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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Tim Wescott on October 22, 2011, 01:42:47 PM
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John Holiday's post: http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=23736.0 (http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=23736.0) got me thinking about polyester fabric.
The quoted prices for polyester are actually not that far off from silk from Dharma trading, which for 36 inch wide Habotai is $3.10/yard or $4.40/yard, depending on whether you get the 5mm or 8mm stuff. So that's $3.10 and $4.40 per square yard. (If the quoted prices in that thread are accurate, then
Polyspan from RSM Distribution is $18 for a 20 inch wide, 4 yard roll, or $8.10 per square yard. That's a bit more than silk fabric.
How nice is silk for covering? does it make as good a base for a really really nice finish as Polyspan? Can you get as good a finish with silk with the same amount of dope, and will it last as long?
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I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer SILK to all other covering materials in building control line airplanes. I have several airplanes built and covered with silk/Aerogloss dope in the mid 1960's and they are still flyable. They include a Green Box Nobler, an Ambroid Ares, and several Flite Line Sneekers (Riley Wooten's kits). .......TDurrill...... D>K H^^
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Silk with Aero Gloss is my favorite.
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OK,
Exactly where can I buy Aerogloss Dope and acquire a color chart?
Got photos of these dope painted models?
CB
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Guess I get to be the dissenting opinion. I hate silk. It sucks up a ton of paint and shrinks like crazy. If you're not careful, it's wing warp city. Plus the finish always seems to crack in short order.
I like Polyspan and Brodak/Randolph dope.
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I have covered all of my planes for the last five years with 5mm Dharma silk, and Sig dope. Three of them were finished five years ago, and so far no warps or cracks in the finish. The Dharma silk seems to me to take less dope than silkspan as it is a very tight weave. My Magicians come out at 36 ounces ready to fly, and that is what they weighed when I was covering them with silkspan. On the other hand, I don't get along with Polyspan at all. I am sure it is me as so many like it, but I have a terrible time putting it on without wrinkles. The only iron on I have been able to do with reasonable results is Sig Koverall. I also get a nicer finish that stays that way longer with silk. Here is my Humongous I built five years ago that is covered completely with silk.
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Tim, I think you're just going to have try everything once and make up your own mind about what's best.
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OK,
Exactly where can I buy Aerogloss Dope and acquire a color chart?
Got photos of these dope painted models?
CB
OK,
Exactly where can I buy Aerogloss Dope and acquire a color chart?
Got photos of these dope painted models?
CB
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I'm pretty sure Areogloss is no longer manufactured. I have a bunch. The colored dope seems to age fairly well, but I have about a gallon of clear which looks like coffee and is a disposal problem. The absolute best color dope ever made, in my opinion, is Aerogloss Curtis blue. One brushed coat will cover and it dries shiny without any brush marks. H^^
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John Holiday's post: http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=23736.0 (http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=23736.0) got me thinking about polyester fabric.
(snip)
Polyspan from RSM Distribution is $18 for a 20 inch wide, 4 yard roll, or $8.10 per square yard. That's a bit more than silk fabric. (snip)
Hi Tim.
I get my polyspan directly from Tom Morris. Not to knock Eric as he is a good friend, but Tom is much cheaper. Jim Snelson at CLC should be the same price as Tom.
Silk is "the" traditional fabric covering. With a bot of practice is isn't any harder than applying silkspan and tougher as far as puncture resistance. I do use plasticiser in all my dope just to ease the aging factor of the finish.
Big Bear