Warbird Information Exchange

I'm working on polishing an airplane, an Ercoupe this time, and wondered what tips, polishes, and tricks you all use. I posted this here because I'm sure the same applies for warbirds.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

A buffer,polish and a big barrel of elbow grease. One guy in Anchorage would get a table to lay on when he would work the underside of the wings on Metros.

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CraigQ

As you buff aluminum, it kind of creates that black 'smudge'. I've found that a little bit of corn starch works wonders as a 'finishing agent'...removes that black smudge and puts a mirror like finish on the surface (if you're using a rotary buffer with a soft pad).

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Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline......

Second on the cornstarch trick.
Only caveat is to blow it off thoroughly, fly it, then blow off again before getting it wet.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Here is the EAA video on the subject:
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=25190150001
http://www.nuvitechemical.com/

Use a VERY light touch, keep the buffer moving and stay away from edges, just like the paint on a car, you can damage the edges of aluminum sheeting. Do the edges (the outer 2 or so inches) with Norwegian steam.
And remember, no matter how long you buff them, the wing panels will never shine like chrome Talk to the guys @ the auto paint store, or even better the people who repair and maintain AIRSTREAM travel trailers for tips and techniques, I've seen old AIRSTREAMS that went from looking like a galvanized trash can to shiny as a new dime with careful attention, and TAKE YOUR TIME and keep us posted on all those chest muscles you never knew you had

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Paint is your friend

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Check out www.perfectpolish.com. They have everything you need.

Pay somebody else to do it or paint it silver. Those are my suggestions as somebody who has cared for a polished airplane.

The Nuvite system

I've been buying Nuvite brand from Perfect Polish for my T-6. It had never been polished and has turned out nicely. The Perfect Polish "fleece" rags work well to finish it off while using the cyclo polisher, but they're expensive, and washing them can make enemies around the "home-20", if y'all know what I mean. I've been buying 100% cotton flannel sheets at Goodwill, and throwing them away after use. Here's a link to our polishing job. http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-Am ... c9c3e98696
As you'll find out, be very careful with the cords on your buffers. The pads will reach out and grab them. I'd also invest in a good buffer. I bought 2 Makita variable speed buffers and a Cyclo Polisher. I thought if I had 2 buffers, I could get help polishing. My advice is to do it yourself. Well meaning helpers can and WILL screw up your good work in a big hurry. Stoney is giving you some pretty good advice. This is a lot of work, but can make your plane look great. PS DON'T THINK FOR ONE SHORT SECOND THAT THIS WILL BE CHEAPER THAN PAINTING YOUR PLANE. IT WILL NOT. Best of luck. Post pics when you're done.

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T-6F, N81857
warbirdridesusa@gmail.com

We're doing the same on our T-6 (see Cowtown Aerocrafters facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cowtow ... 6566374506 ). Also don't lay the power cords of the buffers on the buffed surface as it will mar the finish.

Ugh - polishing is such a pain. We have an F-86L - bare metal and even in the hanger it needs this treatment. A big challenge!

Tom P.

Superior Shine
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh ... s-B25-quot

Thanks so much guys. Alot of sound advice. I will post before and after shots.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager