I only sprayed what I thought was an film but it was too much. It comes out of the can hard and fast. If I could go back, I'd just paint everything and save the X for certain special areas AFTER painting. Interesting that I used chromate on edges and dipped the rivets and the X still gets through.
Do not use it period before you paint! You WILL regret it.
Yep, I sprayed my 172 with it several years ago and that stuff seaped out for a LONG time...as in a couple of years.
Yes after 4 years it still weeps up a few rivet mandrels enough to collect dust occasionally even on my painted airframe with dipped rivets. It took more than a year before I first noticed any rivets weeping. Great stuff but it was never intended for use prior to painting.
I used less than a quart of corrosion-x on the entire Rebel airframe including below the floor via 3/16" holes.
In addition to its usual use for aluminum protection it is excellent on electrical equipment and connections. While this is an "off label" use it does not attack anything as far as I know. There is one warning - don't use it on anything where its lubricating qualities would be detrimental (such as auto pilot capstans). It is slick as raw oyster snot!
A factory rep giving a presentation here awhile back said it would take a year before treated bare metal would be paintable. I'm afraid he meant a year from when it's "dry". Great stuff, and it migrates long distances across metal all by itself. Doesn't require a shower.