Recovering a T

[mulwyk]

Re: Recovering a T

I'm also getting ready to recover. I'm considering the AFS method because of the no-fumes feature. My lungs are old and touchy, plus I'm working in a residental neighborhood and I'd like to keep peace with my neighbors.

Say, how many folks do we have that are preparing to cover? Maybe we could get together on purchase of a large lot of materials and save a little money for everyone? I'm always looking for ways to lower my costs. Anyone interested in a group purchase?

Bob Gustafson

[Carl Ellis]

Re: Recovering a T

A fellow by the name of Ken Beanlands built a Christavia and covered it with the AFS system.

Here is a write up of his experience.

http://www.spots.ab.ca/~kbeanlan/part15.html

http://www.spots.ab.ca/~kbeanlan/part16.html

- Carl -

[mhorowit]

Re: Recovering a T

When to Bob's place this morning and purchased his old sandblasting outfit (less compressor). Since he's picked up Howard's project, we discussed our respective next steps.
He mentioned that our mutual A&P was using the SuperFlight system, so I searched and found Kevin's comments on the system.
Kevin - it's been a year. Do you still like the system? - Mike
Oh - there are apparently two processes: System I and System VI; which were you talking about? System I (I think) is the butyrate system. - Mike

[robbie]

Re: Recovering a T

Mike
I used system 1 22 years ago, it was my first time recovering an airplane.
It was easy to use, and it's still on the plane.
I helped a buddy redoing a champ with a later system about 5 or 6 years ago.
I think it was system 2 not sure, but got lots of pin holes in the finish of the first coat.
I liked the old stuff,used a brush all the way thru silver.

[Dusty]

Re: Recovering a T

I recently covered a Champ for about $3500 using Polyfiber and envelopes from Spruce.

Aerothane (and similar), disregarding the cracking, isn't very "patchable." Polytone comes off - even years later - with MEK. If you're using a plane in places that end up with holes in the finish/fabric Aerothane is just not a good option. Polytone is VERY easy to patch.

MEK, nasty as it may be, is MUCH safer than whatever's in Aeronthane.

You no longer have a choice after silver with Polytone and, I belive, Ceconite. The STCs require the same process for a topcoat.

Thinner is better. Put anything on thick enough and it'll crack in a few years.

I'm speaking from Fairbanks where my planes lives outside and get a couple hundred hours in the winter, flying down to -30F or so. If you're flying in decent weather and keeping it in a hanger anything will probably work out just fine.

[crispy critter]

Re: Recovering a T

Mike,
I'm using the Superflite system VI which is the Uratyane finish. It is a little very think is pretty simple and I really like it but make sure you follow the directions to the letter. I thought it needed an extra coat of primer and paint when I was spraying my fuslage but found out it only needs what they say it needs. Also with the first coat of fabric primer you will need to give it extra drying time or it will pin hole a little and is hard to get rid of it...just let the first coat almost dry before applying the second. As for price,I bought enough stuff from metal primer,fabric & glue,fabric primer & paint for about $2200 and that included shipping....that has also been almost 2 years ago but it was still much cheaper then anything else I looked at.
I have also played with there butryate system and I really like it too but to my surprize it cost a little more than the other.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Recovering a T

I have used all of it except for AFS and they all have their pluses and minuses. I would choose you system depending on the enviroment the airplane lives in before choosing for cost.

mike

[N96337]

Re: Recovering a T

Well... I have samples here of AFS that are 10 years old... and you can't get them to crack... I have samples in my desk here that I used when at OSH in '99.... countless people took that sample, wadded it up, straightened it out, and messed with it... I even forgot it in my pocket and it went through the wash once... and you still can't get it to crack...
JH