There are a bunch of decisions that have to be made when you start an airplane-building project, other than what it is you’re going to build. Things like where to build it? What timeline do you want to try to follow? how to get or buy tools? These are some of them.
Another one, which evidently plays on the minds of many builders, is whether or not to primer the metal on the inside of the airplane. It seems like it’s quite a contentious issue! Some builders insist that it’s not required. The Alclad aluminum used in the plane should keep corrosion out. Still, others insist that without internal priming, the plane won’t last 5 years. It’s difficult to figure out just which side of the fence to land on.
Beyond the initial question lies a series of equally important ones. If I do decide to prime the metal, what should I use? Which brand? Should I use a time-honored zinc chromate primer, with all it’s health issues, or instead use the virtually harmless zinc phosphate primers instead, while possibly sacrificing some of the protective properties? How much weight will this add? How much time?
Once that’s sorted, yet others remain! How am I going to apply the primer? Depending on who you ask, you’ll be told that you must use a high-quality spray gun from Devilbliss, or, you’ll do fine with a cheap $60 gun from Harbor Freight. Should I get a spray gun with a 1.3mm or 1.4mm nozzle? Do I need a new compressor? Can’t I just use a rattle can primer? Craziness!
Well, you can’t let this hold you back, so we talked about it and made a decision. I found that there are rattle cans of zinc phosphate primer, and there is some good feedback on them. So we’re going to order 3 cans and use it on the learning project to see how it turns out. This way I don’t have to invest in a spray gun at all (although I do have to buy a bigger compressor than the one I have now). The way I see it, not using the gun is fine on the internal parts. As long as we can get good coverage, I’m happy. I don’t care if it’s messy on the inside.
This’ll change if decide…to paint the plane ourselves… Just kidding!
I got three cans from Skygeek, for $8.03 each. And it’s green, of course!
