Chapter 2. CLEANING, PAINTING, AND FINISHING

TM 750-245-4

CHAPTER 2

CLEANING, PAINTING, AND FINISHING

Section I. INTRODUCTION

The safety aspects of cleaning, painting, and finishing

2-1. General

are well-defined in existing maintenance instructions

This chapter covers the inspection requirements for

and regulations and are not discussed here. The

cleaning, painting, and finishing.

These three

inspector is cautioned, however, to be aware of these

requirements are grouped into this chapter because of

requirements to insure that noncompliance does not

their applicability to all components.

cause poor quality performance.

2-2. Safety

Section II. CLEANING

specifications and maintenance standards.

This

2-3. General

inspection should also include inspection of cleaning

a. The QC inspector must insure that all items on

materials to insure that the proper materials are being

which maintenance has been performed are clean. This

used.

will require in-process inspections as well as final

inspection.

2-6. Cleaning Inspection

b. The objective of cleaning is the removal of

These inspections insure that the equipment is clean

contaminants which would impair equipment operation.

and ready to be returned to service. The QC inspector

An item is satisfactorily clean that has been cleaned by

should reject any equipment which shows the following

one of the specified processes and no smudge appears

defects:

when inspected by wiping with a clean, lint-free tissue

a. Loose, spattered, or excess solder; metal chips,

paper. Stains caused by fungus or corrosion are

dust, filings, dirt, sand, carbon; wire ends and insulation;

acceptable as long as the parts are functionally

phenolic or ceramic chips; foreign material, of any kind,

satisfactory.

including any particles that could loosen or become

dislodged during the normal life of the equipment.

2-4. Facility

b. Fungus, mold, or any other organic growth on

Random inspections of equipment should be performed

any item.

by the quality control inspector. These inspections will

determine that the equipment and cleaning facilities are

c. Oil, grease, cooling compound, wax, or other

adequate. Any equipment which is not in full accord

residue on items not requiring lubricants or protective

with applicable cleaning standards should be regarded

coatings.

as defective. Corrective measures must be taken

d. Rust, scale, powder, or other corrosion products.

immediately to insure proper cleaning of applicable

e. Paint on rubber gaskets, seals, plastic or

components.

ceramic items, glass and mechanical surfaces.

f. Alkaline or acid residues. (Checked with litmus

2-5. Processes

paper.)

Each cleaning process in use should be inspected

periodically to insure conformance to applicable

Section III. PAINTING AND FINISHING

2-7. General

b. Thorough cleaning by an approved technique is

the first essential procedure in any effective painting or

a. Painting and finishing are covered in the same

finishing method. No painting or finishing method will

section because of their interrelationship. The purpose

protect a part if contaminants or contaminating

of painting and finishing of material is to improve its

general appearance, prolong its life, and keep corrosion

factors to an absolute minimum.

2-1