Aircraft Painting

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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170C
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Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Aircraft Painting

Post by 170C »

I have a small fiberglass item that needs to be painted. I have some Sherman-Williams JetGlo paint and hardner. I decided to do a test just to see if things would work. I mixed two test batches, one with a ratio of paint to hardner of 1 to 2 and a second one with a ratio of 1 to 1. Don't know which is the correct ratio, but the 1-1 ratio "seems" to be better (but I am guessing). The conditions at the time of the test were obviously horrible and the equipment marginal at best. Temperature was about 72 degrees, humidity was high (raining outside the hangar). Equipment was an aerosol unit with a glass container attached. Much like a rattle can except permitting mixing of the paint/hardner. Sprayed on a bare piece of scrap aluminum. Results--orange peel. I know too much paint(too heavy a coat or a second coat too soon) can result in orange peel. I need help.
#1 - What is the correct ratio of paint to hardner?
#2 - What is the recommended temperature when spraying?
#3 - Humidity limitations
#4 - Am I going to be able to do this touch up successfully with this aerosol unit or am I going to have to got to Harbor Freight & invest in a regular paint gun or possibly an air brush?
OLE POKEY
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lowNslow
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Re: Aircraft Painting

Post by lowNslow »

Here is the full data sheet for JetGlo, has mix ratio, recoat times, setup time, etc.
http://cfm.swaerospace.com/product_info ... et_Glo.pdf
Karl
'53 170B N3158B SN:25400
ASW-20BL
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GAHorn
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Re: Aircraft Painting

Post by GAHorn »

Frank, 50/50 is a good mix. Note: "orange-peel" can be the result of too much humidity in the air-supply. If it's humid or you don't have a dryer in your air-supply... add about 10-15% MEK to the mix.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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