Paint job on a Piper Warrior
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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Paint job on a Piper Warrior
Is £10k a bit top end for a full metal respray?
Has anyone got any contacts in, say, France? Or Spain? Or Portugal? Are European costs similar?
Has anyone got any contacts in, say, France? Or Spain? Or Portugal? Are European costs similar?
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If I were having a PA 28 strip and paint quoted in Canada, I would certainly think that 10,000 pounds was a little on the cheap side. Probably okay, but make sure that nothing is being left out of the job, (or might you be charged extra for things which you think should be in the deal).
Control surfaces generally have minimum and maximum weight limits. I was looking at one aircraft that had been advertised as refinished, but there was no invoice from anybody for the job.
It must be done by a qualified aircraft refinisher.
It must be done by a qualified aircraft refinisher.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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To do a proper paint job most if not all control surfaces, access panels should be removed and stripped. Usually, chemicals are used for stripping metal components but 'plastics' need to be rubbed or sanded down; quite a time consuming job. The reassembly should include new rubber seals, for example the wing to body joints and door surrounds. Technically, all control surfaces should be checked for balance and and the aircraft reweighed.
If possible try to fit the painting in with your ARC because you will need a suitably qualified maintenance to sign the aircraft off on completion and whilst the aircraft is apart is a good time for them to do a through inspection of the airframe. If it's a PA28 then there is a periodic inspection of the fuel tanks for instance, that have to be pulled to change the vent pipe hoses etc.as well as examining the main spar.
I've noticed on some aircraft that by removing access panels, you will see that the aircraft has been resprayed with all of these in place. I would expect to see the back of these panels at least in new primer and not the outline of the panel showing on the newly painted aircraft.
The bare metal strip if done chemically needs very careful after treatment to: neutralise the chemical, treat with Ali-chrome (sp), careful clean-up around the rivet heads (note: no material should be lost by using emery tape etc.) and the proper 2 part etch primer applied.
Of course the paint shop needs to be maintained at the correct temperature for the specified paint and the relevant safety precautions taken.
As you can see this no minor undertaking and of course the more complex design you choose will impact on the cost.
Painting is usually a thing that most people forget when they try and work out the running cost for their aircraft; much in the way you build up a reserve for an engine fund.
Oh, owning an aircraft is fun isn't it? And you get the job you pay for!
If possible try to fit the painting in with your ARC because you will need a suitably qualified maintenance to sign the aircraft off on completion and whilst the aircraft is apart is a good time for them to do a through inspection of the airframe. If it's a PA28 then there is a periodic inspection of the fuel tanks for instance, that have to be pulled to change the vent pipe hoses etc.as well as examining the main spar.
I've noticed on some aircraft that by removing access panels, you will see that the aircraft has been resprayed with all of these in place. I would expect to see the back of these panels at least in new primer and not the outline of the panel showing on the newly painted aircraft.
The bare metal strip if done chemically needs very careful after treatment to: neutralise the chemical, treat with Ali-chrome (sp), careful clean-up around the rivet heads (note: no material should be lost by using emery tape etc.) and the proper 2 part etch primer applied.
Of course the paint shop needs to be maintained at the correct temperature for the specified paint and the relevant safety precautions taken.
As you can see this no minor undertaking and of course the more complex design you choose will impact on the cost.
Painting is usually a thing that most people forget when they try and work out the running cost for their aircraft; much in the way you build up a reserve for an engine fund.
Oh, owning an aircraft is fun isn't it? And you get the job you pay for!
