I understand their has been silkspan problems with some people recently. Anyone recommend who supplies the good stuff?  K&S, Brodak or Sig? Is their more
than one manufacturer of silkspan or is it all the same?

I understand Nitrate is popular for laying down the paper, how about shrinking over the wing bays. Nitrate or Butyrate?

Mike,

I've had the best luck with Sig lately.

I have no clue (honestly) as to which silkspan is the best these days.  I am still using K&S since my guy does get that in his shop.

I use nitrate up to attaching the covering.  Sig Supercoat Clear (high shrink) on the open bays only, and Sig Lite Coat Clear (low shrink) from there on out.

Hi Randy,

I forgot to mention that I used Randolph's "Tinted Non-Tautening" for all my nitrate.  Thanks for reminding me!

Hi Patrick,

Being older than dirt, I have used nitrate for a long time.  But sometimes, I have used butyrate clear.

As to dopes.  Randolphs makes Brodaks, and I am guessing Sig, too. 

I think there are only three companies actually still producing dope. (??) (??)

I saw a thread somewhere where Mike Gretz said Randolph does not make Sig's dope.

Thanks, Lee. 

I wonder who does?  (I'm pretty certain that Sig, themselves, do not have a paint factory)   Not being a smartalec, just curious!   AFAIK, there are something like three companies left that actually produce Nitrate and Butyrate dope.  And, IIRC, two of those companies are under the same *parent* company!

It just intrigues me, since I am afraid that silkspan, or silk, and dope finishes are going to go the way of the dinosoar.

I know Randolphs and Certified are like Porche and Volkswagen: they come out of different doors of the same factory. But the formulation is different. That's clear when using them.

What's the third?

Some time ago someone (at Aircraft Spruce) told me that Randolph's bought Certified. Then Randolph's moved out of New Jersey(?) to California. Seems like a weird move to me for a chemical co...Was Certified located in Cal? Maybe they joined up as one factory. Or Jersey taxed them to death! Anyway Certified was considerably less expensive than Randolph, but now there is no more Certified? Anyone have a handle on this? I know I got skinned pretty badly on my last Qt. of Randolph yellow...

W.

Ward,

Certified is still listed by Aircraft Spruce.  All paints have risen dramatically, but it appears that airplane dope has risen the least!   

The last gallon of white base lacquer I bought from PPG was $46 and now it's over $140!

Polyfiber bought out Randolph Aircraft products. They used to produce the best butyrate colored dope you could buy. When they picked up the Randolph line it made no sense to sell both lines so they dropped the Polyfiber and now sell Randolph only. Any "mixing dealer" selling this dope can mix all the Randolph colors as well as the old Poly-fiber colors. For what it's worth, they can also mix colors in a nitrate base. Go to Polyfiber.com to find the dealers. I purchase all my nitrate clear, butyrate clear, thinners and colors in quarts from Tex-Air Parts in Fort Worth, TX.

Don

I recently got a bunch of Sig silkspan.  It seems to be the good old stuff.