Warbird Information Exchange

new guy here...in more than 1 way! forgive me if i am covering an old topic or not approaching this the right way! i am hoping some of the folks out there can offer some advise to me for cleaning? i recently started hanging around a hanger full of warbirds. i am not a pilot or mechanic...just want to get involved and found a nice place to put in my time. i want to find out the good products/tips/tricks etc? i have some experience with cleaning and maintenance on classic autos and i currently work for the fire dept (always cleaning stuff at work!) but i have minimal aircraft experience. i have had some good luck with the aluminum polish we use at the fire dept on the polished areas but the carbon deposits (?) that go down the side of the planes are a bit of a challenge. i tried with minimal success to use break free and some #4 steel wool (only on the stainless areas...NOT the painted surfaces) but there has to be a good product/trick/tip out there to help me get rid of the carbon deposit build up so in the future it is not such a chore? any help would be greatly appreciated!

Carbon? Are you sure it's not lead deposits from the exhaust?

Most of the auto detaling stuff works on aircraft. Mothers, Mequiars etc. Pledge works bloody wonders on oil spray/drips etc/ Mequiars QuikWax shifts most deposits, their Instant Detailer is next to useless.. unless the aircraft is already spotless.

Some painted surfaces need a bit more effort if the paint is discolored...

Mequairs NXT line leaves the aircraft smelling nicely of bubblegum

Stainless panels usually get the EZ Off oven cleaner treatment..Removed & cleaned AWAY from the aircraft

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

see i am already learning...yes the exhaust residue...

You don't want to get that stuff on your skin, it's not too good for ya. But it will wash off the aircraft fairly easily.

Nearly all the aircraft I work on are gloss finish, so what works on gloss needs to be different to what you use on the flat or satin/semi-gloss paint etc.


Costco sell 3packs of LARGE Pledge cans.

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Use plastic polish to clean the canopies/windows, never anything with ammonia- it attacks the plastic. Also stay away from Simple Green (and other household degreasers) because they can attack steel and aluminum due to their pH. Simple Green makes an aviation product that avoids this problem however.

Another product for Stainless exhaust parts (OFF the aircraft) is "Carbon Off" sold at Fart & Smile, sorry, Smart & Final. It appears to basically be aerosol paint stripper & won't dissolve aluminum the way EZ Off will.

Simple Green now make an *aviation* version of their product that doesn't eat aluminum, I haven't tried it.

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

A few years ago when I was working on Spam Cans (General Aviation Aircraft) my friend, and owner of the shop bought some Extreme Simple Green from Sacramento Skyranch. We did a test between a diluted bottle of the Green and a straight bottle of 409. The Extreme Simple Green kicked butt on removing exhaust stains and the other grimy crude often found on the bellies of aircraft. It worked well on stainless material, and also did not harm the finish. 409 can work, but it takes some time and more elbow grease.

Jim