Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I need to give my whole airplane a good polish. I have attached a picture of one area I have been over and over until I am blue in the face. I am using metall. I apply the metall by hand until black swirls appear and then I use a 6" buffer to remove/polish. I have attached a picture of the area in question. My question is: 1) is this the best I can hope for or 2) do I need to change my polising techniques? I was hoping I could get a mirror finish....to the point where I could see a pimple. If #2, please tell me what technique I should use.

Image Insert:


polishing picture.

The grey streaks look like corrosion. If so, 1800 grit wet and dry to remove, then fine finish rubbing compound with a buffer .I have some polish that puts the paste polish to shame. It's around 20 dollars for 4oz. and requires little elbow grease to apply. The local chrome shop uses it. Oh, by the way, bring it to Florida a see how long it stays polished.

I have enough trouble keeping it looking respectable in Louisiana, much less Florida. Whats the name of the ever so expensive polish?

Let's review the 2024 aluminum we use on our planes. It is called 2024-T3 Alclad. Alclad refers to the process that puts a thin outer coating of pure aluminum over the alloy 2024. 2024 has much more strength than pure aluminum, but a a cost of corrosion resistance (or the lack thereof). Once you polish through the thin alclad coating, you are into the 2024. It will never polish out (too much copper and other alloying metals). The humidity we endure here in the south will take its toll on you plane. It gets dull; you polish it out. Each time you remove the oxide, you open the metal up to intergranular corrosion. Do the right thing -- paint the plane!

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Keeping an aluminum aircraft polished and looking good is like polishing brass belt buckles in boot camp ! It looks great for a while, but don't touch it, expose it to salt air, SMOG or the sweaty fingers of your Drill Instructor! [}:)] It is a never ending cycle to keep the beast purty. More power to ya, if you have the time and energy to do it, especially on your back with a buffer ! [:p] I prefer a bucket of soapy water, a sponge, then a quick wipe down of a painted surface. Corrosion and pitting are your worst enemies, but with regular polishing you may stay ahead of the problem. Ask American Airlines how they do it ? [:0]

RB

I tend to agree with all of your comments. I just wanted to get it polished one time but I must admit, I don't know if even one time is worth it. I have had painting in the back of my head since I got the airplane. There is a couple of places in Mena, Arkansas that have good painting reputations.

Walton Aviation in Houston paints Thorps [;)]

Get your price from the guys in Mesa and lets talk, that airplane is too purdy to put a Maaco paint job on.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I looked at your pic again, as fantastic as it is and it almost looks like the streaking done by alodine that has been left to dry and not rinsed off ? I said almost...if it is corrosion, that's a differnt story.

RB

I've seen Ryan's airplane up close ... it was a mirror polished airplane that sat for n number of years .. what you see is light corrosion.

If it were me I'd hit the whole thing with a compound (or if necessary 1500 - 1800) to get a clean surface again, then hit it with a metal polish/protectant. Fly it like that for a year let everyone ooh and ahh over it .. then do as the Col. recommends and get it painted.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

It was hard to tell from that brief Kodak moment. Kill the corrosion, Muey Pronto ! [}:)]