Cleaning covering after flight
 

l have come across several threads in regards to cleanup of oil residue, grass, etc from plane covering - several good hints at home-made formulas and only a couple of readily available products... but usually main concern is cutting crud - a good thread that exists is l think before ULTRACOTE really came into popularity

what about cleaning off residues AND leaving a nice shine to the covering - and specifically ULTRACOTE?
l have been using a no-name window cleaner - with ammonia, which some feel is bad for electrical connections and making covering brittle - but as the ultracote ages it just doesnt clean up as nicely as when new - and mainly looking for a ready-to-use product

don't want to start trying different products/blends/etc and maybe harm the covering / sheen more - have a great looking plane and want it to stay that way

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use a mixture of about 5% methylated spirits and water.
For real dirty planes, I use a watered down solution of window cleaner or I add about 5% cloudy ammonia to the above mixture. - Works for me.:D

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

50-50 Formula 409 and rubbing alcohol.

Dr.1

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

almost any cleaner will do don't use glass cleaner wih amonia in it though...amonia tends to loosen the adhesive on monokote..don't know about the rest of the coverings..I use straight alcohol.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

Try some of the baby butt wipes. They're relatively cheap, work great at cleaning up the oil reisidue, grass & bugs. One or two will clean your plane up nicely.

bhady

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

Try ZEP Citrus cleaner....found at your local Home Depot...THIS STUFF IS GREAT! Better than windex could EVER be. it cuts through the oil and leaves a great clean shine on the plane. Let me know how it works out if you decide to try it.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

One thing not mentioned here is what you're using for towels. Most paper towels have enough abrasive in them to cause light scratches. I have been using Viva paper towels, they are softer and dont scratch the covering. Other than that I have been using automotive windshield washer solvent, even the cheep stuff is good enough to cut grease.

Wipe all the oil off the plane you can, use another towel to clean with the window washer solution and another towel to dry it. Do a section at a time, tailfeathers, fuse, wings etc. I may use 3-4 paper towels to clean a plane and its shiny clean when I get done.
I use Ultracote and have planes with several hundred flights on them that look like new.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

great - thanks guys -- appreciate the input ...... a couple of good ideas here - will try a couple out over next couple weeks - and don't have to spend a bundle

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

go electric :D

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

Here's what I use...... after I've cleaned the plane I spray it on, wipe it around, and then buff it off. It leaves a really nice shine.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use a 8-1 water/Simplegreen mix. I used Windex last year and switched to Simplegreen this year. It works great. Cuts right through all the oil.
-Andrew

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

Sugarsoap liquid.I buy the 2.5 litre concentrate for $3.00 makes up to 30 litres.Mix a little with water and dispense from a trigger spray bottle.For cloths i use the chux super wipes in the bulk roll.The sugar soap removes the oil and leaves a streak free,glossy finish on films.Wipe excess oil off first.
Cheers,
Craig.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

sorry l havent reported in - life has gotten in the way of flying all of a sudden

anyways - got home depot's ZEP citrus cleaner/degreaser - works great - cuts oil residues, wipes off well, then covering (ultracote) buffs up to a real nice shine - and smells greaat at the same time - and starting to clean up indoors now the smell is much more tolerable than the ammonia - why did l wait so long to switch

thanks for all suggestions - wll keep some of the others in mind as well

and yes -- electric is tempting - we now have electric's in our club for the first time - and the 2 gents just pack and go home - and laugh at the glow guys still in the pits cleaning up - and they are into bigger planes which is very temting - l had only been exposed to the smaller craft and not impressed - so am seriously thinking of crossing the line!
now - l just have to be able to get the "electric bills" cleaned and past the mrs. if l switch over!!!!!!!!

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use the spray brake parts cleaner works great and is about 1.79 at advance auto.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

i been usein dawn dish soap and some rubbing alcohol and water works great i didnt kno that paper towel can scrach covering tho

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

e power is evolving i fly my cessna 310 with it 10 minutes the norm! im converting all to e power except my gassers. zenoahs run great and always fire up

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I'll bet Simple Green would work well. I have been using Srubbing Bubbles and been very happy with the results.

greg

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use scrubbing bubbles. It works great and leaves a great polished finish. Dick Petit from RC Report suggested it a couple months back.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

n57tc--that's where I read about it too.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use 2parts denatured alcohol
1 part simple green concentrate
and a cap full of WD-40
shake before each spray

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use a soft rag, no cleaner. Takes about 20 seconds per plane. I clean them well at the end of the season.

RE: Cleaning covering after flight
 

I use Rain X. Pre-Fight;)
Apply, let it dry, and buff the excess with a soft cloth.