Small Aircraft?

[wlefevre]

I've been lurking for awhile now, but thought I'd come out. I've had several people ask me to wash and wax their small aircraft. (Cessna 150's, 172's, etc.) I'm the mechanic by trade. As far as I know, these do not have any clear coating on them. Single stage is what it's called? Many of them sit outdoors and have heavy oxidation, to the point of what once was red, is now orange.

What would be the best products to use on these? Would it differ from Clear coated cars? Also, most of them are white, or a light color with color down the sides. Would the color bleed into the white if compounding?

I was going to purchase a Cyclo Polisher, until the rumor of the online PC deal came up. Any difference in the two, one better than the other? Anyone had any dealings with the Cyclo?

Thanks for any help or advise.

Wayne

[Mike Phillips]

Hi wlefevre,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

I just would like to tell you that I have read your message and will post some suggestions as to how I would approach this kind of detailing. I just finished the Ferrari Detail Dat at Meguiar's, and still have to clean up the shop etc. and then head home, so it will be a little later...

I promise, I will get back to you...

Mike

[wlefevre]

Thanks Mike. Nice Pics! Looks pretty close to my collection I keep in the stables. (perhaps the stables in my mind...)

Wayne

[Superior Shine]

Mike, How many showed? I see only 7 cars and the garage isn't jam packed like usual.

[wlefevre]

Anyone...

Hello...Hello...
Echo... Echo...

[Mike Phillips]

Hi wlefevre,

You know I typed up this really complete answer for you and then a pop-up window appeared on my screen and I meant to click it away and instead I opened it and I lost everything I typed, then I never got back to you.

Another reason I almost always write everything in MS Word and then copy and paste. This was just one of the few times I didn't.

I'll rewrite it tonight, it's Sunday and were off to church and then I'm taking my son fishing!

Sorry for the delay....

Check this thread out by Superior Shine,

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...=&threadid=830

Because they are typically large and somewhat complicated, you want to stick with a one-step type product and not try to perform multiple step procedures. (Takes too long).

I'm going to suggest you try using a one-step by hand like Meguiar's new ColorX. Because its only in a 16 ounce bottle, if you think you want to start detailing planes, then you might want to consider getting a gallon of Meguiar's Quick Detailer. This is a very aggressive cleaner/wax that can by used by hand or machine.

One thing about airplanes is they have a lot of rivets and edges which if you're not careful you can easily burn through, or rub through the paint on the high points. Sometimes the safest way to polish them out is to do it all by hand.


Mike

[wlefevre]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Hi wlefevre,


One thing about airplanes is they have a lot of rivets and edges which if you're not careful you can easily burn through, or rub through the paint on the high points. Sometimes the safest way to polish them out is to do it all by hand.


Mike

Thanks for the response. Hope you have a great time fishing. I know all about the rivets and edges. I've been an aircraft mechanic for 14 years. That's why I was wondering about the Cyclo. I've seen a lot of aircraft washers online using them. Do you think the PC would be too much?
It usually takes me about 3 hours to wash a plane. I've never waxed one, though...
Wayne