aftcg

My Feedback: (1)

I need to recover my wing. It has monokote on it and it is not just pulling off. Will it come off better if I use a hot blower? How do you do this right?

Thanks in advance.

Rodney

Heat will definately help.

NCC-1701

K&B Super or Ultra Poxy thinner does wonders removing the residue.


Rob

aftcg

My Feedback: (1)

Sounds like I should start with heat, then use a chemical for the residue.
I have rubbing alchohol and mineral spirits. Will either of those work for the residue?
Thanks again.

NCC-1701

I don't think alcohol will help with the residue. Acetone and MEK seem to be the most effective solvents for Monokote residue. K&B thinner has both, if I remember correctly.

Buz^

My Feedback: (2)

don't use mineral spirits, it has oil's in it, not good for the re-covering job

TurboOtter

My Feedback: (1)

Be real careful of the MEK fumes! .....outside, and preferablly with a good mask.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

I would use heat to soften, pull as much as you can buy hand, and then just use sand paper to remove the remaining residue

Once you get the plastic part of the Monocote off the residue sands off easily

I don't like to use any chemicals unless absolutly nessasry

Removing an intire planes worth of covering is alot off work,,take your time and keep telling yourself "it's faster than building a new one"

Good luck

gelcoat-RCU

My Feedback: (206)

I have already gone through this ordeal on 3 occasions. I did an Ultra 1000, a Sig Kougar and a Bud Nosen Citabria. The Ultra 1000 was finished pealing a 1/4 inch at a time. A very tedious jod that took over 3 weeks on spare time ...but it was done picking the monokote by fingers, tweezers and rough sand paper. I used 100 grit stuff. It took it all, and I mean all, off along with some balsa. However it did not appear to weaken the stucture.
Using chemicals will take off the majority of the residue of glue and color. However, chemicals do melt the glue and thus some get into the pores of the wood and this does not come off. So, if you decide to change the color of the plane consider that the previous may show up a little.

Other than elbow grease, use heat to pe3al off the covering and chemicals for the rest. Protect yourself against chemical vapors.
Good luck. A redone airplane does really come out much better than the first time around.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

And then recover it with Ultracote and you'll never have this problem again!.

JERRY RCIA

The easy way to remove all those little pieces of monokote that your unable to pull off is with a tool called a "Stripe Eraser' , which is available where bodyshop supplies are sold. This is a 3" diameter rubber eraser which chucks into a variable speed drill. Just run the drill very slow and apply very little pressure and the monokote will be lifted right off with no damage to the balsa. I've used this method many times with great results............Jerry

rhomco

My Feedback: (2)

I have done this toooo many times. Forget the hand stripping. This sounds almost too simple but all you have to do is take a good heat gun or paint stripper and roast it off. Man the stuff will just shrink to melted strands that will roll right off after they cool. I have not done this on balsa covered foam so test that first. Obviously if you have plastic parts covered with MC you will need to protect them. Wear gloves too, the melted plastic stays hot for a while (trust me). Some heat guns wont get hot enough to work as paint strippers so you have to have a good one.
Go have a BBQ!
Rob