Light Aircraft Association

Any one with recent experience of using PreKote for aluminium surface pre-treatment?
Seems to do the same job as Alocrom 1200 but is much less hazardous.
However not sure how good it is in the long-term.

Thanks

Tony Nowak

I've been having a first look at BONDERITE M-NT 1455-W (Known as BONDERITE 1455 Wipes ) as a replacement from Alocron 1200. Wipes would make application very easy, but it is available in other forms as well.

Alocrom protected and looked cool as a finish in its own right. Not sure is Bonderite is the same or needs to be painted as well.

I am using Prekote on my Groppo Trail before painting with a single coat Lechler two pack poly designed to be used without primer. Painted all the internal surfaces and was applied mostly by roller, a bit by brush and some by airbrush. Have also tested a Rustoleum paint, but it reacted to petrol. Neither paint could be pulled off; even by polytunnel repair tape. I will use Prekote on the outside before spraying.

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the info and I will be interested to see how it performs.
I decided to stick with the Alochrom prep treatment as my needs were for only a (relatively) small number
of aluminium parts (cowlings and panels) on my fabric covered aeroplane.

Tony

Richard Moore wrote:I am using Prekote on my Groppo Trail before painting with a single coat Lechler two pack poly designed to be used without primer. Painted all the internal surfaces and was applied mostly by roller, a bit by brush and some by airbrush. Have also tested a Rustoleum paint, but it reacted to petrol. Neither paint could be pulled off; even by polytunnel repair tape. I will use Prekote on the outside before spraying.

Can you elaborate on the process and which 2-pack finish? The Lechler website is not that easy to follow.

I have been using Lechler LS153 (also listed as 29153) but will change to the gloss version for the outside. Applied the Prekote from hand held spray bottle and then scrubbed with purple scotchbrite. Rinse, while still wet, with tap water. Prekote instructions advise painting within 24 hours.

Thanks Richard, what protection when spraying are you using? I cannot work out from the data sheets, what solvents are in use. I'm looking for water-based where possible. I seem to need to register to get safety data

Richard, through who did you get the PreKote? In the UK I seem to keep coming up with the marine product Pre-Kote. LAS don't stock, but I suppose I could order using the AS code through them.

Ian,

There is a Prekote supplier in the UK but they will only deal with VAT registered entities.
LAS will order it for you as it is classed as non hazardous so can be shipped without issue.
There is a lot of info on Prekote on the manufacturers website.
Tony

Thanks Tony, I'll order some through LAS. BTW who is the UK supplier?

I found all the info, but was getting annoyed that I could not find a seller in this country. Seems to be the same with paint. You find a manufacture and product you would like to try, and no UK seller to be found obviously don't want us amateurs using pro products

Ian,

UK supplier is:
http://www.paintservices.com/prekote-suface-treatments/

A lot of the issues regarding non-availability of US manufactured paint is, sometimes, they contain products that aren't (or shouldn't be) allowed in Europe. The EU REACH regulation is the problem.
REACH makes it very challenging for a UK based company to directly sell.

The VAT registration requirement some specialist paint/chemical suppliers insist on is how they control the supply of items in this category to "non-professional" users.

Tony

VAT I can get around but won't unless I have to.

LAS refused to sell me Stewart Systems on the grounds that it contained hazardous solvents, yet Airworld was happy to and did a sample batch of products. Since the system is water based, I would have thought it was OK. Though I am not entirely sure it is 100% solvent free.

I think LAS has "other" issues with the Stewarts system.
Have you checked the contents of Randolph dopes and paints?
I am using Randolph products and Ceconite for my Vagabond fuselage recover.
Tony

We are using Randoph and Ceconite on our Vag in the Spring. Just the wings for us, as the Fuz was done more recently. That way we can be assured it all matches.

My reasearch is for an all metal aircraft project.