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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Jack Mulinix on February 08, 2010, 01:23:20 PM

Title: Order of finish work
Post by: Jack Mulinix on February 08, 2010, 01:23:20 PM
I have a question about finsh work. Have 2 planes almost ready for silkspan, do I want to use superfil before silkspan or after? You know, the little spots like the fuse got dinged by ?  Thanks. Jack
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Balsa Butcher on February 08, 2010, 01:45:31 PM
I'd fix as many dings as I could before the silkspan. If you can use other techniques to repair the dings (little water to make the wood swell then sand, using wood to patch rather than filler etc.) by all means make use of them.  More dings will undoubtedly be noticed  after the silkspan is applied anyway. If you are going to use superfil for fillets they will be applied after the silkspan. That's my technique anyway.  8)
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Randy Powell on February 08, 2010, 02:07:15 PM
Hi Jack,

Pete's right. Better to get a flat and smooth a surface prior to covering. I use either microballoons (West System Microlight filler) mixed with dope for minor surface dings that I can't get out with the method Pete talked about or sometimes catalyzed glazing compound (Something like Evercoat or Dolphin Glaze) for more involved stuff like a gash or something. I only use Superfil for fillets. I put those on after covering and a couple of coats of clear.
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Michael Boucher on February 08, 2010, 04:46:55 PM
Hi, Could you please explain your finishing method? How do you do fillets?  What dope do you like?  Can you make fillets on top on a silkspan covered wing or should it be on the wood directly?  Thanks,  Mike
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Jack Mulinix on February 08, 2010, 05:50:23 PM
Thanks for the info. For sure I'll do the fillets after, at least on the mustang, the magician used micro ballons and epoxy since its a profile and I would think a little stronger than superfil. Again thanks. 
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Bill Little on February 12, 2010, 09:02:22 AM
Hi jack,

No one mentioned heat and water to remove dings.  It is much more effective than water alone.  A wet rag and a heating iron will steam the wood back to almost perfect most times, especially on a dent.  Just place the wet rag directly on the spot and use a very hot iron.  Wood workers have used that for centuries.

Big Bear
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Jim Pollock on March 04, 2010, 09:19:33 PM
Yup,

I agree, Bill has the technique down perfect for raising dents!

Jim Pollock, The big dent maker!   HB~>
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Balsa Butcher on March 05, 2010, 07:44:38 AM
Thanks for the tip Bill...I hate dents on a new finish.  HB~>
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on March 05, 2010, 10:08:34 AM
I'm a believer in using leather for fillets.  They are installed without fuss, and dope sticks to them like crazy!  They are available in various sizes from Bill Sawyer (see "suppliers").

Floyd
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Neville Legg on March 05, 2010, 10:57:24 AM
I remove dents by injecting water in to the wood with a fine needle syringe then heating with iron, the water expands and pushes the dent out. works every time!


Cheers     Neville
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Randy Ryan on March 05, 2010, 11:11:11 AM
Hi, Could you please explain your finishing method? How do you do fillets?  What dope do you like?  Can you make fillets on top on a silkspan covered wing or should it be on the wood directly?  Thanks,  Mike


Mike, have you read this thread, it answers most of your finishing questions. As far as fillets, there are several, or maybe many ways. Leather fillets, microballons and epoxy, Epoxy-lite, balsa fillets, spackling paste, and any number of other things have been tried. I myself like soft balsa fillets for large ones and microballoons and epoxy for small ones. I apply my fillets to the wood though you could apply them over the covering, but NEVER apply the covering over the fillets, they will lift


http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=6622.0
Title: Re: Order of finish work
Post by: Michael Boucher on March 05, 2010, 12:10:17 PM
Yes, I have been Randy.  Thanks also for your input.   H^^