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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Jim Roselle on May 06, 2017, 04:09:12 PM
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My last few builds I have started using polyspan and dope instead of monokote. I use a hardware store heat gun to shrink it and invariably get pinholes if not complete blow throughs because the gun is way to hot. Can I shrink polyspan effectively with a monokote iron or do I need to purchase a monokote gun? What are other people using?
Thanks,
Jim
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Jim,
In my experience, an iron works perfectly.
Rick
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You can blow holes in any covering with a hobby heat gun also if you don't get the hang of using them. I use an iron for most work like that also. All the irons aren't the same, though. After trying several that I find cheap at swap meets and such, I think I like the Coverite/Century21 version the best.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
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I've noticed the grain opening up a bit when I shrink Polyspan, too.
I don't blame the heat gun. With good finesse you can get the temp right with a combination of distance & time.
I'm thinking of doing a better job sanding out every imperfection of the structure so I don't damage the covering during installation.
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I use an iron all the time with polyspan. Works great especially around the wing tips.
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Don't shrink Poly-Span using hot air gun. Even if you do make a hole in it a scrap piece doped over the hole will disappeared with more coats of dope.
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Keep the gun moving.
This is the rule for 'coat, too -- watch the film, move the gun away when it starts to shrink, and have an idea of how long you can dwell on any one spot before Bad Things happen. A 'coat gun may be nicer, but a shop gun should work.
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Guess I'm doing things wrong again. I rarely use an iron but use my hot air gun all the time. My stuff usually turns our OK though. Whatever works for the user is the one to use.
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I use a monokote heat gun and echo what was previously mentioned: keep the gun moving. Not meaning to "finger wave" but work slowly and don't get things too hot.
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My stuff usually turns our OK though.
Yes, like, the judges have to get their eyeballs to within 9 inches of your finish to find flaws.
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A tip I learned from watching Sparky cover a wing with Polyspan is to repair blowouts with silkspan instead of poly. It hides the repair better.
Rusty
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I dare you to find my repairs after too much heat left a hole. I tear the poly-span just like you would do with silk span.
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I dare you to find my repairs after too much heat left a hole.
Okay, Doc, you're on. It's Heat Guns, Dope and brushes at High Noon! LL~