Aircraft repainting

[Two_dogs]

I am about to repaint my C206. Should I take my aircraft to a dedicated paint shop, or trust my LAME with the job?

I have a few ballpark quotes from paint shops, around $12 000. My usual LAME says if I do the bulk of the stripping and prep work I can save around $3 000 to $4 000.

I must admit I'm having a hard time deciding who I should trust with this not small investment...

Will the paintshop rush my plane through (approx time is 8 days) without really caring that the corrosion may reappear?, or will they guarantee their work in writing? Does my LAME have the expertise to piant aircraft successfully? He says he does, but admits he's a LAME who paints aircraft, and not a dedicated paint shop. He also says around 3 weeks to do a really good job.

It's a fair investment in the old girl and I would obviously like the best job available. Does anone have any ideas, experiences both good and bad or recommendations.


Two Dogs

[Torres]

Will the paintshop rush my plane through (approx time is 8 days) without really caring that the corrosion may reappear?, or will they guarantee their work in writing? Does my LAME have the expertise to piant aircraft successfully?

No one who posts here will be able to answer your questions with even the remotest degree of accuracy.

Is the dedicated paint shop adequately and appropriately equipped and qualified to paint your aircraft - dust free and climate controlled zones etc? Do they have appropriate LAME coverage for removal of flight controls, corrosion treatment, repairs etc? What paint type do each offer?

There are some excellently equipped paint shops who achieved excellent results, no names but one used to operate at Tocumwal(?). There are some competent spray painting LAME's and others who fare very well with a paint brush and house paint (Don't laugh - I've seen a Shorts Skyvan painted with a paint brush!)

Your decsion. Make the wrong one and you'll regret it in a year or so, make the right decision and you shouldn't have to worry about paint finish and corrosion for many years to come.

Unless you go to a dentist for an appendectomy, I'd pay the extra for a qualified professional to do the job.

[Two_dogs]

Torres

No one who posts here will be able to answer your questions with even the remotest degree of accuracy.

I would have thought there would be plenty of people who could answer with a great deal of accuracy. There must be people who have made the right or wrong decisions regarding aircraft re-paints. I am simply looking to get the general consensus on the subject.

I am leaning toward having a professional do the job, but who? As I posted earlier, I have a few quotes, all came with the assurance of a good job and long term durability. Words are cheap, does anyone know of a shop that will back it up with a written guarantee. I'm no engineer myself, but surely if the time, effort and money is spent, a guaranteed result can be achieved.

Anyone with a recommendation of a paint shop, again good or bad, please PM me.

Two Dogs

[beer bong]

Hey 2 Dogs

I wouldnt get a gynocologist to pull my teeth out.
No way would I get a LAME (over titled panel beater/grease monkeyEngine & Airframe) to paint my plane. I reckon spend a few bucks and let the pros do it.

[Not_Another_Pot]

Beer Bong, can't say I agree with you on that one. My LAME has just completly repainted our bird and the result is mint.

I've seen what some paint shops turn out and I recon my job is better.

If you are over west 2 Dogs I'll send you their name, Its well worth a look.

NAP

[currawong]

Get a pro!!

Or your LAME!!

Don't get tangled up it doing it yourself!!

It is THE most :mad:house job to get into if you are not set up for it.

Hear someone central QLD coast got an automotive type to do a Cherokee 6 (save a few $$$).
Job came out mint, especially after he ground all those bumpy bits off. (yes, rivet heads :{ )
A/C flew 100 hrs before it was noticed....

[0tter1]

I have worked in two paint shops in the last few years, when flying has been slow or non existant. Be careful when choosing paint shops, and if you really want to save some money, go in and work on the plane yourself. That way if you are worried, you can see for yourself where your $$ are going. Believe me, after a few days of sanding, paint stripping, acid washing, high building, priming. and prepping the a/c you will understand why the cost of repainting an a/c is what it is. It is the worst job I have ever had to do, makes you appreciate how lucky you are to fly, flying isnt work...

[Wheeler]

Track record is the most important thing with painters. If you can find a customer who had an aircraft painted, say, 3 -5 yeras ago and if if still looks good, it is probably a good job - whoever did it. If the thing has been kept outside, on the coast for a couple of years and it still looks good, it is probably even better. Having had a couple aircraft painted myself and purchased a couple painted by 'unknown' painters, I can say that how good it looks just after it emeges form the paint shop is totally irrelevant. Types of paints, strippers used (wow!) corrosion treatment methods and even things like how they intend to mask to avoid stripper, paint etc going inside places where it should not are all relevant. Watch out - there are some not exactly cowboys around - but certainly it is very tempting for the experts to cut a few corners here and there.

