01-1A-509. To touch up avionic equipment, you
should refer to Avionic Cleaning and Corrosion
Prevention/Control, NA 16-1-540. The touchup of
ground support equipment is covered in Ground
Support Equipment Cleaning and Corrosion Control,
NA 17-1-125.
Aircraft radomes, walkways, and leading edges
require special coatings to satisfy service exposure
requirements. Radomes and parts with similar
elastomeric coatings should be repaired according to
Aircraft Radomes and Antenna Covers, N A
01-1A-22. If the damage is beyond the limits
specified, you should replace the component and send
the damaged part to the next higher maintenance level
for repair.
Containers used to hold paints, lacquers,
removers, thinners, cleaners, or any volatile solvents
should be kept tightly closed when not in use. They
should be stored in a separate building or
fire-resistant room that is well ventilated. The paint
material should not be exposed to excessive heat,
smoke, sparks, flame, or direct rays of the sun.
Wiping rags and other flammable waste material
should always be placed in tightly closed metal
containers. Waste containers should be emptied at the
end of each day’s work.
SURFACE PREPARATION
The effectiveness and adherence of a paint finish
depend upon careful surface preparation. Before you
begin to paint, you should remove all soils, lubricants,
and preservatives from the surface. You should treat
corroded areas and replace defective seam sealants.
Corrosion control is covered in the Aviation
Maintenance Ratings Fundamentals, NAVEDTRA
12010.
Paint Removal
Paint removal should be accomplished by the
mildest mechanical or chemical means. Paint
removal operations at the organizational and
intermediate maintenance levels are usually confined
to small areas. Whenever you use paint remover, the
procedures outlined in the applicable MIM should be
observed. General stripping procedures are contained
in Aircraft Weapons Systems Cleaning and Corrosion
Control, NA 01-1A-509.
Materials
All paint removers are toxic and caustic;
therefore, both personnel and material safety
precautions must be observed in their use. You should
wear eye protection, gloves, and a rubber apron.
MIL-R-81294 paint remover is an epoxy. This
remover will strip acrylic and epoxy finishes
satisfactorily. Acrylic windows, plastic surfaces, and
rubber products are adversely affected by this
material. This material should not be stocked in large
quantities because it ages rapidly and degrades the
results of stripping action.
Additional paint removers are discussed in NA
07-1-503. Each remover has a specific intended use.
For example, MIL-R-81294 is used for removing
epoxy finishes, but it may be damaging to synthetic
rubber, while another nonflammable water soluble
paint remover conforming to MIL-R-18553 is usable
in contact with synthetic rubber. In all cases, you
should use the remover that meets the requirements of
the job.
General Procedures and Precautions for
Stripping
General stripping procedures are described in this
section. When you are stripping an aircraft surface,
you should consult the applicable MIM for the
specific procedures to be used.
CAUTION
Prior to cleaning and stripping, you should
ensure the aircraft is properly grounded to
dissipate any static electricity produced by
the cleaning and stripping operations.
Stripping should be accomplished outside
whenever possible.
If stripping must be done in a
hangar or other enclosure, you must have adequate
ventilation.
Paint remover may contact adhesives at seals,
joints, skin laps, and bonded joints. In these areas you
should mask with approved tapes and papers.
Stripper should be applied liberally with a fiber
brush. You should completely cover the surface to a
depth of one thirty-second to one-sixteenth of an inch.
The stripper should not be spread in a thin coat. A
thin coat will not sufficiently loosen the paint. If the
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