Newbie with a question

[GAZOO]

Hello all

I am new to your forum and so far enjoy reading some threads. I live in CA and just bought a Stinson 108-3. Can anyone recommend a good wax to try and bring a little shine to the fabric?

Thanks in advance

 

[KeithASanford]

I'm actually looking at a Stinson Voyager 108-1. How did you evaluate your purchase prior to a pre-buy inspection? What was your process?

Hello all

I am new to your forum and so far enjoy reading some threads. I live in CA and just bought a Stinson 108-3. Can anyone recommend a good wax to try and bring a little shine to the fabric?

Thanks in advance

 

[RJM62]

Hello all

I am new to your forum and so far enjoy reading some threads. I live in CA and just bought a Stinson 108-3. Can anyone recommend a good wax to try and bring a little shine to the fabric?

Thanks in advance

Assuming that the finish is in good shape, some swear by carnauba wax, Wing Waxers PTFE (which at least is made for aircraft), Nu-Wax, or various other auto waxes.

Personally, though, I never noticed much of a difference -- other than that using carnauba wax is more work.

-Rich

 

[GAZOO]

wow thats a loaded question....lol

I wanted a tailwheel airplane. I have 3 kids so I need a good useful weight. I am on a budget (under $50K). I am 6'2" and 250lbs.

That being said, I sat in many airplanes, and didn't fit in a lot of them. I also needed to find a 4 place plane. I was introduced to a Stinson on my local field and sat in it. Fits exactly like a 172 but has a 1030# useful load. I was hooked.

After Tons of research online, I couldn't find anything bad about the plane. Mine has a Franklin 165 and was told I will have a lot of trouble finding parts. Mine is very low time on the motor so I figure I'm good for a few years (I hope ) and when its time, I will put in a 0-470 per an STC.

In a nut shell, I wanted a tail dragger that wasn't just another plane. You don't see too many around my area, and they really get a lot of attn.

 

[GAZOO]

Assuming that the finish is in good shape, some swear by carnauba wax, Wing Waxers PTFE (which at least is made for aircraft), Nu-Wax, or various other auto waxes.

Personally, though, I never noticed much of a difference -- other than that using carnauba wax is more work.

-Rich

It's in real good shape. The fella I bought it from just wasn't much of a "detail" guy. I'm pretty anal about my stuff and want to bring the old girl back to show room finish

 

[KeithASanford]

Thanks!

I need to find a fabric guy. I have no idea how to evaluate a skinned plane.

wow thats a loaded question....lol

I wanted a tailwheel airplane. I have 3 kids so I need a good useful weight. I am on a budget (under $50K). I am 6'2" and 250lbs.

That being said, I sat in many airplanes, and didn't fit in a lot of them. I also needed to find a 4 place plane. I was introduced to a Stinson on my local field and sat in it. Fits exactly like a 172 but has a 1030# useful load. I was hooked.

After Tons of research online, I couldn't find anything bad about the plane. Mine has a Franklin 165 and was told I will have a lot of trouble finding parts. Mine is very low time on the motor so I figure I'm good for a few years (I hope ) and when its time, I will put in a 0-470 per an STC.

In a nut shell, I wanted a tail dragger that wasn't just another plane. You don't see too many around my area, and they really get a lot of attn.

 

[GAZOO]

Thanks!

I need to find a fabric guy. I have no idea how to evaluate a skinned plane.

wish I could help you. I had mine tested in the pre buy. They did what was called a punch test. said it looked great. The only cracks I have are right in front of the vert stab, and they are only surface. All checked out well. Airplane has been hangered it's whole life.

 

[RotorAndWing]

I have no idea how to evaluate a skinned plane.

Neither do some of the so called "experts".

 

[docmirror]

Welome Gazoo. I presume your Stinson is still in fabric skin, but even if it's metalized, no matter. Surface care isn't much different on fabric than it is on metal except you want to avoid cleaners with a lot of VOCs in them. My Citabria was painted with a polyurethane but your coating may be different.

I suggest a clay bar on sun exposed surfaces. Clay bar is very Ph neutral, and contains no VOCs at all. There are various 'grits' of clay bar, and there's even one designed specially for aircraft but I don't see the point in spending extra on it. Once you clay bar it to get the corrosion off the surface, you can use any good carnuba or boat wax. If you want the absolute best you can get something called Zxilon 3. It has some kind of corrosion inhibitor for aircraft, but prolly only useful on metal. I use Turtle wax, there's a lot of personal bias. I'd start with the clay bar and lots of clear water, then do what you want with your product of choice.

http://www.granitizeaviation.com/Product.aspx?ItemNo=9

 

[GAZOO]

Welome Gazoo. I presume your Stinson is still in fabric skin, but even if it's metalized, no matter. Surface care isn't much different on fabric than it is on metal except you want to avoid cleaners with a lot of VOCs in them. My Citabria was painted with a polyurethane but your coating may be different.

I suggest a clay bar on sun exposed surfaces. Clay bar is very Ph neutral, and contains no VOCs at all. There are various 'grits' of clay bar, and there's even one designed specially for aircraft but I don't see the point in spending extra on it. Once you clay bar it to get the corrosion off the surface, you can use any good carnuba or boat wax. If you want the absolute best you can get something called Zxilon 3. It has some kind of corrosion inhibitor for aircraft, but prolly only useful on metal. I use Turtle wax, there's a lot of personal bias. I'd start with the clay bar and lots of clear water, then do what you want with your product of choice.

http://www.granitizeaviation.com/Product.aspx?ItemNo=9

yes its fabric. I woulda never thunk to use a clay bar. I will have to try that on a test spot....Thanx

 

[docmirror]

No prob. If you haven't used a clay bar before, don't use the whole thing at once. Keep it very clean and if you drop it, throw it away and use a new one. There's a lubricant that goes with clay bar but you really only need clear water, and maybe just a pinch of Palmolive dish soap.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Step one. Find out what kind of finish it has.

Step two. Depends on the results of step one.

If, for example, it was finished with with the ever popular Poly-tone, then it has a semi-gloss finish and you will learn to enjoy how easy it is to patch. You would also find out that every 10 years or so, Stitts recommends spraying it with rejuvenator (read the manual for the actual, correct, details)

If it has some other finish, you would start by getting information on that particular finish and proceding from there.

Or, you could try some random thing and see what happens. What could possibly go wrong?