Joe@Superior Shine
New member
- Jun 25, 2009
- 1,073
- 0
Aircraft detailing is FUN!!!!! Being a perfectionist as you would be with a car is mostly a waste of time. The standards are much lower but still tons of FUN!
Pretty good is usually plenty good enough -LOL!
We use 90% automotive products on the airplanes and get really nice long lasting results.
Lots of aircraft aren't hangered and need lots of TLC to either get them nice or keep them nice. If an aircraft isn't hangered guess where you will be doing the work- OUT IN THE SUN! For those we start EARLY.
We cover the static ports with tape and then make a streamer from the tape as in this pic below...
We also waterless wash the aircraft 99% of the time. The product we use is perfectly safe for aircraft. We buy it in concentrate, mix it up and put it in pressurized sprayers.
You will find aircraft paint to be much harder than automotive paint and not nearly as shiny most of the time. Usually it will take a wool pad and your favorite compound to deep clean the finish.
Lots of times a dual action polisher is sufficient for light shining and paint protectant application.
The thing I had to get used to the most was cleaning and detailing the under body. As stated above creepers and stools and whatever you can use to help you get the job done is great to have.
We also carry with us a welcome mat that we keep CLEAN. We put that on the wing to stand on if an area hasn't been made to stand on by the application of non-slip tape. . We never stand on paint. Little rocks in your shoes will scratch and it is too slippery and unsafe in socks.
For plastic windows I use plast-X with really nice results. I'll step it up to compound for deep scratches.
My least favorite thing to clean........... INTERIORS!!! Usually one way in and one way out and cramped!! No windows to open means HOT!! I'll usually sit in one seat while I clean the adjacent area.
De-ice boots need special care but is easy to learn. Use a high quality product SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR DE-ICE BOOTS. Don't use tire dressing or anything like that. Get them clean (safely) and dress them. Practice makes perfect.
Bright work is fun! I love it. Aluminum comes out so nice and is extremely satisfying to polish. We use pads and polish specifically made for metal polishing. Spinners and other small aluminum parts shine up quick and are fairly easy once you get your process down. Polishing aluminum skins is a whole other animal.... LOTS AND LOTS OF WORK. but just as satisfying one your done.
There are certain rules and regulations at airports you need to learn and FOLLOW. Insurance is a biggie, you better have it. Also if you wet wash, find out where the wash bay is (most airports have one) and get the airplane there to do it or you will need waste water reclaim equipment.
Some airports are strict with every little thing........and the will check. Have all your licenses, insurance, etc.... in order. Other airports couldn't care less.
Good luck, make it profitable and remember .......HAVE FUN :buffing:
Pretty good is usually plenty good enough -LOL!
We use 90% automotive products on the airplanes and get really nice long lasting results.
Lots of aircraft aren't hangered and need lots of TLC to either get them nice or keep them nice. If an aircraft isn't hangered guess where you will be doing the work- OUT IN THE SUN! For those we start EARLY.
We cover the static ports with tape and then make a streamer from the tape as in this pic below...
We also waterless wash the aircraft 99% of the time. The product we use is perfectly safe for aircraft. We buy it in concentrate, mix it up and put it in pressurized sprayers.
You will find aircraft paint to be much harder than automotive paint and not nearly as shiny most of the time. Usually it will take a wool pad and your favorite compound to deep clean the finish.
Lots of times a dual action polisher is sufficient for light shining and paint protectant application.
The thing I had to get used to the most was cleaning and detailing the under body. As stated above creepers and stools and whatever you can use to help you get the job done is great to have.
We also carry with us a welcome mat that we keep CLEAN. We put that on the wing to stand on if an area hasn't been made to stand on by the application of non-slip tape. . We never stand on paint. Little rocks in your shoes will scratch and it is too slippery and unsafe in socks.
For plastic windows I use plast-X with really nice results. I'll step it up to compound for deep scratches.
My least favorite thing to clean........... INTERIORS!!! Usually one way in and one way out and cramped!! No windows to open means HOT!! I'll usually sit in one seat while I clean the adjacent area.
De-ice boots need special care but is easy to learn. Use a high quality product SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR DE-ICE BOOTS. Don't use tire dressing or anything like that. Get them clean (safely) and dress them. Practice makes perfect.
Bright work is fun! I love it. Aluminum comes out so nice and is extremely satisfying to polish. We use pads and polish specifically made for metal polishing. Spinners and other small aluminum parts shine up quick and are fairly easy once you get your process down. Polishing aluminum skins is a whole other animal.... LOTS AND LOTS OF WORK. but just as satisfying one your done.
There are certain rules and regulations at airports you need to learn and FOLLOW. Insurance is a biggie, you better have it. Also if you wet wash, find out where the wash bay is (most airports have one) and get the airplane there to do it or you will need waste water reclaim equipment.
Some airports are strict with every little thing........and the will check. Have all your licenses, insurance, etc.... in order. Other airports couldn't care less.
Good luck, make it profitable and remember .......HAVE FUN :buffing:
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