Cleaning plane
 

What is the best way to remove exhaust fuel from the muffler that gets onto the plane after flying? Paper towels certainly help but is there a cleaner that could be used to help remove the extra grime with out affecting the monokote covering on my LT-40? After 2 years of building and other family obligations, I have finally started flying.. (with an instructor of course :) )

Thanks, - Hans

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Windex works great.

Bruce

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I second the windex. I usually use a bath towel (that has turned into a hobby towel only) to get a majority of the goo off, then paper towels and windex for the final cleanup.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

car windshield wiper fluid, and few drops of dish detergent (dawn works) and a little rubbing alcohol. Windex works also, just make sure it doesn't have any amonia in it.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Baby Wipes !

RE: Cleaning plane
 

DO NOT USE WINDEX WITH AMMONIA......You said in your post that you have monokote.....ever hear of the wet method of applying monokote on monokote? You spray the area that you want the design on, with windex.....the windex allows you to move the design around. Once the design is in place squeege out the windex and let dry..go over with an iron......the point is that the windex with ammonia activates the glue..and design is stuck down...not like with heat put pretty good....if windex with ammonia activates the glue.....it will surely loosen the glue when it is stuck down...how many airplanes have you seen where the trim is loose?....Used to happen to me as well...not since I switched to alcohol.....and its cheap too...Good Luck

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I've used alcohol (70% isopropyl), generic version of Windex, and baby wipes. The Windex seemed to do the best, but baby wipes do an acceptable job too. I started using the wipes so I wouldn't have to lug around a bottle of cleaner and rolls of paper towels. Plus, there's no ammonia in them, so they shouldn't cause the covering to deteriorate or come unglued.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

When I stated this a while back I was told I was full of castor beans!!! Glad other people have figured this out!!! Either that or there are more people eating castor beans???
I only use ultracote so no problem unless I have some mono trim, that has been known to happen.
I buy the really cheap window cleaner then juice it up with more alcohol. My planes have there mufflers deflected so I don't get a lot of engine snot all over so clean up is usually pretty easy. The after market long exhaust deflectors pointed in the right direction will help in blowing the snot away from the plane and help the nasty clean up. The OP can give them a try too.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Many of the Citrus based cleaners work great, and will not harm anything.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I use the windshield washer fluid/Dawn/Alcohol mix to clean my planes with as well. I've been using it almost since I started to fly. It's cheap and does a good job cleaning the plane off.

I met with the guys from Epo-grip at Top Gun and they have a new product out that is for cleaning planes. They gave some to try out but I haven't had a chance to yet. I'm on my way to Joe Nall, but hopefully when I get back I'll have a chance to try their cleaner out.

Ken

RE: Cleaning plane
 

baby wipes work good

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I've been using denatured alcohol.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

3-4 tablespoons of Simple Green
2-3 cups of denatured alky
enough H2O to make a gallon

Works great
Paul

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I just use the automotive windshield washing fluid, stuck in a leftover windex bottle. For light area cleaning, I spray the paper towel, for heavy stuff I spray right on the stuff that's left after I carefully give a wipe with the paper towels.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Great, really appreciate the replies.

Cheers, Hans

RE: Cleaning plane
 

God you are lucky :)

RE: Cleaning plane
 

If you'll buy a microfiber polishing cloth from the auto parts store it's the best thing around for getting the stuff off. I can actually get all the crud off with no cleaner at all, although the spray bottle makes the job go faster. The microfiber rag gets 95% of the oil off on the first pass, then I go back with some windshield washer fluid and alcohol to get it out of the crevises. The airplane isn't even greasy afterwards.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

My recent technique is to mop up as much goo with a couple of paper towels. Amazingly a paper towel will absorb more than you think. I just keep going over it until all I really have is a very small film left and then a small amount of Windex and a good wipe and it seems pretty clean. But I'd like to try the iso alcohol or car window cleaner method. Hey its nice to have a clean plane.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I recently found a mix that is alchohol based, so it really degreases, but it will leave a polymer sheen that literally sparkles. It works on most paints, but shouldn't be sprayed diectly onto the paint surface, spray the rag first when applying to paint. I'm thinking about bottling this mix and maybe giving out samples.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

That sounds interesting.

So how do you clean the polishing cloth afterwards? Just throw in the the washing machine?

How many planes can you clean with one rag before it's too soaked to work anymore?

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I mix alcohol with windex 50/50

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Any of the oil cutting detergents works great.

I have a stack of old towels that I use for this, and they get periodically run through the washer.

Citris cleaners, oil cutting detergents, etc. do a good job getting the oil out.

RE: Cleaning plane
 

I realize there are quite a few options as far as cleaning your craft. However, Just Plane Clean is far from windex and alcohol. After over a year of extensive testing we have come up with a unique product with interesting properties. Just Plane Clean is an advanced cleaner that guards against oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet rays exposure which harden, crack, dull, fade, rubber, vinyl, plastic, and painted surfaces. Where applied Just Plane Cleans’ antistatic properties also helps repel dust and dirt from surfaces. Currently I am working on product size and pricing. I am leaning towards offering a 16oz spray bottle, as they will fit in a flight box, and a gallon size for refills. I will post more information shortly.

I am quite sure Ken will run it through the ringer and let you know exactly where it stands. I am just as curious as you what his thoughts will be. ;)

RE: Cleaning plane
 

Well sold, errr, I mean well said! :)

But seriously, it sounds interesting. If it will help lengthen the lifetime of the plastic coverings used on RC aircraft, and keep them looking good, it may be worth the extra cost.

So when will it be available, when will we see the pricing?

RE: Cleaning plane
 

pkh,

Right now I am thinking 3 week time right now. After which hopefully, if I can get my chemist off his arse, it will be readily available for shipping. As far as pricing, with raw chemical price volatility, sometimes it is hard to immediately ascertain that information when you have a formulation of numerous materials. I hopefully will have that information shortly. I will try and shake the tree again in the morning.

Erik