Warbird Information Exchange

Folks

I am the project lead on the restoration of an F-111E and F-105D they both have spraylat still left on the aircraft and we are having no luck getting it removed. Does anyone have any experience in removing caked on Spraylat from aircraft.

Looking at the Spraylat information, It looks like cleanup/removal will be best done with ketone-based solvents. I would suggest trying Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone (MEK) from the local hardware store first. I would try it on some aluminum first because it will probably etch/eat the Plexiglas windscreens.

I was just about to as this very question since we unwrapped out T-38. Thanks for asking and answering!

Did they change the formulation back in the late 90's of "Spraylet"? Ours was wrapped up in 99.

that stuff is like rubber!

Hot water pressure washer should take it off.

yeah but with the psi in the pressure washer, won't that blow the paint off too if your not careful?

Probably not, the paint under the spraylat has not been subjected to UV and the harsh desert sun. Usually, the idea is to get rid of the spraylat so you can repaint !

RickH wrote:Probably not, the paint under the spraylat has not been subjected to UV and the harsh desert sun. Usually, the idea is to get rid of the spraylat so you can repaint !

yeah, i can see where your coming from. Any other options such as a non toxic chemical that would not tarnish the plexy glass?

Any other options such as a non toxic chemical that would not tarnish the plexy glass?

There is NO Spraylat applied directly to any plexi. The lay down a heavy black plastic and it is taped in place. Then they shoot a couple of coats of black spraylat, then they go back over it with the white coats. You should be able to peel the spraylat and plastic off of the glass. That leaves you with a blck and white spraylat border that should come off with the hot pressure washer.

RickH wrote:

Any other options such as a non toxic chemical that would not tarnish the plexy glass?

There is NO Spraylat applied directly to any plexi. The lay down a heavy black plastic and it is taped in place. Then they shoot a couple of coats of black spraylat, then they go back over it with the white coats. You should be able to peel the spraylat and plastic off of the glass. That leaves you with a blck and white spraylat border that should come off with the hot pressure washer.

yep. that's exactly what it is too. I was able to peel the white and some of the black off, but some of the black stayed on the glass and i couldn't get it off. Every time i tried to peel, it would just rip into a smaller piece.

You might try the judicious use of a heat gun on the black plastic left overs. It should soften enough to release without tearing.

RickH wrote:You might try the judicious use of a heat gun on the black plastic left overs. It should soften enough to release without tearing.

perfect, thank you!