Does anyone have an easy method of removing Balsarite from balsa.I am redoing a Thunderbird that I first covered with Sig Coverite(too heavy).I used Balsarite to attach the coverite to the plane.I have now removed all the original covering and I`m going with Monokote.When the Monokote is ironed on wood surfaces it just wrinkles up instead of shrinking on flat.It`s just a headach!I`ve covered many planes with Monokote and Ultracote and have never had this problem-I just have to get rid of the Balsarite.Maybe someone has had a simular problem and used some kind of thiner or reducer-anybody?
Help!

Might also try acetone but you should be able to put Monokote over balsarite. You need to have the iron just hot enough to melt the adhesive.. If it's too hot it will bubble.

I've been using ULTRACOTE lately, much easier to get on and smooths out small wrinkles better.  I used both Balsarite and nitrate dope as a base.

Try using the iron only around the very outside edges with only enough heat to stick the covering down. From that point use a heat gun to shrink the plastic. I try to heat the entire panel gently & evenly until it's tight, then press it down with a folded cloth.

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Might also try acetone but you should be able to put Monokote over Balsarite. You need to have the iron just hot enough to melt the adhesive.. If it's too hot it will bubble.

Bob,
I am guessing this is the fabric type of balsarite, a relatively heavy gooey like substance---a glue actually for fabric that comes without an adhesive (since it was mentioned that it was originally covered in Sig fabric).

If it were the film version, then it would be fine with monocote, since that is basically thin liquid, kind of like a thinned dope, and basically just seems to harden the balsa surface.

Even though the can is labeled film and fabric, I always wondered why they didn't give them distinctive names. Not sure which one came first.

I always buy the thick 'fabric formula' Balsarite. It's great for fuelproofing engine & tank compartments right out of the can. For other uses I thin it to whatever consistency I need with acetone. I can't tell the difference between thin 'film formula' & the acetone thinned stuff & you get a lot more stuck for your buck. Covering-wise.

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