Protecting that High Shine Painted Finish

How much are you appreciating that brilliant, sparkling painted finish? Whether newly painted or freshly cleaned, little satisfies like a shiny fuselage. In fact, for many it’s so appealing that the next logical step is to put a protective coating on it. And here’s where it gets heady.

There are lots of fine coating applications available to the aviation market. Generally, ceramic-based formulas and film wrap coatings offer very good protection, while amplifying paint pigment and gloss. These types of coatings can be pricey as they must be skillfully applied and will require follow up maintenance to meet longevity claims. Wilder claims like preventing scratching and rock chips, as well as self-cleaning, definitely raise more than an eyebrow.

NUVITE has another option. NUGLAZE Paint Sealant & Polish. Not technically a coating, but a chemical sealant that checks many of the same boxes. NUGLAZE’s liquid, micro-molecular formula bonds with the paint, filling in pinholes, pores, and light scratches. The surface is effectively sealed, locking out corrosion-causing moisture, fighting oxidation, repelling bugs, stains, and soil, reflecting deep color, and extending that brilliant, high gloss, shine. Application is easy and can be done anywhere; apply NUGLAZE to a newly painted or oxidized surface prepped with NUPOWER II or NUPOL. Just Apply, Dry, & Buff to a high gloss shine. Reapplication approximately every six to eight months is recommended, depending on flight hours and surrounding environment.

Bottom line? Film wraps and ceramic coatings are generally longer lasting and claim better protection and resistance. But know, that a longer life cycle is not without periodic, well-skilled maintenance. And that chips, bangs, and scratches are inevitable no matter the protective coating. In the event that it’s necessary to remove, each coating type requires a specific process that may involve peeling or chemical stripping. Both are time consuming.

Chemical sealants offer a more temporary level of protection. Similar to other coating types, NUGLAZE Paint Sealant & Polish also creates a hydrophobic surface that prevents oxidation, keeps contaminants off the substrate, boosts paint color, and delivers a brilliant, high gloss shine. NUGLAZE Paint Sealant & Polish costs far less than film wraps and ceramic coatings. It does not require a highly skilled application crew, or an ongoing maintenance schedule.

The right coating for your aircraft will depend on the level of protection you choose, the amount of time you’re willing to allocate to its maintenance, and size of the financial investment you’re willing to make.