Backcountry Pilot • Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

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Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

For those of you gutting your interiors; I just found this product works well on removing the interior insulation adhesive. Found it on Amazon and used to clean a couple parts. 5 minutes, done.

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Hoeschen offline
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

The only adhesive I've removed from my airplane has been where the window seal for the opening pilot's window was (it had been removed and never replaced before I bought the airplane), and around the baggage door where the OEM seal was falling apart, both to replace the original seals. I used Stoddard solvent (aka mineral spirits or naphtha) to get the bulk of it off, then finished up with Goof-Off. The combination took it all off and dried quickly, so that I could proceed with installing the new seals.

Both of those, I purchased from Aircraft Door Seals, LLC. I am impressed with the products, so that when it comes time to replace the door seals (presently in good shape--they were replaced a few months before I bought my airplane), I'll use their products again. They seal extremely well, although for awhile the baggage door was hard to close. Installation is tedious but nothing unexpected.

Back to Stoddard solvent and Goof-Off. I've been using both for several years. Neither seems to damage painted surfaces or side Plexiglas. Stoddard solvent cuts grease (like belly grease) and 100LL staining well; Goof-Off works as well as anything cleaning adhesive of various kinds, especially adhesive residue form duct tape, even after it's been on a surface for long enough to get hard.

Both are a bit toxic, and both are flammable, so some care is necessary, like plenty of ventilation and rubber gloves.

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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

Do those cans tell you what the critical materials are composed of or just say,
"warning bla bla bla?"
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

wannabe wrote:Do those cans tell you what the critical materials are composed of or just say,
"warning bla bla bla?"


Perhaps, but I know for certain that as fast as you can type it in google you can have a 4 page MSDS sheet on it.


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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

Hoeschen wrote:
wannabe wrote:Do those cans tell you what the critical materials are composed of or just say,
"warning bla bla bla?"


Perhaps, but I know for certain that as fast as you can type it in google you can have a 4 page MSDS sheet on it.


Yup. It's a potent little cocktail...

http://www.paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.js ... SDS&lang=E
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

Thanks Hoeschen for posting that, the 50-60 year old contact cement used in Cessna insulation/interiors is known to be a real bitch to clean out !

The obvious big question is whether it leaves anything behind that needs to be cleaned off separately... corrosive or acidic remnants that can get into a seam or a rivet overlap, and cause damage.
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

EZFlap wrote:Thanks Hoeschen for posting that, the 50-60 year old contact cement used in Cessna insulation/interiors is known to be a real bitch to clean out !

The obvious big question is whether it leaves anything behind that needs to be cleaned off separately... corrosive or acidic remnants that can get into a seam or a rivet overlap, and cause damage.


You know that is a real good point that is easy to overlook. You'd never want some chemical to continue to do work on your airframe parts over time.

In this case I wiped my parts down with acetone afterward and then rinsed with soap and water after that.

From my RV build I recall similar discussions. In that arena is was more about cleaning a new airplane rather than restoring an old airplane. I recall "simple green" as one product rumored to be corrosive on aluminum. Their quickbuild parts are shipped overseas from the Philippines and they coat them in WD-40 (or similar) prior to the journey, so folks are often interested in how to remove it. (Soap and water and car wash solution, in my case... Rinsed heavily.)

Thanks for bringing that up, EZ.


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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

H+Rw2=thanks for picken up the clu.

Propane and isobutane propellant. MSDS says it evaporates faster than ether.

Learned an interesting new word in the first MSDS: Liminal - to initiate transitional phase - as to make your skin ready for penetration. This may actually refer to the next chemical.

Methylene Chloride: MSDS uses stronger language as to hazard, also uses "permeator" To pass into and or through.

Didn't used to think much about this stuff until I was assigned the task of building a "Tank Farm" for AMAT. Some of the sillycone valley stuff will eat it's way through you with nothing to be done about it.
Something similar to white phosphorous injuries. Speaking of which today is another memorable anniversary -- D-day plus 70.

Take care
Be Safe

PS: The bunch of you sure keep me up nights learning stuff.

EDIT: Got so carried away I forgot to mention: SIMPLE GREEN makes an AVIATION SAFE version. May not be at your local hardware store.
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

The Methlyene Chloride is the nasty bit. Not surprised that it cuts through gummy old cessna adhesive. It melts ABS and polycarbonate. Probably does a number on acrylic airplane windows too.


Be careful, get a REAL respirator, aggressively ventilate, and use thick NITRILE gloves. Goes right through the thin latex gloves. READ THE MSDS. Avoid breathing it, avoid getting it on your skin. Careful with that spray can.

Just my 2c. Stay Healthy.

Pete
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Re: Removing Cessna Glue Adhesive on Interior

+1 on the Methylene Chloride, what little I know about it is nasty. Not worth spending the last few years of your life all f***ed up with no kidneys or whatever.
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