Aircraft Paint

[rotor freak]

Hello fellow Rotor nuts ...I am looking for information regarding aircraft painting courses that are offered , The company I work for is now using the new Imron paint system and I would like an introductory or some kind of painting application training. Any info would be great , so if you know anybody or any organization that offers a painting course and they are willing to give a few tips or pointers that would be great...thanks. I am looking for something around 3-4 days or even a week.

[SuddenStop]

have you talked to your paint supplier yet?

I would assume he'd have access to any course offered by the manufacturer.

[rotor freak]

I did contact the supplier, however they did not have anything planned for quite some time.

[snark]

Its all experience with painting. No real courses offered anywhere as far as I know. A local Autobody course at a college is your best bet. Don't count on a 3 day to a week long course getting you anything other than disapointment in finish if you have never laid a whole pile of coats before. A good painter is worth hiring if you have never sprayed and don't have the guns, experience, or facilities. Check the MSDS on imron and you'll find it alot like taking a bath in MEK mixed with Mastinox. Know what you are doing with it, or you will rapidly develop painters cough and damage your lungs forever. Its not a bad idea to accomplish all the body work and have a the item then sprayed in a correct facility by experienced people trained in aircraft requirements. Done incorrectly is not going to last past a year or two. Imron is thick, you will need to reduce as well to reduce/ remove orange peel, and its one of the least friendly to work with. Reducing will make you non- compliant with VOC's as well, although aircraft are exempt from VOC regulations, some facilities still won't spray unless in full compliance, which meens thicker paint and more possible issues. Learning from a skilled person is the best bet when dealing with paint, it will keep you from spitting all sorts of green stuff out of your lungs, and it will take years to get decent, not weeks.

[212wrench]

Perfect post "Snark". Polyurethane enamels, like Imron, release cyanide gas when sprayed which needless to say is very bad for you as well.

[arctic_front]

Its all experience with painting. No real courses offered anywhere as far as I know. A local Autobody course at a college is your best bet. Don't count on a 3 day to a week long course getting you anything other than disapointment in finish if you have never laid a whole pile of coats before. A good painter is worth hiring if you have never sprayed and don't have the guns, experience, or facilities. Check the MSDS on imron and you'll find it alot like taking a bath in MEK mixed with Mastinox. Know what you are doing with it, or you will rapidly develop painters cough and damage your lungs forever. Its not a bad idea to accomplish all the body work and have a the item then sprayed in a correct facility by experienced people trained in aircraft requirements. Done incorrectly is not going to last past a year or two. Imron is thick, you will need to reduce as well to reduce/ remove orange peel, and its one of the least friendly to work with. Reducing will make you non- compliant with VOC's as well, although aircraft are exempt from VOC regulations, some facilities still won't spray unless in full compliance, which meens thicker paint and more possible issues. Learning from a skilled person is the best bet when dealing with paint, it will keep you from spitting all sorts of green stuff out of your lungs, and it will take years to get decent, not weeks.

 

 

Yes, snark, it's all experience for sure.... but proper prep is also very important. Without the prep, you could come into work the next day and find all that expensive paint you worked so hard to apply laying on the spray booth floor like the shed skin of a snake. And that wouldn't be very funny at all.

[snark]

No, your so wrong there. Its actually so funny one could piss ones self every time it would be thought about.

[212wrench]

Nothing drives a DOM up the wall faster than waiting for paint to dry.

[Zazu]

Nothing drives a DOM up the wall faster than waiting for paint to dry.

 

 

Just Ask Helidude!

[Gary Watson]

Perfect post "Snark". Polyurethane enamels, like Imron, release cyanide gas when sprayed which needless to say is very bad for you as well.

 

 

 

A proper fitted respirator/mask is essential or you will end up looking and acting like some of the painters who used hang out around Jimmy the Greek's Bar in Calgary.