Hello Everybody,I just wanted to add this small post to warn people who buy real aircreaft parts.I myself work as a line maintenance mechanic and see people in here get real aircraft parts that they probably sand and repaint the warning is in the sanding part.The primer used in aircraft is extremly hazardes and we had this warning at work and even got special equipment for this job.So for what it is worth just thought to let u all know.regards,Nihad

Thanks Nihad for the warning. I was stupid for not covering my face when sanding. Does it take a lot of exposure to harm you? THanks.

Hi Nihad,I know many have not seen me post here since I am not much of a "poster", but more of a frequent "stalker" of this forum. However, this topic has piqued my interest as the thought of potential hazards involved in handling real parts has crossed my mind *many* times. My simpit is at home and your post has raised some concern. I've got children at home and real aircraft parts, in different stages of disassembly, stored in my apartment. Thank you very much for sharing the warning. Seriously, it is greatly appreciated. Perhaps the rest of this post should not be directed at you (Nihad) personally, but rather to all members who deal with aircraft parts and are knowledgeable in the field:While we're on the topic (and since you are involved in maintenance) and if you have the ability to, can you elaborate on some of the hazard(s) involved? Or perhaps other potential ones involved in handling real aircraft parts?For instance, are you refering to sanding items such as control wheels/columns? korry's and eaton legend caps? Lightplates? Interior/exterior metal panels? Handling of wiring insulation? Is the general handling of aircraft parts hazardous (i.e, touching, disassembly)? Or is it only hazardous when truly disturbing the parts, like cutting/sanding/painting/drilling/etc. ?I know my questions may be too involved to answer in a simple manner (there are more than hundreds of thousands of parts), but any more information regarding the handing of parts (that are not obvious to non-aviation industry employees) would be helpful.Perhaps, your warning and others should be posted as a required "README" for simpit builders.Again, thanks for the post Nihad!!Best regards,Pesach

I believe the key issue here is the chromate primer used on a great many aluminum aircraft parts. This is the yellow or green colored paint used under the finish layer. There is enough concern about the health effects that chromate primers are now (supposedly) sold only to bonafide A/C repair and manufacturing concerns. It used to be that you could just wander down to your local A/C parts supplier and buy a can. Not any more!So, if you're sanding/prepping chromate primed parts for re-painting, take care about the dust. I suppose that strictly speaking, it's not just wearing a mask when doing so, but also properly dispossing of the dust when finished.I am not aware of other special health concerns with A/C parts. (Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't any!)Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.comwww.mikesflightdeckbooks.com

very good topic, thanks for that.i removed the color of my parts not by sanding them, but with a color remove gel instead of.i applied the gel on the paint, and after about half an our or more, the paint can be removed with some paper and nitro!i did this outside, and not in my rooms.the green primer is not affected from this gel.thats the way i removed the gray color.Best from ViennaHans G. SchuetzProject777---------------------------------------http://www.project777.com[email protected](LOWW - Vienna)

Hi everybody ,I just wanted to add that it was not my intention to freak people out but one should deff. not underestimate this.I was reading all the replies at work and thought I should get too the bottom of this and add what I found out exactly.The people I spoke to were a sheet metal worker and my boss and a painter,all 3 agreed that one should not under estimate this and they told me because I have started this I should add more information.What I found out was like Mike wrote earlier the chromates in the primer are the problem ,when sanding or drilling in parts that have this primer on the dust that comes of can cause cancer.Like the experts at work said no primer is good for your health but because the parts most of us have or buy come from very old planes it is the primer used in the old day's that is very hazardes when handled again sanding drilling.I also looked up the diff kinds of primer used and by there partnumbers I found out they all have the same descriptions like do not inhale,can cause cancer dont smoke etc etc but it also had a single line that said look up special instructions while handling it,what they meant by it was: use a special self sealing vaccuum cleaner when sanding or drilling to keep the dust contained inside and use rubber gloves and finally a mask that will hide the entire face that also holds a filter so a dust mask according to our regulations is not enough.Again I am not trying to freak people out I am just trying to let people know that it MIGHT be dangerous so to handle it with care.regards,Nihad