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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: John KruziK on October 26, 2011, 08:28:36 AM
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What can be used to persuade trim sheet material to stick to plastic kote. It's lifting on a model that hasn't flown.
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Did we learn a little lesson here?
Sorry, don't really mean to be a smarta*s. I've never had any luck with MonoKote trim sheets, even on MonoKote. Even if I get them to stick, the stuff lifts off on the first flights.
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John, I have used the trim sheets for years and have found that if I run a warm sealing iron over it, it seems hold up well. I just finished a Brodak 38 Special and I used the trim sheet to edge off the dope/Sig Aerokote film. I followed up with the sealing iron and a light coat of clear dope sprayed over the area to seal it.
Jim
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Thanks Ill try the heating iron.
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John,
You're waisting your time with the heat.
Look, I've said this a bunch of times over the years. Just go to your local Sign Shop and ask for scrap vinyl.
Sign Shops have plenty of it, I know that first hand. They will be glad to give it to you because they toss it anyway. Possibly grab some "mask" while your at it.
Others have done this.
CB
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I've been working with Monokote since it came to market (and thats a whole lot of years) The trim sheets are next to worthless. Sometime using heat helps but even then temproarily. I use super monokote for all my trim and graphics work, with the exception of some striping where I use automotive striping tapes.
The trick in application is to use water with a drop or two of dishwashing detergent in a quarts worh and float the precut super monokote into position. Once you have it where you want it, squeegee out the water and any air bubbles from underneath. Wait until all the water has dried and then lightly seal it down with your sealing iron, working from the center to the edges. Use a lower temp than you would use to apply the base monokote.
Doing it this way your trim will never lift and give you any grief. Remember only use the weight of the iron or less to secure the super monokote trim piece, and use a slightly lower temp. If you are careful you can also do it without the water trick but for most it's easier using the float meathod. The hardest part is remembering which side is the adhesive side after cutting out the trim pieces.
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Hi John,
I use the method that Peter just described, except that I substitute Windex for the soapy water. Float your graphics into position, sqeegee the water (windex) out and let it dry for a few hours. Heat helps a bit. As a last step, I'll put a small drop of thin CA on any sharp points or angles that are likely to start to peel up easily. A small drop blotted immediately with a paper towel won't show, but does secure the thin bits.
I have several ships with trim sheet graphics that have lasted for years and still look like the day they were done. Well, the graphics look like the day they were done, the planes themselves are showing a bit of wear! ::)
Cheers,
Mike