Even small tools play a big role in MRO - Resharpenable Scrapers

Aircraft maintenance providers and manufacturers must follow a strict maintenance process, to ensure the safety of passengers and crews. Even though amongst the smallest items used, scrapers and sharpeners are critical tools that need to be tested and approved.

Removing sealant for aircraft airworthiness checks

Every aircraft is checked for airworthiness and maintained regularly – after a certain number of flights, flight hours, or after a certain period of time – in accordance with the aircraft manufacturers manual and at the owners’ responsibility.

Line Maintenance A and B checks and other light maintenance is usually completed at the gate or in an airport hangar and only take a few hours.

C and D checks and other in-depth maintenance is completed less frequently, but mandatory to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft. These checks are performed by MRO providers, or the airlines own technical engineering teams, that will disassemble the aircraft partly or fully.

To fully inspect sealed areas like the fuselage (paint stripping operations and fillet sealant removal), access panels and other parts like fuel tanks and landing gear (preventative replacement of sealant in contact with fuel or hydraulic fluids), aircraft sealant scrapers are needed to remove the sealant and adhesive prior to inspections to gain access without damaging the part or surface.

Different types of scrapers for different applications

Sealant scrapers are available in a range of sizes and materials. Different types of scrapers can be used for maximum efficiency, depending on the application.

Using resharpenable scrapers by SkyScraper will:

• Sharpening scrapers at point of use will increase productivity
• Scrapers are reusable, which will reduce cost
• Ergonomic handles and grips maximize safety and comfort
• Scrapers are resharpenable and reusable to reduce waste
• Only the scraper will be disposed, the handle and accessories can be reused, which reduces waste weight
• Make it easier to find a dropped handle and therefore reduce the risk of FOD by using a fluorescent SkyViz UV clip

Scrapers and tools are used for the following aircraft maintenance applications:

• Removal of cured sealant and adhesive
• Polysulphide sealants (fuel tanks, fuselage, aerodynamic smoothing, access bay)
• Polythioether sealants (fuel tanks, fuselage)
• Silicone (electronic components, fuel tanks, hydraulic gear box)
• RTV silicone sealants (fuel line insulation, lenses)

• Rubber sealants (engine, bleed valves)
• Adhesive and sealant removal from large surface areas
• Fuel systems including fuel tanks, fuel access panels, fuel probes and fuselage fuel panels
• Fuselage including panel joints, fuselage joints, access panels, fairing parts and wing box
• Engine pylons and nacelles
• Landing gear
• Windshield and canopy
• Removal of double-sided tape from interior cabin carpets using the SkyBlade
• Cleaning of seat tracks using the SkyScraper Seat Track is available in two different materials in Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier profiles.

Boeing approved vs. Airbus approved

Although quite similar in shape, Airbus and Boeing require a different set of scrapers. To make it easy to visually distinguish between the two variants, the Airbus approved scrapers are clear amber in colour and the Boeing approved scrapers are opaque white.

Choosing the right scraper material

In the past, companies used home-made metal tools which would scratch and damage parts and substrates. Today, most companies have switched to using plastic scrapers that are made of a softer material that will not damage or scratch surfaces such as aluminium and composites. Plastic is also easier to use, more flexible, can bend to reach difficult places, and can be resharpened using sharpening devices or sharpeners.

The Socomore SkyScraper sealant removal range is made of POM or ULTEM and was designed to suit all types of sealant removal operations found in aircraft maintenance.

Fiberglass scrapers are also available, but can’t be resharpened, as fiberglass particles are hazardous and can be inhaled.

POM Scrapers

POM stands for PolyOxyMethylene, also called Polyacetal. It is a high-performance polymer that offers low friction and wear characteristics. Read more about POM properties on Omnexus. Scrapers made of POM are smooth and can access difficult to reach areas. POM scrapers will flex in line with the shape of the substrate.

POM plastic scrapers like the fluted SkyScraper scrapers are BAC 5000 approved and can be used on critical Boeing aircraft parts.

ULTEM Scrapers

PolyEtherImide (PEI) is a high-performance polymer branded under the name ULTEM (SABIC). ULTEM scrapers are more rigid than POM scrapers as they are 100% polymer. They are more efficient at sealant removal as greater strength can be applied, making it easier to remove the sealant.

ULTEM fluted SkyScraper scrapers can be used in sealant removal applications where BAC 5000 approved tools are not required.

How many times can a fluted scraper be sharpened?

The more the scraper is sharpened, the shorter and more rigid it becomes. A resharpenable scraper can be sharpened up to 20 times, depending on the application it is used for. Sometimes less, in case the scraper needs to be more flexible or needs to have a specific minimum length.

Socomore offers a range of resharpenable fluted scrapers, the SkyScraper range, as well as suitable sharpening devices like the SkyMill­™ Revolution and SkyEdgit.

A SkyScraper will generally last an operator a full shift, as it will resharpen a minimum of 10 times. This results in time savings and cost reductions for the company when compared to using single use disposable scrapers.

Benefits of using SkyScraper resharpenable scrapers and sharpening devices:

• Retaining a sharp cutting edge for maximum efficiency
• Effective adhesive and sealant removal
• Ability to resharpen and reuse scrapers (>10 times)
• Reduction in scraper consumption and waste (by 10)
• Minimizing FOD risk using the SkyViz fluorescent UV clip

How do Scraper Sharpening Devices work?

The handheld SkyEdgit scraper sharpener is like sharpening steel. The scraper is inserted and manually tilted to sharpen the edge. Each operator has a personal SkyEdgit and can resharpen the scraper at point of use, whenever needed.

The Socomore SkyMill­™ Revolution works like a grinding stone, thanks to its electronic mechanism. It is portable and located on a workstation where operators are working, or at tool cribs. One SkyMill­™ Revolution can be used by 5 to 8 operators. 

The battery will last for a minimum of 12 hours when fully charged. Used daily, it has a life span of approximately 2 years. Usually, a fluted SkyScraper can be sharpened 4 to 5 times with the SkyEdgit before it needs to be sharpened with the SkyMill­™ Revolution. Then it is ready for another “cycle”.

The dust and scraper stubs are non-toxic and have no special disposal requirements. A dust receptacle collects dust generated from sharpening. This can be quickly emptied with the use of a vacuum system.

Henchman Scrapers Kits for Boeing or Airbus Aircraft

Henchman offers a range of Sealant Tools and Scrapers, as well as kits with scrapers, handles and sharpeners laid out in two-coloured foam for visual tool control - making it easy to instantly spot a missing tool and reduce the risk of FOD (foreign object damage).

Our range includes:

• Airbus approved scrapers
• Boeing approved scrapers
• Boeing, Airbus or mixed Scraper Kits
• Scraper handles and holders
• Sharpeners and Sharpening Tools
• And many other Sealant Tools