Plumbers antifreeze on fabric?

[gear]

Can i use plumbers antifreeze as a de-frost solution on a fabric aircraft? Will it harm the fabric?

thx.

garth

[cubdriver2]

Can i use plumbers antifreeze as a de-frost solution on a fabric aircraft? Will it harm the fabric?

thx.

garth

No idea, what finish, dope, poly, vinyl? Maybe windshield washer fluid? But let us know how it works

Glenn

[KlausNW]

I've used environment friendly auto antifreeze and RV weatherization antifreeze. Usually mix it just strong enough to meet the temperature of the day.

Before applying the antifreeze mix we use lots of warm water to get all the frost and snow off first. Take some towels and dry off the large surfaces before spraying the antifreeze on hinges and other moving parts. I've even used WD-40 to displace water in critical components like trim jack screws.

The sooner you can defrost the aircraft and get it into the air the better. If you have to load passengers and freight do it after the quick flight around the patch at minimal weight.

If any antifreeze has ever done anything negative I haven't seen it. Most of the aircraft have Stits or Randolf system. The salt water is much more corrosive than antifreeze could ever be.

[BGH]

My buddy used to fly the big stuff for a living so he had access to the real deice fluid.It was mixed 50/50 with hot water & the reason was that the hot water melted the ice & snow on the wings & the deice fluid kept it from refreezing to the flying surfaces before takeoff.We only took the heavy snow off the wings,everything else melted off after being sprayed on.In the end I bought wing & tail covers for the 185 & that solved the deicing issues at the dock in -30.

Daryl

[gear]

We didn't need it in the end but i agree with BGH - I'm going to by some propylene glycol (same stuff as commercial guys use) and mix 50/50 with hot water.