Touch Up White Paint

After talking to a mechanic about this, he suggested that it was likely
that the small spot was improperly primed when it was last painted. He
also said that he has *never* been about to get an exactly match to
white....and that with fading, even if it matches at first, it wont
match after a year. He suggested getting spray paint (enamel) from the
hardware store with a white that best matches to my eye...and then spray
paint it with some feathering into the surrounding area. Does anyone
think this is not a good idea?

-Sami

Michelle P wrote:

Sami,
Need to answer what caused the paint to come off in the first place.
Impact? Corrosion? Touch up is simple. If you use spray products mask
off all the windows on that side.....
Michelle

O. Sami Saydjari wrote:

I just noticed an area of exposed aluminum on my wing root, about the
size of a quarter. I am not sure how and when it got there. Exposed
aluminum seems like an inherently bad thing. Is there some good way
to do a do-it-yourself job of touching this up that is both effective
at protecting the wing and looks decent? My wing is white.

-Sami
N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow

On Sun, 29 May 2005 08:25:58 -0500, "O. Sami Saydjari"
wrote:

After talking to a mechanic about this, he suggested that it was likely
that the small spot was improperly primed when it was last painted. He
also said that he has *never* been about to get an exactly match to
white....and that with fading, even if it matches at first, it wont
match after a year. He suggested getting spray paint (enamel) from the
hardware store with a white that best matches to my eye...and then spray
paint it with some feathering into the surrounding area. Does anyone
think this is not a good idea?

-Sami

appliance white is used everywhere in just this way. :-)

I have a friend with a Thorp T18 who swears he will repaint in rattle
can white enamel so that he can touch up the paint easily before
flyins.

Stealth Pilot

"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote in message
...
After talking to a mechanic about this, he suggested that it was likely
that the small spot was improperly primed when it was last painted. He
also said that he has *never* been about to get an exactly match to
white....and that with fading, even if it matches at first, it wont match
after a year. He suggested getting spray paint (enamel) from the hardware
store with a white that best matches to my eye...and then spray paint it
with some feathering into the surrounding area. Does anyone think this is
not a good idea?

-Sami

Depending on how nice your airplane is, I'd pass on your mechanic's advise.
*Good* custom automotive painters can match almost any paint, and can blend
in the new paint well (or mask back to the next panel line). Sure, you
might see a slightly different fade rate, or the new paint may be a little
shinier than the old, but using the old eyeball match with rattle can paint
will leave you with a functional but *probably* ugly repair.

Depending on where you live, there may be someone who specializes in "on
airport" spot painting. I live in Atlanta, and have a buddy who makes good
money doing touch-up work on aircraft. He has a trailer with all of the
necessary equipment, paint, and pigments for color matching. He'll simply
drive to the airport, string some plastic around your airplane, mask, prep,
and spray small areas.

KB

Could you provide a name and email/phone of your buddy??
I have an Archer at RYY and it needs a little 'touch-up' that
is a bit more than I'd like to try. Overall, the paint is
good, but a bird strike took off some paint and the clear coat
is peeling a a couple of small places....

Thanks
Mike: (PA28-181 N44979 at RYY)



Kyle Boatright wrote:
"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote in message
...

After talking to a mechanic about this, he suggested that it was likely
that the small spot was improperly primed when it was last painted. He
also said that he has *never* been about to get an exactly match to
white....and that with fading, even if it matches at first, it wont match
after a year. He suggested getting spray paint (enamel) from the hardware
store with a white that best matches to my eye...and then spray paint it
with some feathering into the surrounding area. Does anyone think this is
not a good idea?

-Sami


Depending on how nice your airplane is, I'd pass on your mechanic's advise.
*Good* custom automotive painters can match almost any paint, and can blend
in the new paint well (or mask back to the next panel line). Sure, you
might see a slightly different fade rate, or the new paint may be a little
shinier than the old, but using the old eyeball match with rattle can paint
will leave you with a functional but *probably* ugly repair.

Depending on where you live, there may be someone who specializes in "on
airport" spot painting. I live in Atlanta, and have a buddy who makes good
money doing touch-up work on aircraft. He has a trailer with all of the
necessary equipment, paint, and pigments for color matching. He'll simply
drive to the airport, string some plastic around your airplane, mask, prep,
and spray small areas.

KB