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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Colin McRae on September 04, 2024, 10:22:59 AM

Title: Naptha (Lighter Fluid) to Clean
Post by: Colin McRae on September 04, 2024, 10:22:59 AM

I'm recovering a wing on an old balsa model. It looks to me that the old covering might be Towerkote. When peeling off the old covering, the clear mylar comes off, but in a few places the glue and pigment stay behind. I tried naphtha (lighter fluid) in a test area, and it does remove the pigment and glue and expose the balsa wood with a little effort.

My question is if using lighter fluid to clean and prepare the affected areas, will the use of lighter fluid prevent the new iron-on covering from properly adhering. And are there any other useful tips? I plan to recover the wing with Monocoat.

How much time to allow the lighter fluid to fully evaporate?
Lighty sand the affected areas as a final step?
Etc.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Naptha (Lighter Fluid) to Clean
Post by: Ken Culbertson on September 04, 2024, 11:09:08 AM

I understand that pure naphtha does fully evaporate and does not leave a residue.   Personally, I would give the area a coat of ModPodge before recovering just to be sure.

Ken