User talk:Bob Steward: Difference between revisions

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Repairing Interior Plastic Trim
 
 
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== Remembering Bob Steward ==
From Bondline


[Bob Steward writes] To repair cracks and chips in the interior ABS plastic (AKA "Royalite") trim, the Maintenance Manual gives a procedure that I've had good success with. The MM recommends using MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) solvent as a plastic welding glue. MEK is available at larger hardware stores in the paint department.
Bob passed away April 23, 2014, after a brief illness. Your memories of Bob Steward are welcome here.


The process is to paint MEK on the plastic edges and allow the solvent to soften the plastic, and then press the edges together and let the solvent flash off, leaving a joint that is nearly as strong as the original material. To fill small voids a paste of ABS plastic and MEK can be prepared and painted on in coats to fill the missing area. Small brushes are recommended. A metal or glass container to hold the solvent is needed, since it will attack most plastics.
== Remembering Bob Steward ==
Bob is my older brother, and he taught me both the automotive trade, as well as a love of aviation. He shared his time, talents, interests and helped mold and shape my career path into where I am today. If not for him, I would not be the man I am today! His love of flying, working with all things mechanical, and more importantly his devotion to providing service to others in their time of need is a great example that I hope to be able to live up to one day. Bob, you will be missed! - Dave Steward


You can obtain a pre-made ABS paste from Lowes and other hardware stores in the plumbing section. At Lowes its a blue can and it says "ABS Cement" on it. If you look at the ingredients on the label it will say that it is ABS and MEK. There are also several plastic pipe cements in the same area. Beware of any that list other types of plastic such as PVC or CPVC, as these will be just solvents with no ABS filler included. I've found that the pre-made ABS cement is best applied after a coat of MEK to soften the base plastic. This gets the ABS of the base part ready to fuse with the ABS in solution.
The value that Bob Steward brought to the aviation - and specifically, Grumman - communities was vast and wide-reaching. The void left by his passing will likely never be filled.


With a little patience and some scrap ABS sheet, I've created doublers to glue on the back of cracked and chipped areas, especially helpful to back up screw holes that have cracked out or lost a pie wedge of plastic between the screw hole and the edge of the part. These doublers adhere very well if you paint the back of the part with MEK and wait for the plastic to soften, and paint the face of the doubler, and then re-wet the area on the part where you want to bond the doubler and press them together wet. Some Cleco clamps are helpful to hold the parts while they flash the solvent and solidify. Having the clamps lets you do several repairs without having to wait between each repair for the last one to become firm enough that it doesn't pop loose.
Bob was a damn fine man, one of the finest I'll ever met. - Greg Amy


After a doubler is bonded on the back and cured, you can fill the area where the chunk was missing by painting coats on the front side. Just as with paint, several light coats is much better than fewer heavy coats, and you want to let them dry between coats. After 2 coats it probably will need to sit overnight to allow the solvent to evaporate from within the layers. If you have filled the area sufficiently, then you can sand the surface to smooth it and level it with the surrounding area.
One of the finest men I've ever met. I feel the loss already. - Joe Campbell


On really big projects, especially external parts like elevator tips or tail cones, you might need to apply a larger doubler or hold a big crack in alignment. You can use the ABS just like aluminum sheet and make doublers to go behind cracks and hold the doublers with clecos in a series of rivet holes. The holes can be filled later and the part sanded smooth before painting. Carefully done, parts that would have seemed unsalvagable can be returned to service and look just like new after sanding smooth and repainting.
Bob taught me the real difference between mechanic theory and real practice.  I will miss being able to have discussions with him on some of the finer points.


Speaking of repainting, the interior plastic trim can be made to look like new with a coat of "vinyl dye". This is just a paint that is formulated to bond to the plastic. There are several brands, some available in rattle cans and some available in bulk for a spray gun. Automotive paint supply stores that serve the body shops will be able to mix the bulk type in a rainbow of colors, and many auto parts stores carry the rattle can variety in a half dozen colors.
I remember with great fondness the call I got right after an event in 2001 at Blue Ash, when Bob called and asked if I could go and retrieve Gwen's portable rocker.  Bob and I tried 5 different times to both make flyins where I could return the chair.  I started logging the flight and stops on the chair with a Sharpie.  It was not until Cody in 2002 that I could return it with many frequent flyer miles.  I have many such stories of Bob and the times he stayed after to help planes get home. My heart is just refusing to believe what my mind has accepted.  To live a life like his would never be a wasted life. Blue Skies - Roscoe
 
Bob was a valued friend, a Master Craftsman, fellow aviator and enthusiast. He was the fastest sheet metal craftsman I have ever seen and when he was in the zone, there was never a move wasted. I had talked to him earlier in the year about some problems, and he was quick with both advice and offers of help. His passing makes the world a lesser place. - Scott Jernigan
 
Bob was a wonderful human being, having the best traits of knowledge, wisdom, passion and generosity.  He would spend countless amounts of time sending detailed e-mails to help the Grumman owners and pilots out.  Thank you, Bob.   -Bill Wilson

Latest revision as of 03:17, 13 May 2014

Remembering Bob Steward

Bob passed away April 23, 2014, after a brief illness. Your memories of Bob Steward are welcome here.

Remembering Bob Steward

Bob is my older brother, and he taught me both the automotive trade, as well as a love of aviation. He shared his time, talents, interests and helped mold and shape my career path into where I am today. If not for him, I would not be the man I am today! His love of flying, working with all things mechanical, and more importantly his devotion to providing service to others in their time of need is a great example that I hope to be able to live up to one day. Bob, you will be missed! - Dave Steward

The value that Bob Steward brought to the aviation - and specifically, Grumman - communities was vast and wide-reaching. The void left by his passing will likely never be filled.

Bob was a damn fine man, one of the finest I'll ever met. - Greg Amy

One of the finest men I've ever met. I feel the loss already. - Joe Campbell

Bob taught me the real difference between mechanic theory and real practice. I will miss being able to have discussions with him on some of the finer points.

I remember with great fondness the call I got right after an event in 2001 at Blue Ash, when Bob called and asked if I could go and retrieve Gwen's portable rocker. Bob and I tried 5 different times to both make flyins where I could return the chair. I started logging the flight and stops on the chair with a Sharpie. It was not until Cody in 2002 that I could return it with many frequent flyer miles. I have many such stories of Bob and the times he stayed after to help planes get home. My heart is just refusing to believe what my mind has accepted. To live a life like his would never be a wasted life. Blue Skies - Roscoe

Bob was a valued friend, a Master Craftsman, fellow aviator and enthusiast. He was the fastest sheet metal craftsman I have ever seen and when he was in the zone, there was never a move wasted. I had talked to him earlier in the year about some problems, and he was quick with both advice and offers of help. His passing makes the world a lesser place. - Scott Jernigan

Bob was a wonderful human being, having the best traits of knowledge, wisdom, passion and generosity. He would spend countless amounts of time sending detailed e-mails to help the Grumman owners and pilots out. Thank you, Bob. -Bill Wilson

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