Wax On, Wax Off
For many of us, sailplanes represent a pretty significant financial commitment. Whether it’s a Libelle or a brand new Ventus, it makes good sense to protect the condition of your machine. With the cost of a refinish exceeding $20,000 easily, routine buffing and waxing is a great way to take some pride in ownership and maintain your finish. Buffing and waxing annually are recommended for Polyurethane (PU), and mandatory for gelcoat finishes. Besides a great soaring day, there’s never a bad time to polish and wax. If your glider doesn’t look like it needs it yet, congratulations, it’s the best time to do it!
It’s All In the Buff
Buffing removes oxidized material from the surface and essentially burnishes fine scratches closed. Those scratches are would-be crazing waiting to happen, so polishing is an important step in staving off irreversible damage to your paint-job. There are two main styles of buffers, first, there is an edge style buffer (for gelcoat only!) and then there is a rotary or “pad” style buffer. I recommend a pad style buffer regardless of the paint system used on your glider. The process is safer, faster, and easy to get professional results. Strata Ultra Cutting Cream is a good buffing compound and is safe for both gelcoat and PU. It’s water-soluble, so cleanup is easy. I’d also recommend a wool buffing pad, especially for gelcoat. The wool helps build a little heat on the surface, which is good. Cotton or foam pads are not as effective to this end. If you buffed a section and the surface still feels cool, chances are you didn’t do enough. Finally, any wax is better than none, but my favorite is Scotchgard liquid marine wax from 3m.
Editors note: Not all UV inhibitors have the same quality and longevity. WX Block & Seal is designed for sailplane finishes and is known for its premium UV inhibitors.
Polish it Off
If you’re a beginner to polishing, use caution. Slower buffer speeds and respect for edges are key. If you snatch an edge, you could break a flight control, trailing edge, or even your thumb. To avoid a dangerous snatch, tilt the buffer 10 degrees so that the side rolling off the edge is the only side in contact with the surface (that’s the right-hand side for a clockwise rotating buffer, as viewed from above.) Always be aware of electrical cords and baggy clothing. Tempting as those warm sweaters may be when buffing in a cool winter hangar, they are a delicacy to a running buffer. I have been whipped by a headphone cable more than once. That stings more than choosing the wrong start cylinder at a nationals....ahem. Hearing and vision protection is also recommended!
Tips From The Pro
A few pro tips: Spread the compound over a section with the pad while the buffer is not running for less mess. Buff the compound until dry. After buffing, put masking tape over any places you intend to put wing tape before you apply liquid wax. Your wingtape will stick better, and not buzz during flight. Second, a very thin film of liquid wax is all you need. Most people goop on too much wax. I’ll wax the whole topside of a wing with only a pencil-thin ribbon of wax along the spar. Using less wax makes it dry much faster, and it’s easier to wax on, wax off.
Don’t be intimidated by the process, buffing is easy to do safely with a little caution. Make buffing and waxing a part of your yearly routine, and you’ll reap the benefits down the line. Besides extending the life of your finish, it can be a great way to scratch the itch in the middle of winter. Nothing gets me more excited for strong spring thermals like shining up my ASW 20!
Andy Brayer has been flying gliders for 17 years and is currently establishing a career as a professional pilot. He has worked with M&H Soaring in their shop for more years than he can remember. He flies a beautifully restored ASW-20 from Harris Hill, which he co-owns with Bryan Riegal. In 2017 he was the Sports Class National Champion. He also had the honor of painting Dick Butler’s famous Concordia. Andy’s future aspirations include flying jets, competing nationally alongside his friends, and representing the U.S. at future world championships.