[23 Metros In a Row]

If you owned a Mercedes Benz worth $180,000 would you take it to the grease monkeys for a respray.

The old saying is you get what you pay for.

[Ethel the Aardvark]

I would have to agree with Wheeler. If the lame has a good reputation with painting I think he would give your a/c a lot more attention than most painting companys. Breathing stripper and two pack paint all day can't be good for you, I have seen a/c with paint peeling off there bellys just days after being painted by reputable a/c spray companys,I know everyone can make mistakes but its a pain when you have to fly a few hundred miles to get it touched up again.
Lots of corrosion can develop from the inspection panel holes so make sure whoever does it pays special attention there and fitting nylon washers under any round head screws protects the paint further Good luck.

[Blue Sky Baron]

Two Dogs,

If you want to get a great paint job from someone who will take the care to do the job properly I would recommend you contact Michael Kelly @ Flinders Aviation based at Redcliffe, QLD.
Phone: 07 3203 0506

As already stated by others, you will get what you pay for, or, more correctly, you will pay for what you get. My advice, don't be too scared to spend a little more now, it will save you lots later.

The following is from an article recently written by Michael and in my opinion demonstrates his knowledge and work ethic.

"As we all know our fleet of aircraft in Australia is ageing. It has been my job for the last twenty years to bring these much loved machines back to near as possible new form.
Twenty years ago that job was a lot easier. An aircraft would come in, there would be minimal rectifications we would give it a nice paint job and off it went. However in recent years, let's say the last ten, those sorts of jobs are becoming few and far between. This is mainly due to ageing and with that comes corrosion.
Corrosion is something that should not be over looked because it simply isn't going to go away when covered by a nice paint job. In my experience in dealing with it you are best to remove and replace whichever parts are affected, depending on severity.
This is where I come in; when the plane is stripped we can get a lot better idea as to what we are dealing with.
Naturally every plane is different, for example if your craft is operating in coastal environment the risk of salt-water corrosion is greater than if you are operating inland.
When we detect corrosion the owner is always advised as to what would be the best way to deal with it. We usually do a full check of the craft finding out exactly where the affected areas are, and then decide how to proceed. Sometimes, it is only a case of replacing a skin or two, which is a reasonably affordable exercise but in other cases it can be skins, ribs, spars, cowls etc. When a large repair like this occurs naturally it turns out to be a very expensive operation. So we suggest you either do the whole lot while we are doing the painting or replace some and tackle the others as part of an ongoing maintenance schedule so that the plane ends up in good repair.
In my experience the owners of light aircraft are usually very proud of their machines and take good care of them. A good-quality paint job along with the owner maintaining care as far as cleaning, polishing and hangarage of the craft. All of these factors will ensure that your paint job will last longer and will help in protecting your plane from corrosion."

It's your decision but I know what I would do.

Regards,

BSB :ok:

[bush mechanics]

Two Dogs,Dont go near Ballina painters,If you are in Darwin go have a look at the 2 brazs they painted,Worst ive ever seen.Even makes a douglas job look good.remember you get what you pay for.Pm me and i have some details for you if you like.Most good paint shops use MIL spec paints,And always put some extra cash for what they find once shes back to bare metal.
Cheers.

[gaunty]

Eeeerm

Check out the professionals get some quotes and ask around.

I would have thought Qantas' little problem with their B744 should be a lesson to all.

I've seen airframes completely trashed by using the wrong stuff and procedures.

If it is not done properly competently with a professional and complete strip, you might as well take your money down to the casino.

You get exactly what you pay for. Doesn't mean your LAME cant do it but if he hasn't got the pressurised temp/humidity controlled booth and all the right kit, why waste all that time, money and effort to strip and bog it throw expensive paint at it and not get a brilliant job.

Dont know who the "man" is now but I never hesitated for one moment to fly an aircraft across the country and go back and get it to get the right job.
Remember if you don't get it right it will haunt you every time you walk past it.:{

But then some reckon I'm compulsive obsessive.:rolleyes:

Remind me to tell you one day about the paint company that bogged up the "gaps" around the Citation drag chute cone and what didn't happen when the dude had to pull the release handle in anger. :uhoh: and then there is the one about the "disappearing" baggage hatch and so on.:sad: It must something about these Cessnas, everything fits where it touches.
Ulp did I say that.:E :ouch: sorry