Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich Whittington on May 16, 2009 at 8:28am

I used the Rolite polishing system which I bought from http://www.topoftheline.com/rolmetpolkit.html. I don't know if Rolite is any better than Nuvite, there are opinions both ways, since I never tried Nuvite I don't know. I chose Rolite primarily on one comparison I read of a guy and his wife who took aluminum samples to both the Rolite and Nuvite booths at Oshkosh and compared the results.

It's a slow and dirty process as you can see from one of the pictures I've added to my webpage here. Note I'm still building so my plane has no time outdoors in the elements so I can't tell you how this is going to hold up but I think annual or semi-annual lite polishing (basically like waxing) will keep it looking good.

If you go here http://www.nuvitechemical.com/procedures.asp you can download a Nuvite polishing manual that provides a lot of information on how to.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Nail on May 20, 2009 at 8:49pm

So i went with the rolite and started with an oribtal polisher i got at my local hardware store for 30 bucks. After an hour and half i'm starting to think i didnt get one robust enough. What did yall use? Where from?

I guess if i add to much pressure the orbiter just stops rotating and vibrates. I dont mind the vibration if only i felt like it meant i was making progress. Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Samuel McNair on August 31, 2016 at 9:19pm

Being the lazy sort who does not like to do things over, it raises the question:

If I do a nice mirror polish, can I overcoat the polished surface with a clear sealer to keep it that way?  I am thinking of things like automotive clear coat.  Anyone over done this or similar?

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Latimer on May 16, 2009 at 1:50pm

I'm using Nuvite to polish my plane. You can look for me on this site and see a posting of the first piece that I polished. It was the top nose fuse skin. Several builders has used Nuvite. Scott Laughlin being one. He has a nice website (http://www.cooknwithgas.com). He has several photos of the polishing process.

I'll attempt to upload the pdf off the Nuvite site that details a process for their polishing system.

Hope this helps
Jerry

Attachments:

• polishing_nonclad.pdf, 88 KB

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Latimer on May 16, 2009 at 1:55pm

I'll also try to upload a pdf off the Sonex site that details the polishing process for Nuvite

Attachments:

• nuvite_polishing.pdf, 449 KB

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Nail on May 16, 2009 at 6:38pm

Great information guys. I have a question that I have been too lazy to look up or try out different solutions for. I like to make a lot of notes on the skin with a sharpie, as simple reminders (like "Forward" "Top" "L"/"R" centerline marks etc). Whats the best way to get that off, just polishing? Also the skin on my horizontal stab came from Zenith with the "6061T6" markings on the outside. Same solution?

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Permalink Reply by Travis Turner on July 28, 2017 at 8:01pm

I used the Polish that is rolled up in a can like a cinnamon roll. Pinch a small amount of and rub. It takes all markings off very easily.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Latimer on May 16, 2009 at 8:49pm

I used denatured alcohol to remove both. Got it in the aviation department of Home
Depot.
Jerry

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Permalink Reply by John R Reinking on July 5, 2010 at 6:25pm

Heh heh heh... like it.

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Permalink Reply by Neil on September 24, 2016 at 9:47pm

I did the same thing! Works like a charm!

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