Elbow and power tool grease

[bradp]

I'm just about to complete my first annual (knock on wood, not signed off yet), with few surprises.  So far, battery needed to be replaced, ELT broke during testing and valve cover gaskets need replacing.  We're finishing up tomorrow.  I've spent every day of the last week putting in some elbow grease doing touch up zinc under the belly, doing some touch up paint work around the fuel caps.  Participating in the annual and learning a ton during the last week has been about the most educational aviation experience I've had to date.  The shop has been top notch, and the A/Ps have been totally professional, very knowledgeable and fun to hang out with.  Probably the most labor intense thing all week... paint restoration.  Got all the oxidation out of the 36 year old paint with some astounding results.  Only took 4 hours each top side of each wing .  Thought I would share some pics with y'all.  I get a kick out of the before and after; it's like an infomercial...

 

Take care and happy flying,

 

Brad

 

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33980-/

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33982-/

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33979-/

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/33981-/

 

[Super Dave]

Impressive results with the paint. How did you do it?

[Marauder]

Impressive results with the paint. How did you do it?

 

More importantly, will you come do mine?

[Steve Dawson]

Looks great Brad. I have the same paint scheme and after they're buffed up I wouldn't want to change it to the newer style. You're going to have lots of fun,

[Nathan Peterson]

Brad, a lot of hard and rewarding work... looks great.

 

Nate

[Riq]

Wow, looks fantastic.

 

Im also curious as to the process and what products you used. My plane needs this badly.

[KSMooniac]

Nice work, Brad!  I'd love to know what materials and tools you used.  My 2009 paint could use some polishing on the upper surfaces as well (I want to minimize drag!) and the shop didn't do a great job buffing it out back then.  I'm curious about what you used, especially around the protruding head rivets so that you didn't burn through the paint.

[bradp]

Hi all,

 

Working through a newly found gear rigging issue.  Urgh.

 

Anyway here's the process I used:

 

1) Wash

2) Clay bar (wet) to get stuck on dirt off

3) Clear coat safe rubbing compound (Maguiar's); important to apply by hand, don't let dry and wipe off with clean microfiber

4) Clear coat safe polishing compound.  Again by hand but lots of rubbing

5) Cleaner wax (Maguiars); with soft foam buffing wheel covered by a microfiber bonnet on my portable hand drill.  I went through a battery about every 15 minutes. 

6) UV protectant wax (Maguiars NXT); hand polishing

 

I'll see how this holds up but I am hopeful; the zinc dust overspray error literally wiped right off.

 

Take care,

 

Brad

[FBCK]

I did the same thing to my plane last year.  Paint was 12 years old and I thought it looked fine.  Was feeling the need to do some one day so I went to Napa Auto and purchased some 3m rubbing compound and buffer pad. Expensive the cound in canada was $70, though I think its half of that in the USA.  I used only half of it on the cowl and wings, this stuff was great.  The paint looks like new.  Took a good 2 hours per wing just for the surfaces.

 

http://www.amazon.com/3M-05954-Super-Duty-Compound/dp/B000N9OE1E/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1365699188&sr=1-3&keywords=rubbing+compound+3m