Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

[Markus Kleis]

So I recently did a 30 hour full restoration on a very nicely lifted and modified 1997 Jeep Wrangler...and the owner was so happy with the results that aside from paying me a 175% of my quoted price, he now wants me to do the same thing to his 1997 Mooney M20M plane so he can sell it.

I have never worked on a plane, and was curious if there was anything out of the ordinary to expect with the paint? Any special things not to do?

...and I was planning on using M16 for my LSP, any issues with that?

[Andy M.]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Hey Mark,

Here is a couple of threads you should check out.
SAM 970 - The first jet "Air Force One" detailed !!

Planes What products

High fly'n SHINE

Not real sure about using #16, unless you have some kind of stash that maybe I should know about.

Andy

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I do...2 fresh tins!

I actually read those threads, and was just trying to play it safe haha.

Thanks!

[Andy M.]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I do...2 fresh tins!

I actually read those threads, and was just trying to play it safe haha.

Thanks!

You'll be getting a phone call soon!!!!!

Andy

[Ryan L.]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I would try to get a hold of Joe at Superior Shine, I know he has done several planes and I'm sure he would be more than happy to give you some advice.

Good luck!

Ryan

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I would try to get a hold of Joe at Superior Shine, I know he has done several planes and I'm sure he would be more than happy to give you some advice.

Good luck!

Ryan

Thanks, I sent him a PM

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Joe, or Reeny Doyle come to mind about plane details. I am sure they would be more then happy to help you out.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Post a picture when you can.

When it comes to buffing out planes, the biggest thing you have look out for are sharp edges and the heads of rivets.

Most planes are painted with single stage white paint, so they oxidize.

The problem is that if you rub hard by hand or machine on any raised edge or the head of a rivet you will quickly burn through and see shiny aluminum.

So I don't know what this plane is made out of but most small planes are made of aluminum and when you buff through the paint you'll end up with shiny spots everywhere.

For planes like this you want to use a one-step cleaner wax and be careful how you rub the paint out. If the paint is only lightly oxidized then a product like M20 Polymer Sealant is a GREAT choice because it offers light cleaning, enough for light oxidation, but at the same time will produce a real high shine and gloss with great protection too.

If it does have rivets and sharp or raised edges then avoid machine buffing and stick with good old-fashioned hand polishing.

Please try to post some pictures and if you do take this on as a project then definitely get good before and after pictures for your detailing resume

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Thanks for the lengthy reply Mike, that helps a bunch.

The plane is single stage white, and has been repainted once. It has mild oxidation and swirls, and the rivets everyone warned me about. There were even a few with paint missing already.

M20 is actually the only Meguiar's wax I do not own, heh, so I will go ahead and get some (I was considering using M66 or D151).

Thanks again

Mark

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I would use D151 and if your on a rotary don't got past 900rpm's or you stand a better chance of burning though the paint on the rivets.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

The plane is single stage white, and has been repainted once.

It has mild oxidation and swirls, and the rivets everyone warned me about. There were even a few with paint missing already.

Sounds about right.

AeroCleanse recommends using a rotary buffer at a slow speed and you can choose to use his recommendation if you like but if it's important to the owner that you don't burn through any more rivets or high points or edges then use your own judgment as to which way to apply the wax.

With a 2-3 terry cloth or microfiber covered foam wax applicator pads and a little passion behind the pad, M20 should be able to remove the oxidation, restore a more vibrant white color and leave the paint clean, polished and protected with good shine and gloss. Be sure to shake the M20 well before using it and periodically while you're using it. M20 is available in a 64 ounce bottle also.

Rotary buffers when used to apply waxes tend to leave the pant looking swirly but you can probably get away with it on white single stage paint. Use a soft finishing pad if you go this route. You could also use a DA polisher with a soft finishing pad also but the problem you're going to have is accidental removing too much paint off any high points, especially if someone else has worked on the plane before and already remove some of the paint on these risky areas.

Get a good nights sleep before the job and the start early and work hard. You'll need some kind of scaffolding or ladders to reach the high portions.

Make sure you charge enough...

Doing a great job of maintaining the paint on a plane will cost a heck of a lot less than having to re-paint the plane.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Sounds about right.

AeroCleanse recommends using a rotary buffer at a slow speed and you can choose to use his recommendation if you like but if it's important to the owner that you don't burn through any more rivets or high points or edges then use your own judgment as to which way to apply the wax.

I meant to say *if* you use rotary. I just find using a rotary to be faster, and believe me, you can spend forever on airplane as you also have to do the belly and under the wings as well as the top surface, oh and the tail.

Of course you can use a DA or do it by hand. Of course nothing wrong with using M21 if you can afford it (lot of surface area).

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

I meant to say *if* you use rotary. I just find using a rotary to be faster, and believe me, you can spend forever on airplane as you also have to do the belly and under the wings as well as the top surface, oh and the tail.

Of course you can use a DA or do it by hand. Of course nothing wrong with using M21 if you can afford it (lot of surface area).

I've got a gallon of M21, I can afford it (That stuff goes on so thinly I'm pretty sure I've only used 2 ounces for the last 8 vehicles or so, total).

I am going to start with M20 on a DA, and then adjust my gameplan from there.

I spoke with the owner in more detail about what his expectations are, and he basically wants this to shine like a fully detailed CAR. Why? I made the mistake of doing a 30 hour "perfection" job on his Jeep...and now he wants his plane to match.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help? What to Expect: Mooney M20M PLANE!

Words are important. Posting for years now on forums with certain 'personalties' always trying to catch you up in your words has taught me to choose my words very carefully and I do. Anything I post I make sure it's challenge-proof and I can defend it if challenged, otherwise I don't post it.



As for using a RB on a plane, for sure it's faster, it's the burning through problem I was trying to address. Since aluminum doesn't rust it's not an issue unless the owner cares.

That's the concern and the priority. Of course some airplane owners as well as car owners wouldn't even look that closely to at the details of their airplane just the big picture... "Shiny Airplane" Yeah!

Mark will have to make his own judgment as how to proceed.