What to use to clean plane after flying

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 22 of 22 known posts recovered

jwm4007 · Jun 08, 2006 07:52 PM

What is the best solution to use to clean up planes after flying. Just getting back into CL after 40 yr vacation. Having fun but seems like everything is different. Jim M

Jim M

johnnyarcana123 · Jun 08, 2006 08:41 PM

#1 source

At Brodak's last year I noticed that everyone was using alcohol as a wash down solution and Marvel Mystery AIR MOTOR OIL as after run oil.

I'm doing the same and they work well.

John McCollum

WALLEYE5 · Jun 08, 2006 08:48 PM

#2 source

>At Brodak's last year I noticed that everyone was using
>alcohol as a wash down solution and Marvel Mystery AIR MOTOR
>OIL as after run oil.
>
>I'm doing the same and they work well.
Isopropal? or?

johnnyarcana123 · Jun 08, 2006 09:17 PM

#3 source

Isopropyl.

I'm sure any but rubbing alcohol would do.

John McCollum

Randy Ryan · Jun 08, 2006 09:32 PM

#4 source

Windex or Glass-plus

Randy Ryan <><
AMA 8500
SAM 36
BO all my own M's

Iskandar Taib · Jun 09, 2006 06:48 AM

#5 source

Windex works pretty well. Spray on liberally on the oil glob, and rub it in with your fingers. Then wipe off the emulsion with a paper towel. To get things REALLY clean (e.g. before a repair, or before ironing on a film patch), soak a paper towel in isopropyl alcohol (the 70% stuff sold as rubbing alcohol works, too) and wipe off the residual oil.

A certain friend of mine, after year and YEARS of flying RC (and a year of flying CL) just discovered that paper towels are 10 times better than toilet paper...

Kreth · Jun 09, 2006 07:52 AM

#8 source

You can get 91% isopropyl at most big discount stores. Mix about 50/50 with windex and you have a pretty good cleaner.

Kreth McKee
AMA 22004

Steve Scott · Jun 10, 2006 11:30 AM

#20 source

>A certain friend of mine, after year and YEARS of flying RC
>(and a year of flying CL) just discovered that paper towels
>are 10 times better than toilet paper...

A bit harder on the plumbing though, huh?

Larry F · Jun 09, 2006 06:56 AM

#6 source

West Virginians use "moonshine" -- removes all the oil. Cheap and effective.

Larry Fulwider

OS32 · Jun 09, 2006 07:46 AM

#7 source

Turtle Wax in a Green spray bottle.

John Leidle

gcb · Jun 09, 2006 08:01 AM

#9 source

West Virginians use "moonshine" -- removes all the oil.
Cheap and effective.

Larry Fulwider

...What a waste!!!

George

DMoon · Jun 09, 2006 08:04 AM

#10 source

Sig Magic. It is made by Sig for the cleaning of airplanes. It works really really really good. It also seems to add mor to the shine where as other cleaners tend to wipe the shine off your plane along with the oil. You can find it at your local hobby shop.

Doug Moon

Larry F · Jun 09, 2006 02:08 PM

#18 source

No Waste. We lick it dry.

Larry Fulwider

glenwearden · Jun 09, 2006 10:14 AM

#13 source

I've started using a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol (91%) and Simple Green. Seems to work pretty well. Glen

Glen Wearden

chrisvonbfl · Jun 09, 2006 10:15 AM

#14 source

I like using stoddard solvent, a petroleum based cleaner somewhat similar to kerosene on my models.

On doped and monokote surfaces it will remove all gunk residue including Fox 35 fuel. It will leave a shine. A final clean up with Lemon Pledge yields a great shine with a wonderful lemmony scent!

Chris Padham

hothandle · Jun 09, 2006 11:33 AM

#15 source

I use PLedge or something similar. WOrks for me.

Hothandle

clflyer · Jun 09, 2006 12:12 PM

#16 source

I use windshied washer, the blue stuff you get at a gas station for your car.

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http://www.clflyer.com
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Bill Calkins

Randy Powell · Jun 09, 2006 01:13 PM

#17 source

Windex. Sometimes followed by Pledge.

scooterjay · Jun 09, 2006 03:00 PM

#19 source

windex and cheese cloth, followed by more windex and paper towels. cheese cloth really pulls the gunk off, but snags easily.

"i ain't got it! really, i ain't got it!!!"

Randi · Jun 10, 2006 01:10 PM

#21 source

Dawn Liquid Dishwashing Soap. Mix a good, hefty squeeze of that in a couple of quarts of water in a bucket. Take that to where your airplane is. (I know, it's a pain.) Then get out your wife's microfiber rag...the one she uses to wash windows with. Wring the rag out in the soapy water, leaving it pretty wet. Go over every inch of the airplane with it. Then wring it out again till it's as dry as you can get it and go back over the plane. Rinse it in clear water one last time and wipe again.

Nothing gets grease and oil like Dawn. No streaks with this method and the cloth doesn't leave little fibers everywhere.

Randi

kvarley · Jun 10, 2006 01:30 PM

#22 source

THere's no doubt about it that micro fiber cloths are far superior to anything previously available. If you have a pretty messy plane then windex or many other liquids are often used but if you have a pretty clean set up ,like a piped engine,then just a microfiber cloth is sufficient unto itself. I have been getting maybe 10 flying sessions on one that costs me $1.00 at a dollar store in Canada , and the plane never looked better, Keith Varley

Randi · Jun 11, 2006 11:00 AM

#23 source

>I have been getting maybe 10 flying sessions on one
>that costs me $1.00 at a dollar store in Canada , and the
>plane never looked better, Keith Varley

Keith,

You know you can wash them?

Randi