Hand washing in the cold... any ideas?
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Hand washing in the cold... any ideas?
Hello there. This might be a very different question to what is usually discussed but here it goes! I would like to ask if anyone knows of any gadget(s) or any method where I can wash my plane during the day in very cold temperatures without my hands getting so damn cold!
Are there any special gloves or some kind of gadget to spray the water on from a bucket load of water rather than hand washing it etc etc.
Thanks for any replies!
Are there any special gloves or some kind of gadget to spray the water on from a bucket load of water rather than hand washing it etc etc.
Thanks for any replies!
Life's too short for ironing
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Ahh - the only good thing about the very cold winters in WI is the heated hangars 
I just washed & waxed one of the work aeroplanes and kept getting too warm 
How about those really heavy duty rubber gloves (seem to remember they were a reddish colour) with some thinner gloves underneath? And spray bottles such as people use to bug-spray plants. You can buy them, unused, usually in a big garden store or somewhere like Homebase.
I just washed & waxed one of the work aeroplanes and kept getting too warm How about those really heavy duty rubber gloves (seem to remember they were a reddish colour) with some thinner gloves underneath? And spray bottles such as people use to bug-spray plants. You can buy them, unused, usually in a big garden store or somewhere like Homebase.
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Why not try a pressurised weed killer sprayer thing?
As stated above, rubber gloves over thinner cotton ones will do the trick, thats what I used for making snowmen recently
As stated above, rubber gloves over thinner cotton ones will do the trick, thats what I used for making snowmen recently
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Thanks for your replies.
nick14 I guess the weed killer sprayer will not provide enough water with the appropriate pressure to do the job.
Yes the gloves seem a good option, if not the best there is. I don't know, however is there some gadget or whatever where you can actually spray water from a bucket load of water - I ask this because the water supply is quite far from the aircraft itself so one has to stay filling up 4 or 5 buckets of water then wash it with the water available.
nick14 I guess the weed killer sprayer will not provide enough water with the appropriate pressure to do the job.
Yes the gloves seem a good option, if not the best there is. I don't know, however is there some gadget or whatever where you can actually spray water from a bucket load of water - I ask this because the water supply is quite far from the aircraft itself so one has to stay filling up 4 or 5 buckets of water then wash it with the water available.
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If you are expecting the temperature to go below freezing after your wash, you might want to reconsider. parts and joints like piano hinges will freeze (Cessna aileron hinges for example). If you have allowed water to seep between wing skin panels and later freeze, you may hear terrifying snapping sounds if you pull "G".
I just wear really good dishwashing gloves, and have a bucket of warm water.
Pilot DAR
I just wear really good dishwashing gloves, and have a bucket of warm water.
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If you must!!!
Try the top gloves on this page - ain't cheap, BUT!!!
BOC Cryospeed-Suppliers of Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and Cryogenic equipment
PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)
BOC Cryospeed-Suppliers of Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide and Cryogenic equipment
PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)
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Latex or better still, vinyl cheapy gloves will go over wool ones to keep them waterproof. You can also buy waterproof sleeve gaiters from many agricultural suppliers ... Mind you, I've seen a few paint jobs where a slightly dirty appearance enhances the finish 
SS
SS
!!
Get yourself some sailing gloves made of neoprene. I use them whilst sailing, driving rescue boats in all weathers (out on the Thames a week or so ago during the snow), washing the car in cold weather and building snowmen......
Mine are from Magic Marine, and are fantastic - unequalled in keeping hands very warm and dry, even when immersed.
Magic Marine Dry Glove - Whitstable Marine Chandlery
Mine are from Magic Marine, and are fantastic - unequalled in keeping hands very warm and dry, even when immersed.
Magic Marine Dry Glove - Whitstable Marine Chandlery
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Use a dry wash method - no water!! Use a wax based cleaner that cleans and waxes at the same time and a foam based cleaner for the oily underside and more soiled areas!! I may know where you can get such items
Even disposable rubber gloves are worth wearing. I used them for the first time to wash the car on a very cold day and was surprised how my hands remained reasonably comfortable.
