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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Matt Brown on April 03, 2025, 10:39:48 AM

Title: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: Matt Brown on April 03, 2025, 10:39:48 AM
I have a few new planes almost ready for covering and paint. They are all electric so no concerns about fuel proofing. I’m planning to use polyspan and carbon veil for base. Should I stick with dope for applying the polyspan and carbon veil or is there a better option these days? I thought I’d shoot automotive aerosol primer and Rustoleum colors. Maybe a 2 part clear coat. Are there better/easier options that I should consider?

Thanks, Matt
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: Ken Culbertson on April 03, 2025, 01:46:40 PM
I have a few new planes almost ready for covering and paint. They are all electric so no concerns about fuel proofing. I’m planning to use polyspan and carbon veil for base. Should I stick with dope for applying the polyspan and carbon veil or is there a better option these days? I thought I’d shoot automotive aerosol primer and Rustoleum colors. Maybe a 2 part clear coat. Are there better/easier options that I should consider?

Thanks, Matt
As far as I know there is no cheaper/better finish available to electric, just more of them.  The last one I actually put a contest finish on I used Polyspan, Nitrate and Rustoleum.  Came out great.

Ken
 
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: Dave_Trible on April 03, 2025, 03:12:17 PM
I do and still would just continue to finish with dope.   Know what it is, how it works and what the end result will be.   If there were any reason not to it simply might be the cost is a little higher.  It also likely finishes lighter in weight than most other products simply due to it's near totally evaporating base carrier.  I fly all IC but still wouldn't change regardless.

Dave
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: wwwarbird on April 03, 2025, 06:17:31 PM

 What Dave said.  y1
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: Dan McEntee on April 03, 2025, 07:00:50 PM
   If you must use rattle can, any auto paint store and many auto parts stores carry a line of lacquer paints that should be compatible with what you are using for primers. Lots of colors, it will let you work faster, more forgiving of mistakes, and over all be lighter and easier to repair. Then you can put clear over it and rub it out.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: wwwarbird on April 04, 2025, 11:00:02 PM

 What Dave said.  y1
Title: Re: Finishing with no cares about fuel proofing
Post by: kevin king on April 06, 2025, 01:23:55 AM
I've always found spraying with cans difficult and expensive when it comes to painting anything larger than a flap. The amount of paint coming out of the can is never a set amount. The paint sprays from thick to thin on every pass. Then it drips paint on the finish. Then the propellent runs out and the can is still half full. It might be ok for a 1/2a. The other issue is there is no plasticizer in spray can lacquer and it's prone to cracking.  I prefer  spraying dope through a touch up gun. In the end it's what works for you.