REMOVING
PROTECTIVE LATEX & CLEANING:
Usually
during installation of an aircraft windshield or window
the protective paper or latex coating is removed from
the portion of the glass that is to go under a fairing
or molding. Leaving the rest of the protective paper
or coating on the windshield is an added protection
from scratches or abrasions that can be had during
the course of installation. If painting is to be done
after installation then only the edge of the protective
cover need be sealed with masking tape. After the
windshield or window is installed and you are ready
to remove the protective cover, time can be saved
by pulling up sections of the cover and rolling it
in a roll about an inch in diameter with the glue
side out. Take this roll and roll it with a rolling
pin action over the glass. This will pick up any glue
residue that has been left. The removing of paper
probably will leave the plastic with a static electrical
charge which should be removed as it will attract
all dust and dirt particles from the surrounding air,
a wiping with a clean rag dampened with water will
remove the electrical charge. Our cleaner, "Cee's
Plastic Windshield Cleaner", is excellent for removing
any adhesive residue. When sealing compounds such
as 3M Weather-strip Adhesive have been used and have
gotten on the plastic surface, a rag dampened with
gasoline (DO NOT SMOKE DURING THIS PROCEDURE) may
be used for such removal, however if gasoline is used
to any extent over the plastic surface then the windshield
or window should be immediately washed with warm water
and a mild soap, "Tide", give a clean water rinse
and chamois.
How
to get the best service from your plexiglass
windshield and windows:
CLEANING:
Flush
off dust or dirt particles with water, work stubborn
deposits off with fingers before wiping with chamois
or clean cloth of soft texture. Don't let the helpful
servicing mechanic dust or wipe your windshield previous
to flushing dust or dirt particles, a wiping or cleaning
without flushing may well turn into a scouring job
in as much as a rag will pick up these particles and
grind them into the plastic, these scratches may be
very minute but in time they add up. Don't wipe the
Plexiglass with a dry cloth as it loads the plastic
with static electricity which attracts dust and dirt
particles. For little dust on the windshield, leave
it alone, clean your windshield only when you have
time to do the job right. Very, dirty windshields
may be washed with warm water and Tide soap, follow
with a clean water rinse, chamois and apply Cee Bailey's
Plastic Windshield Cleaner. Cee Bailey's Plastic Windshield
Cleaner cleans, restores and preserves in one easy
application. Ordinary outing flannel, makes the best
polishing or cleaning cloth.
PROTECTIVE
COVERS:
If
aircraft is usually tied down and subject to the weather
elements then make a cover for the windshield from
layers of outing flannel or a flannel blanket. This
covering will protect the windshield from the abrasion
of dust or sand particles as kicked up by other aircraft
prop wash or wind. Don't use a water proof protective
cover, moisture from the air condenses and is trapped
between the waterproof cover and the Plexiglass. This
traps moisture and the heat from the sun can be a
dangerous combination for the Plexiglass. When Plexiglass
has been subjected to the above treatment and over
a period of time it may turn slightly milky and is
most usually followed by severe crazing.
PROTECTION
FROM CHEMICALS OR SOLVENTS:
Don't
subject the Plexiglass to the fumes or vapor from
acetone, ethyl acetate, toluene or lacquer thinner.
Lacquer thinner as used for thinning dope or lacquer
is very often the cause of minor to severe crazing
in Plexiglass. For example an opened can of dope or
lacquer just sitting in the closed cabin of an airplane
for a period of hours is enough to cause severe crazing
in all the Plexiglas. The resulting damage to Plexiglass
from exposure to lacquer or its fumes does not make
itself immediately apparent but will show up as crazing
in a few days to a couple of months depending upon
the concentration of the exposure. In painting with
dope or lacquer it is imperative that the Plexiglass
be covered and sealed from the fumes as well as the
paint.
CABIN
VENTILATION:
Keep
your cabin ventilated when your airplane is parked
in the hot sun. Cabin temperature when not ventilated
can easily reach 160 to 200 degrees. The Plexiglass
can take these temperatures innumerable time without
apparent ill effect but these exposures do add up
to a shortened service life for the windshields or
windows. The use of Cee Shades Sun Shields will significantly
reduce the internal temperature of the cabin, generally
to a few degrees higher then the outside air temperature.
The above information has been gathered in our most
earnest endeavor to be of help to the private aircraft
owner The foregoing represents opinions of ours, Cee
Bailey's Aircraft Plastics Company and may or may
not be substantiated by the manufacturers of Plexiglass.
