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Cleaning Fabric and Wood Aircraft

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Old 5th Mar 2005, 13:59
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Cleaning Fabric and Wood Aircraft

I'm looking for advice on how to clean a wood/fabric aircraft. What type of cleaner (if any?) should I use? Water is fine for getting mud off, but the oily deposits are a little tricky!
thanks
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Old 5th Mar 2005, 18:04
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Ordinary liquid car polish seems to do the trick, the polish contains solvents to remove road grime which seems to work just as well for oil. Also leaves the surface a little less attractive for future dirt and grease.
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Old 5th Mar 2005, 22:59
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Thinks: stick&rudder aught to change handle to avoid confusion with the more established Pprune handle of stiknruda
Maybe?
 
Old 5th Mar 2005, 23:26
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My thoughts exactly.....
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 02:28
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Hose and a soft brush to get the mud off. Bucket of warm water and washing up liquid or car cleaner to do the rest. T-cut in extreme cases of staining. Finish off with autoglym or other propriety car polish.

Use Plexus to give the windows a good clean and polish and carry a can of Sparkle to get the dead bugs off after flying. Use a soft cloth for the perspex rather than paper towels.
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 07:08
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Watch ot using washing up liquid - it has a fair salt content and could set off corrosion of any aluminium bits and bobs. You're safer with a specifically formulated product. Meguirs (www.meguirs.com I think) produce some really good stuff and it's now becoming more widely available in the UK...
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 07:21
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I thought I'd seen a post from the 'real' Stik on this not that long ago...
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 08:48
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The warning by M14P is a valid one, it is very unwise to use washing up liquid for your aircraft or car for that matter, the salt content will cause corrosion on all unpainted surfaces and will accelerate corrosion where this has already started.
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 10:42
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sensible thanks for the reminder about the washup liquid.
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 10:58
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Once again I repeat my warning not to use anything that has silicone in it. If it doesn't say that it has NO silicone, assume it has and do not use it.

Mike W
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 11:44
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Skylark refresh my memory, what's the problem with products containing silicon?
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 11:48
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As far as I'm aware, silicone is fine until about ten years later when it must be handled gently and sometimes needs replacing.

Modern implants can last for up to 25 years so this has less importance but it is the earlier versions that run a high risk of popping especially when handled carelessly or vigorously...

Err, i'll be off now.
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 13:58
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And there was me thinking I'd be good and not say anything...
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 16:31
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LnS,
Once silicones have got onto your aircraft, you can never get them off. You can also never trust a repair which involves any sort of adhesion as the silicone will coat all surfaces and prevent same.

Mike W
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Old 6th Mar 2005, 20:53
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Rinse the aircraft with water first thoroughly to get off any dust. There's no point in rubbing dirt into dirt. Then use a sponge and some suds ( we use karcher good's ) and some luke warm water. Then wait till it's thoroughly dry ( take it for a quick circuit to speed up the process ) then use something like " Turtle Wax ".
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Old 7th Mar 2005, 10:30
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This short video, lifted from the Mil Forum, looks like the best way to wash an aeroplane to me
 
Old 7th Mar 2005, 10:38
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But remember only to do that in fresh water since sea water will have a similar corrosive effect as washing up liquid
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Old 7th Mar 2005, 11:19
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Skylark thanks for the reminder, I'd forgotten about silicon's staying power.
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