Cleaning Canopy

Fraser McGaughran

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Apr 26, 1993, 8:15:37 PM4/26/93

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Hi All

What's the best method for cleaning a glider canopy ?

guy byars

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Apr 28, 1993, 2:36:13 PM4/28/93

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|> What's the best method for cleaning a glider canopy ?

Most comerically available aircraft plexiglas products do a good job on
glider canopies. I prefer "Mirror Glaze", but they all do a good job.

However, before using it, the canopy must be thoroughly washed with water
to remove all the grit and dirt. I can't emphasize this enough. Use
LOTS of water and a VERY well SOAKED soft clean cloth to be sure all
the dirt is off. If all the dirt hasn't been removed, you can actually
damage the canopy when cleaning it because any remaining dirt can cause
scratches.

I have seen canopies which inexperienced club members have cleaned with
the same dirty rag they used to clean the rest of the plane. It isn't a
pretty sight.

Remember, soft clean rags, LOTS of water, and a high quality canopy cleaner.

gb (11)

Michael Corvin

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Apr 29, 1993, 5:17:39 PM4/29/93

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I've used Pledge in a number of cases (after a good rinsing and washing
with a soft cloth). It reduces minor clouding due to surface abrasions
quite well, rain streams off easily and bugs don't stick as much.
The only problem is that the 'treatment' needs to be repeated
fairly often.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Corvin PP-ASEL, PP-G zw...@starfighter.den.mmc.com
just another spaced rocket scientist at Martin Marietta Astronautics Group
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============== My views, not Martin Marietta's ========================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian Henderson

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Apr 29, 1993, 11:20:30 PM4/29/93

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mcgau...@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz (Fraser McGaughran) writes:
: Hi All

:
: What's the best method for cleaning a glider canopy ?

Well, I have found that a product called "Mr. Sheen" thats available here in
australia is great for perspex. I apply it sparingly and polish it off
with a non-static cloth. Mr. Sheen is a surface polish for polished wood
and glass etc.

ian. Henderson.
sgc...@citecuc.citec.oz.au
--
===============================================================================
Ian F. Henderson (sgc...@citecuc.citec.oz.au)
Centre for information Technology and Communications - CITEC
Queesnland, AUSTRALIA (My views are my own, not my employers)
"DBA & A" - Database Administrator and Aviator. Not nescessarily in that order.

Andy Johnson-Laird

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Apr 29, 1993, 10:34:47 PM4/29/93

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In article <17...@heimdall.sdrc.com> fe...@sgit22.sdrc.com (guy byars) writes:
>
>|> What's the best method for cleaning a glider canopy ?
>
>Most comerically available aircraft plexiglas products do a good job on
>glider canopies. I prefer "Mirror Glaze", but they all do a good job.

Yeah, I've used that too. It's good (but see below).

>
>However, before using it, the canopy must be thoroughly washed with water
>to remove all the grit and dirt. I can't emphasize this enough. Use
>LOTS of water and a VERY well SOAKED soft clean cloth to be sure all
>the dirt is off. If all the dirt hasn't been removed, you can actually
>damage the canopy when cleaning it because any remaining dirt can cause
>scratches.

IMHO, using your hand with an excess of soapy water, and then rinsing with
hand/clean water is good. Unless you're wearing anti-personnel hardware on your
fingers/wrist your hand is (a) soft and (b) you can tell straight away if there's
a particle of grit that you're about to grind into the surface.

>
>I have seen canopies which inexperienced club members have cleaned with
>the same dirty rag they used to clean the rest of the plane. It isn't a
>pretty sight.

Nor is it when they're apprehended... ;-)

>
>Remember, soft clean rags, LOTS of water, and a high quality canopy cleaner.

The man knows whereof he speaks...
>

Regards,

Andy Johnson-Laird
Internet : an...@jli.portland.or.us : uucp ...!sequent!jli!andy
Snailmail: Johnson-Laird Inc., 850 NW Summit Ave, Portland OR 97210.
Tel: (503) 274-0784 / FAX: (503) 274-0512