Firewalls

[Big Ed]

What are the options for refinishing an old galvanized firewall? Possibilities:

1. Regalvanize
2. Zinc electroplate
3. Powdercoat
4. Paint
5. Replace with stainless
6. Clean and leave alone

 

[Bob Turner]

Easy-
Me - sort of clean and leave alone.
You (and I wish I were more like you) new stainless.

 

[Hiperbiper]

CHROME

 

[Big Ed]

CHROME

Is that an option?

 

[Big Ed]

Easy-
Me - sort of clean and leave alone.
You (and I wish I were more like you) new stainless.

I'm too cheap for that. Plus a new FW would involve some fitting that I would like to avoid, plus a gascolator update. $$$

 

[Joe]

A chrome firewall should add about three knots to your perceived cruising speed. I would look into the zinc electroplate as first choice and painting as last choice, with leaving it alone somewhere in the middle.

 

[Bob Turner]

Paint means easier cleanup. I had heard that firewalls cannot be painted, but I painted mine anyway, and wiping oil off became an easy task.

 

[Joe]

Anything in an alkyd reacts with zinc and eventually falls off. There are primers that are designed for galvanized and work well, but if it didn't take it is sure in a bad spot to try and touch up.

 

[Bartman]

clean and return to service. aren't there cold galvanizing spray on products that might refresh it a little bit?

 

[Big Ed]

Regalvanizing intrigues me. There are shops in Tampa that do it in bulk. Put everything in a huge basket, dip in hot acid to strip, then in molten zinc to coat. I don't think it is super expensive. Of course hot dip looks like crap and is probably not easy to clean. Plating results in a much thinner later of zinc, but would look nice.

 

[Hiperbiper]

Is that an option?

Oh my God...

 

[Bob Turner]

Aside from the fact that nobody does decent chrome any more, I can't see the downside, unless you work in sunlight. Think of how easy oil wipes off a good chrome surface! And how awful it is to clean galvanized - maybe that's why they used terne plate?
Any bets? I think Ed will go stainless.

 

[Bartman]

i think Ed will realize that he just wants to fly the damn plane and that the Grand Champion award at OSH will have to go to someone else this year! lol

 

[Big Ed]

I'm walking a balance here. Primary goal is to get it flying again. Secondary goal is to recondition or replace any components that would be significantly more difficult to do with the engine and cover on. Cosmetics are generally not a goal right now.

The firewall is in a middle ground. It really would not be terribly difficult to replace a firewall later. And I definitely don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a shiny SS firewall that will be hidden under the cowl.

BUT ... right now my bare firewall is sitting on a table in my hangar for several months. If there is an easy and affordable way to extend it's lifespan, might as well do that while it is sitting there. That is why regalvanizing interested me. Drop it off at the metal shop and pay $100, no brainer.

 

[Bob Turner]

You sure it was originally galvanized?

 

[Big Ed]

You sure it was originally galvanized?

Yes