Tube cleaning and prep?
- Thread starter Norm
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Bob Turner
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- Apr 4, 2018
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Is the primer bad? You might do more damage removing it than letting it stay, protecting your tubes.
However, if you are prepared for a lot of work it can be blasted off using a large compressor and sandblast equipment. Be careful not to erode the steel, and be ready for a very long day. And coat it immediately - do not wait for several hours.
I put epoxy on my J3 in 1969 and it is still good.
However, if you are prepared for a lot of work it can be blasted off using a large compressor and sandblast equipment. Be careful not to erode the steel, and be ready for a very long day. And coat it immediately - do not wait for several hours.
I put epoxy on my J3 in 1969 and it is still good.
Norm,
I don't think chemical strippers will work on an epoxy primer. You can try it but I'm guessing it will put up a fight. Soda blasting might do it but dry blasting definitely will provided the person doing the work is gentle with the pressure and media and if the tubes are up for it. they have to be really careful where that rust came through. are you sure it is an epoxy coating on there? have you tried wiping it with different solvents?
I don't think chemical strippers will work on an epoxy primer. You can try it but I'm guessing it will put up a fight. Soda blasting might do it but dry blasting definitely will provided the person doing the work is gentle with the pressure and media and if the tubes are up for it. they have to be really careful where that rust came through. are you sure it is an epoxy coating on there? have you tried wiping it with different solvents?
I would not use chemical stripper, it'll cause more problems than you're trying to solve. I'd recommend mechanical removal.
If you brought it to my shop, I would wire brush those spots in the door area to remove loose primer and corrosion, scuff the primer that stays, clean with alcohol or paint prep and spray it.
The longerons may need more aggressiveness. I would peel back the fabric, and use a wire wheel to remove the corrosion. May need a hand wire brush for the tight spots. You could carefully use a portable sand blaster, but it makes a big mess, so I wouldn't. Scuff, clean and spray the tubes. Then the fabric work to get the belly back on.
Leave the good primer in place.
If you brought it to my shop, I would wire brush those spots in the door area to remove loose primer and corrosion, scuff the primer that stays, clean with alcohol or paint prep and spray it.
The longerons may need more aggressiveness. I would peel back the fabric, and use a wire wheel to remove the corrosion. May need a hand wire brush for the tight spots. You could carefully use a portable sand blaster, but it makes a big mess, so I wouldn't. Scuff, clean and spray the tubes. Then the fabric work to get the belly back on.
Leave the good primer in place.