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UV damage to perspex/acrylic canopies

Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:02 am

Hi all,

I've a question for restorers and maintainers!

Occasionally you see an aircraft that has been left outdoors for a long period, the perspex canopies start to go cloudy. Now assuming long term indoor storage isn't an option, is there any way of polishing the canopy back to a clear finish? I've heard of various ways of removing scrathes and the like, but nothing on clouding.

Has anybody had any experience with trying to remove this clouding?

Regards,

Rich

Re: UV damage to perspex/acrylic canopies

Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:40 am

Polishing can only fix problems on the surface. If it is cloudy all the way through you are out of options AFAIK. I'm not aware that there is any way to reverse UV damage.

Re: UV damage to perspex/acrylic canopies

Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:55 am

Hi Richard
A good buddy of mine worked at the Lawrence Livermore lab for 30+ years. He specialized in Optical clarification and manufacturing of items, mirrors, glass, etc etc. This guy knows everything there is to know about optics. He has made items that are still sitting on the moon and have been floating in space for decades.
He cleaned up one of my canopies 10 years ago. I watched him for weeks work on it. If the crazing and fogging doesnt go deaper than about .003-.005" then you can get it out easily by simply taking off the top surface. Any deeper you will need to wet sand with many different grits of sand paper all the way to 5000 grit, then do the steps below.
You will need all three Novus products, #3,#2,#1.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/search/search.php?query=novus&search=1
Also He used these pads.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/polishingpads.php
Get 2 pads, one for#3, one for#2. DO NOT MIX THE PADS with #3 and #2. Mark them !

Start with Novus#3 at LOW SPEED ! Do not stay in one place. Use a low speed drill or electric Makita. Just a couple hundred RPM is all. To fast will create heat which will distort the optical clarity. Keep moving around, DO NOT sit in one place as it will create a low point which will distort your vision when looking thru that spot.
Next use #2 the same way.
#1 is done by hand and a cotton cloth. I use#1 to clean my canopies on all my planes before I fly. Best product I've ever used. Buy the big refil kit of #1.
The worst part about this process is it takes a lot of time and elbow grease. You must have a lot of patience! He spent about 250 hours on my canopy and removed slight surface crazing. IT SPARKLES still 10 years later and 300 hours of flight time! The crazing and fogging has never returned.
FYI, use the #3 and #2 to take off dried tape on plexi or real glass that wont peal up. That 60+ year old tape from NOS parts is tough but this process removes it perfectly.
Chuck

Re: UV damage to perspex/acrylic canopies

Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:08 am

Many thanks Chuck! That's just the kind of info I've been looking for.

Regards,

Rich

Re: UV damage to perspex/acrylic canopies

Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:24 pm

If you want cheap, fast & easy, you might want to look at the reviews for Blue Magic headlight restorer., from the auto guys
There are LOTS of such kits and processes from Mothers, Turtle Wax. And 3M has a kit they call "professional grade" Just check the reviews.
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