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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Shawn Kuntz on August 19, 2007, 05:12:55 PM
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I have colored silk from Sig for my Ringmaster wing. Usually I brush dope on silk and paint over the silk. This time I am going to leave the silk as is with just a clear dope finish. I also have an air compressor and a hobby type spray gun with a 4 oz. cup. What would give me the best looking finish? Should I brush the dope or spray it?
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One would think the spraying would yield a better finish, but with silk, dope and a Ringmaster properly thinned, brushing might have the look you want. Whatever you decide you'll need to come up with pictures. y1 y1 y1
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The problem with brushing dope on silk is run through, where blobs of dope accumulate on the inside and dry to give a mottled appearance. I deal with this by brushing the first coat about 70% thinner, 30% dope. The run through is inconsequential. You want dope to go through as it will make the silk more transparent. Couple of coats like that then thicken up the dope a little. Keep brushing and thickening until all the pinholes are filled, then put on enough coats to get the degree of shine you want.
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What Jim said.
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George Aldrich clued me in to a great technique for doping silk. He recommended use of a disposable foam brush. You just dip about 1/4" of the end into the dope and then gently draw the brush across the silk. You get really long strokes, and rarely have brush through. If you do get a puddle inside, just turn the model upside down and brush from underneath to draw the dope back out again. I used that technique the last two silk jobs, and his advice proved golden.
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I was just going to suggest that, Larry--we used to hold the model overhead and brush from underneath. Except using a standard brush. (Didn't have foam brushes back when I was still using silk and dope). Absolutely no accumulating on the inside. Also a pretty good isometric exercise for the arms...
--Ray
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I was just going to suggest that, Larry--we used to hold the model overhead and brush from underneath. Except using a standard brush. (Didn't have foam brushes back when I was still using silk and dope). Absolutely no accumulating on the inside. Also a pretty good isometric exercise for the arms...
--Ray
Hi Ray,
I have mentioned that technique several times before. It really does work! y1 ;D
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I was just going to suggest that, Larry--we used to hold the model overhead and brush from underneath. Except using a standard brush. (Didn't have foam brushes back when I was still using silk and dope). Absolutely no accumulating on the inside. Also a pretty good isometric exercise for the arms...
--Ray
Ray,
Do the foam brushes hold up and not melt when using dope? If they work I will try them. In the past I used pieces of cotton flannel (Cloth baby diapers) cut into strips and folded over my regular brush. Dont over thin the dope and hold panel upside down. Just drag across the silk and it fills pretty quick.
I havn't done this myself but have heard of using cornstarch in the dope to thicken is for the first coat.
AP^
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Foam brushes work fine with dope, don't react with it...I don't know about cleaning with thinner, etc. though. I just throw 'em away after one use, when I use them at all.
--Ray