I can understand a safety issue with props, after all, someone before me referred to them as high-speed rotating swords. I've had my shirt sliced open before I even felt the stupid prop hit the shirt! Did not hit me, but sure tore up the shirt.

With that said, I no longer reach over the top to remove the glow starter. Once I turn the engine over and it is running at idle, I walk around the plane and approach the engine from the rear. That's the way I learned and that's the way I do it.

If you normally reach over the top of a running engine, from the front, you are asking for trouble, painted or not.

I am not saying don't paint them, I'm just saying it's safer to go around and approach from the rear than it is to reach over the top. And, painting it won't remove the danger.

No arguement, just stating my opinioin and what I would do vs. what I would not do.

DS.