removing monocote

[Dave Rountree]

Is ther any easy way to remove monocote? One plane I am redoing was covered with monocote and I peeled and picked and sanded for a long time. I am recovering with silkspan and dope, so I am doing a lot of sanding. I just pick up two more monocote clunkers that I am going to give to my nephew when recovered and flyable. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Dave

[David Miller]

Are you using a heat gun to remove it??

[Jim Oliver]

In a word----"heat-n-peel".

Jim

[Dave Rountree]

Thanks for the heat trick. My old plane was covered back 30 years ago, so it peeled some what easily but left a colored residue. that is what took so much sanding. I will try the heat gun on the two planes I just got. I'll report back. Thanks again Dave Rountree

[Bootlegger]

   Sometimes using acetone or lacquer thinner will help with the removal of the "stickum" and other residue that doesn't come off with the covering...I also have sanded after getting the stickum off.

[Bill Morell]

I just recently did this to a couple of planes and have found that you don't have to be meticulous about getting it all off. since you are covering it over with silkspan (I used polyspan) just sand it down to where it is smooth. Apply a few coats of clear, sand again and cover. Once you have painted the plane you will never see any spots of monokote that were left.