But.. replacing the glass first doesn't make it harder to strip later on. The guys that do it everyday know how to do it. They don't like replacing glass at their own expense.

[Bob_Belville]

I Think I'd live with the plexi unless it is a vision issue until I was ready to paint. How pretty can pretty windows be if the paint is a 4.

[carusoam]

Windows come in four colors, pick the one for you.

Clear

Greenish

Gray

Dark gray

And faded to a color you can't recognize. In the 60's greenish was popular. Gray has made that obsolete. Dark gray is probably popular in Texas and SoCal...

Best regards,

-a-

[N601RX]

This would be on an '81 J. I'm not sure if it uses screws or rivets.

It uses internal retainer strips.  It doesn't have screws protruding through the skins

[Scott Aviation]

It uses internal retainer strips.  It doesn't have screws protruding through the skins

 +1

 

Just did my windows this summer.

 

Paint stripped airplane.. side windows were toast so didnt care, paint stripper ate through them in an hour and made a bloody mess.

Tried to protect the front windshield to reuse....covered it in multiple layers...still damaged a small portion.. out came the front window too.

 

All of the plexi is held in with angled aluminum strips around all edges of the glass...the front window eyebrow needs to come off aswell.

 

201 windows are easy to do...

 

Greatlakes aero supply has them..pick your thickness and color and your good to go...I went gray all the way around with dark tinted rear windows....love them!!

 

I was told by GLAP that silicone they sell was fine for the window installations...they arent going anywhere..apply liberally. 

 

*******big note...if you replace the glass in between stripping and painting then I would make sure you cover the inside and outside very well while painting or you will get the paint electrostatically attracted to the plexi on the inside and make cleaning it off extra pain in the ass.******************** Dont ask how I know.

[Jamie]

guys, thanks again. I'm in the process of buying (not looking... money is changing hands) a 'J'. Hopefully (hopefully) I'll take delivery in the next week or two.