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I grew up washing and waxing airplanes; it's how I worked off and paid for my initial flight training, in fact. I did a lot of it in an unheated hangar in the winter. Often the water would freeze on the airplane as I was washing it, and would come off as ice on a rag when I wiped it back down.
I've found that keeping an airplane clean by washing it after each flight is the most effective. It can be done without a full bath, or even a bucket of water. A squirter bottle with a wash n' wax type soap, sprayed on and then wiped off works really well. Even on airplanes that fly into really dirty environments, it works well...and by reapplying the wax coat every time, it makes cleaning again a real snap.
I used to fly a large four engine bomber that got cleaned after every flight. A full cleaning took about fifteen hours. As you can imagine, anything that could be done to reduce that time was a real plus, because I didn't get paid to clean...just to fly. It was a radial-engine powered airplane, which meant a lot of oil and a lot of mess. Keeping things as clean as possible, keeping things waxed, and chasing leaks and dirt before they got out of hand kept the job simple.
I had to carry my cleaning supplies with me. When able, I cleaned the airplane with a firehose, but the airplane was in the field a lot, and flying through ash and smoke and all sorts of things that made it dirty. Keeping a coat of wax on it was a big help, and a squirter bottle or garden sprayer with an automotive type wash and wax solution, usually in concentration, worked really well.
I've found that keeping an airplane clean by washing it after each flight is the most effective. It can be done without a full bath, or even a bucket of water. A squirter bottle with a wash n' wax type soap, sprayed on and then wiped off works really well. Even on airplanes that fly into really dirty environments, it works well...and by reapplying the wax coat every time, it makes cleaning again a real snap.
I used to fly a large four engine bomber that got cleaned after every flight. A full cleaning took about fifteen hours. As you can imagine, anything that could be done to reduce that time was a real plus, because I didn't get paid to clean...just to fly. It was a radial-engine powered airplane, which meant a lot of oil and a lot of mess. Keeping things as clean as possible, keeping things waxed, and chasing leaks and dirt before they got out of hand kept the job simple.
I had to carry my cleaning supplies with me. When able, I cleaned the airplane with a firehose, but the airplane was in the field a lot, and flying through ash and smoke and all sorts of things that made it dirty. Keeping a coat of wax on it was a big help, and a squirter bottle or garden sprayer with an automotive type wash and wax solution, usually in concentration, worked really well.
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Guppy has the right idead, although I wouldn't use an automotive wash/wax as the chances are that it will contain silicon. Try Flyers Speed wax, it's made for that sole purpose.
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FREDAcheck - you are right! I should have typed "Hand washing an aeroplane in the cold...." but anyway, the majority got the message!
Some very good advice has been pointed out in these threads! Thanks for your contributions. I have found a nice pair of gloves hoping they are waterproof. I will then try the wax as well but that might not come down well with the company since the water we use comes free unlike the wax!
Some very good advice has been pointed out in these threads! Thanks for your contributions. I have found a nice pair of gloves hoping they are waterproof. I will then try the wax as well but that might not come down well with the company since the water we use comes free unlike the wax!
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Anyone have any tips for the best (i.e. fastest/easiest) way to apply wax?
We spent hours trying to get a shine on our 172 - with mixed results from see-your-face-in-it to plain-matt. Gave everyone RSI too!
You don't realise just how big a wing is until you try and wax the damn thing.
We spent hours trying to get a shine on our 172 - with mixed results from see-your-face-in-it to plain-matt. Gave everyone RSI too!
You don't realise just how big a wing is until you try and wax the damn thing.
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If you're removing oxidation from an aircraft or rejuvenating colours, the fastest and most effective way is to use a machine polisher. Either a random orbital (DA) or rotary polisher. The upper surfaces will be most affected with high levels of UV continuosly breaking down any protection, as such these areas will require more work.