Author Topic: Real Silk; what do you use? (Read 2788 times)

Brian Massey · « **on:** September 07, 2011, 12:00:23 PM »

I'm getting ready to place another order with Thai Silks and I'm wondering what others use. I've used 5mm and 8mm in the past with good results (except on crap job

). What size do you like, and why?

Thanks,

Brian

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2011, 01:10:47 PM »

Brian
Is there an advantage to silk over polyspan?

Brian Massey · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2011, 01:15:09 PM »

Quote from: Paul Taylor on September 07, 2011, 01:10:47 PM

Brian
Is there an advantage to silk over polyspan?

I've never used polyspan so I really can't comment. Silk will draw tight, and is very very strong. Like most anything else, there is a learning curve, but once you get the knack, it's awesome stuff.

Me, I'm still learning, but on the planes where it came out, it is great. On the plane it didn't come out good on, I think I got the grain going the wrong way.

Brian

larry borden · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2011, 01:56:08 PM »

I use the 5 mm from Dharma Trading Co. Works real good, or at least it does for me.

Bootlegger · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2011, 02:57:39 PM »

Could some of the experinced guy's that have used silk, with success, please enlighten those of us who want to learn?
Thanks a lot, Gil

larry borden · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2011, 02:59:32 PM »

I used to always use silk and when I came back to CL I still use it. What would you like to know?

Bill Little · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2011, 03:10:33 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger on September 07, 2011, 02:57:39 PM

Could some of the experinced guy's that have used silk, with success, please enlighten those of us who want to learn?
Thanks a lot, Gil

HI Gil,

It is very similar to using silkspan. Put it on wet, and get the weave nice and straight and pull it out taut.. It can take a bit more dope to fill the grain. One old tip is to hold the wing above your head so that the dope cannot puddle on the inside for the first couple of coats. Larry did a tutorial on the old BOTR site, I guess that is lost now. But basically it is very similar to using silkspan. Much stronger than silkspan when it comes to puncturing, etc..

The question of comparison between silk and polyspan is interesting. The polyspan might be a touch more puncture resistant and of course Polyspan heat shrinks, but you do not get the "fuzzies" with silk! And silk goes around curves easier.

Bill

Brian Massey · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2011, 03:42:40 PM »

Quote from: larry borden on September 07, 2011, 02:59:32 PM

I used to always use silk and when I came back to CL I still use it. What would you like to know?

Thanks, I'm curious about the differences between 5 and 8mm. Which of the two is stronger, and or has a more "open weave" and thus takes more to fill, and any other tidbit you feel like including.

I'm pretty sure I know how to put it on; as long as I get the grain the right way.

Thanks,

Brian

larry borden · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:10:21 PM »

If anyone wants me to, I can resurrect the silk topic I did on BOTR.

Bill Little · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:16:48 PM »

Quote from: larry borden on September 07, 2011, 04:10:21 PM

If anyone wants me to, I can resurrect the silk topic I did on BOTR.

That would be a real fine idea, Brother Larry!

Big Bear

Bootlegger · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:46:06 PM »

Larry, I sure do vote to reserect that post. Another thing that I was interested in is using SLC under the silk to keep dope from "puddling" under the silk.
Any help sure would be appreciated..

Larry if you can send that info to this e mail address gil6964atcoxdotnet and again thanks..

larry borden · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2011, 05:10:25 PM »

OK, I'll put it back together, pics included. Should be able to get it started tomorrow after I find the pictures.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2011, 05:50:53 PM »

Quote from: larry borden on September 07, 2011, 05:10:25 PM

OK, I'll put it back together, pics included. Should be able to get it started tomorrow after I find the pictures.

Greatly appreciated!!

Brian

Garf · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2011, 06:36:01 PM »

There is nothing like a Sneeker covered with checkerboard silk and clear dope, powered by a Johnson Combat Special.

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2011, 06:38:48 PM »

Anyone have a source for checkerboard silk?

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2011, 07:12:28 PM »

I have only used the 5mm silk from Dharma. It is a very tight weave, so does not take as much dope to fill as the old model silk. I thin the first few coats of high shrink dope about 60%. That lets you put on very thin coats that will not run through and puddle, but if they do, it will not leave a blob when dry. It will fill with around three coats of this thin dope. After that run through is not a problem. On open structures it does need to be pulled very tight while very damp. Even then it will sometimes wrinkle after the first few coats of high shrink dope, but will shrink out with a little dry time. I still use good quality camel hair brushes as they seem to work the best for me with dope. Silk does go around wing tips and compound curves much easier than about any other covering I can think of, and seems to finish lighter for me than med. silkspan.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #16 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:01:16 PM »

Silk is my favorite.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2011, 03:23:27 PM »

Larry,

Put the article in the finishing section. If you have links to go with it, that would be very cool. I haven't used silk in years and years and may try it again if I can remember all the tricks.

larry borden · « **Reply #18 on:** September 08, 2011, 09:05:42 PM »

Will do. It doesn't have links, but pics.

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #19 on:** September 09, 2011, 01:28:02 PM »

See October 1993 Flying Models and Oct 1993 Model Aviation. Both issues had articles on silking...

Ward-O

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #20 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:18:47 PM »

I get silk from Thai Silks in Los Altos, CA. They have a web page. Their lightest is a bit heavier than Esaki, but very tough stuff. It only comes in white.

Floyd