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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: José Almeida on October 31, 2015, 05:12:05 AM

Title: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: José Almeida on October 31, 2015, 05:12:05 AM
Hi Friends.

Normally I use water for wet silkspan, however today, when saw the Robert S. last video about "How silkspan a sheeted wing", he use a blue liquid more close to a product for clean windows or glass!

What kind of liquid is this? Is that clean liquid or is water mixed with some special additive ?

What is advantages to use that?

Any information are wellcome  #^

Thanks in advance
José
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: wwwarbird on October 31, 2015, 11:47:41 AM

 I've always just used straight water but in Sparky's latest video he's using Windex.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Jim Carter on October 31, 2015, 12:19:27 PM
I have to agree, just plain water is all I've known to use.

Jim Carter
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Tim Wescott on October 31, 2015, 12:40:41 PM
I've always only used water.  I could see how a little bit of ammonia in the mix might make it wet out easier, but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

But then -- it works for Sparky, so who am I to say?
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: john e. holliday on October 31, 2015, 01:51:11 PM
Maybe he is using wind shield washer fluid which is cheaper than Windex.   I know that is what I use for cleaning planes.  But for silk span, plain old water in a spray bottle.  Want to keep the silkspan moist.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: RknRusty on October 31, 2015, 08:40:59 PM
He called it by name, "Windex," near the beginning of the video. So Windex is ammonia and a small amount of detergent mixed in water. Maybe it spreads and dries quicker, the slick detergent may help the wrinkles pull out with less force. Just guessing.
Rusty
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Clint Ormosen on October 31, 2015, 11:38:11 PM
Water is cheaper than windex and works just fine.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Randy Powell on November 01, 2015, 01:52:47 PM
I'm sort of paranoid about using anything that might conflict with the chemical content in the paint material. But that's me. Everybody has their own ideas.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on November 01, 2015, 02:43:46 PM
Right!  I'm double-paranoid about anything to do with painting.  Too many failures in the past.

So I stick with Brodak start to finish.  No substitutes, and I even quit using automotive clear coats. Mainly because repairs are difficult and nothing sticks to auto clear, not decals, vinyl numbers, etc.

Floyd
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: TigreST on November 18, 2015, 06:46:55 PM
Only ever used water for wetting of silkspan.  Cut the silkspan over sized for the intended panel.  Fill a bread pan (retanglar pan) of similar 3/4's full with water and then submerage the silkspan (in a tip to root direction) through the water and drag it across the pans  long edge which helps remove some of the water. Drape over the wing panel (normally working the underside of the wings first so the finshed seams if any overlap from top side to underside) then pull the wrinkles out from root to tip. " Candle" the wing panel to check for wrinkles, dope around the edges and your done.  The overhanging material I use to tear off rather than cut a hard knife edge.  Sanding the excess at leading and trailing edges also worked as a means to cut the excess material away.  The fibrous material blended to an invisable edge once doped down.  This was the old Sterling and K&S silkspan I speak of.

T.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: RC Storick on November 20, 2015, 09:30:47 PM
I have always used Windex but straight water will be just fine. It doesn't evaporate as fast as Windex.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: jim gilmore on November 20, 2015, 10:07:34 PM
My only question about windex or even winshield washer fluid is wouldn't it tend to leave a blue tinge ?
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: RC Storick on November 20, 2015, 10:09:34 PM
Windex does not. I don't flood it either,just moist.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: john e. holliday on November 22, 2015, 10:19:05 PM
No blue left on my wings and I drowned them in a way.
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Avaiojet on November 23, 2015, 06:47:13 AM
Doc,

That's really exceptional hinge work.  H^^

No air passing through that hing line.

Charles
Title: Re: What kind of liquid for wet silkspan?
Post by: Avaiojet on November 23, 2015, 07:17:59 AM
I've used reduced windex also. But, as I shown in one of my Threads, I believe the Mig-3, I place it on a vertical flat surface then squeege  the material.

This is for open bays. I do keep a spray bottle just to mist if needed. It's Florida and things dry quickly.

I don't wet the covering when placing it on sheeted surfaces.

Charles