![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mightyrv.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/emp_etch_21.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Here are the parts after washing with liquid dishwashing detergent, a wipe down with PrepAll (same stuff as PrepSol), and a scrubdown with DuPont 225S aluminum metal cleaner (same stuff as Alumiprep). Not too big a deal to do all this stuff, and a box of Scotchbrite pads came in handy. If you plan to do this process but haven’t yet, make sure you put a little extra effort into scrubbing the alclad parts. Swapping Scotchbrite pads frequently helps.<\/p>\nNext step was application of alodine. This was not fun. Ribs and other parts aren’t too tough, but spars are awkward and skins are even worse.<\/p>\n
and a horizontal stab skin – This step required a lot of cleanup. And the knowledge that chromate conversion processes like alodine use hexavalent chromium, a rather nasty carcinogen, is motivating me to consider a non-chromate conversion coating called PreKote. It’s non-toxic, non-hazardous, biodegradable, and can be applied with a hand sprayer and a fine (maroon) Scotchbrite pad. Unlike alodine, it doesn’t leave an anti-corrosive barrier and requires a chromated epoxy primer to provide corrosion protection. I’ve requested some information from the manufacturer, and we’ll see what happens.<\/p>\n And finally…priming. Because we live in metro Boston and are close to the Atlantic, I decided to use a fluid-resistant epoxy primer to provide an extra measure of corrosion protection. In particular, I’m using Super Koropon from PRC-DeSoto. It’s roughly equivalent to the Akzo Nobel epoxy primer that a lot of other builders seem to use. Here’s one horizontal stab skin – and other assorted ribs and spars – ike alodining, priming was a genuine pain and I’m glad it’s done for now.<\/p>\n My experience with applying this primer on the empennage is also causing me to consider how I’ll apply it in the future. Van’s rightly says that two-part epoxy primers are heavy. That’s true, but there is nothing better I’ve found for corrosion protection. On the wings and fuselage, I may choose only to apply it where it’s really needed – overlapping skins and skin-to-structure contact, anywhere that moisture can accumulate and promote corrosion. More to follow…<\/p>\n Now, it’s back to riveting the horizontal stab.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the last few days I washed, prep-sol’d, etched, alodined and primed all the horizontal and vertical stab parts. I must say that this whole process was a tremendous pain in the…uh, butt. Here are the parts after washing with … Continue reading <\/a>Here are the results. Ribs – <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n