Glue removal - ceconite

I'm in the process of removing the fabric covering (ceconite) from my
wings and am now faced with the problem of glue removal from the
leading/trailing edges and assorted ribs.
MEK will disolve it, but with much patience.
I find coating with MEK, letting it sit (unfortunately, it's
evaporating really quickly), then going over it multiple times with a
MEK-soaked non-metalic pad will get the job done.

Is there a smarter way to do this? - MIke

On Jun 15, 10:24 am, Michael Horowitz wrote:
I'm in the process of removing the fabric covering (ceconite) from my
wings and am now faced with the problem of glue removal from the
leading/trailing edges and assorted ribs.
MEK will disolve it, but with much patience.
I find coating with MEK, letting it sit (unfortunately, it's
evaporating really quickly), then going over it multiple times with a
MEK-soaked non-metalic pad will get the job done.

Is there a smarter way to do this? - MIke

What covering did it have? You might have a urethane-based glue
there that's really stubborn. Most older systems use glues that MEK
will take off, aided by something like Scotch-Brite. Or you might try
Napier's aircraft stripper, SV-35PMA:
http://www.napiere.com/products/product.php?pid=25

We've had good success using it on paints. Made for aircraft.
Spray it with an airless sprayer; brushes don't apply it nearly
uniformly even enough, and wash it off with a pressure sprayer. Trying
to scrape it off is frustrating. A clear case of "follow
instructions."
I hope you don't have a wooden wing...

Dan

Michael Horowitz wrote:

I'm in the process of removing the fabric covering (ceconite) from my
wings and am now faced with the problem of glue removal from the
leading/trailing edges and assorted ribs.
MEK will disolve it, but with much patience.
I find coating with MEK, letting it sit (unfortunately, it's
evaporating really quickly), then going over it multiple times with a
MEK-soaked non-metalic pad will get the job done.

Is there a smarter way to do this? - MIke

Get the orange scented stripper in the paint section at Wal*Mart...

Generously wipe it on, let it bubble everything (glue, paint, primer) up
and then either pressurewash or use high pressure air and blow it off.
Wiping it off works too, but with alot more work and waste. After
surface is dry (preferred method is pressurewasher), reapply to remove
another 2 layers if they exist...

Works with wood, aluminum and steel. 3 of the larger containers has done
an entire airframe and then some...

Or so I've been told, on a PA-20... ;-)

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:24:20 -0400, Michael Horowitz
wrote:

I'm in the process of removing the fabric covering (ceconite) from my
wings and am now faced with the problem of glue removal from the
leading/trailing edges and assorted ribs.
MEK will disolve it, but with much patience.
I find coating with MEK, letting it sit (unfortunately, it's
evaporating really quickly), then going over it multiple times with a
MEK-soaked non-metalic pad will get the job done.

Is there a smarter way to do this? - MIke

cover the MEK wetted area in alfoil pinched around the edges to seal
as much in as possible. the stuff wont evaporate as much.

Stealth Pilot