Door Seal

[M Towsley]

Yet again, I do a forum search without luck...... I am looking for a simple door seal to keep the wind, and soon to be cold, out. The high grade adhesive backed foam I used last year likes to blow out at the bottom of the front door post. Has anyone found something that works and lasts? Thanks!

[VictorBravo]

Re: Door Seal

Use standard foam adhesive weatherstripping tape, doesn't even have to be the dense stuff...the cheaper gray open cell stuff that you can almost blow through is OK.

Then, put on a layer of 3M Blenderm surgical tape, covering the weatherstrip and about half an inch onto the adjacent surface. Don't compress the foam tape too much, leave it to "billow" a little bit to seal the door.

The Blenderm is something you will have to order on the internet or through a medical supply store. Wings and Wheels in upstate New York probably carries it. I got mine off ebay without too much trouble. Get a box of the 2 inch wide rolls (it comes in 1/2, 1, and 2). Clean the surface where you will apply the tape thoroughly using rubbing alcohol just before you apply the tape. Make sure your hands have no grease or oily fingerprints on them.

The Blenderm is a miracle material, able to go around corners and 3 dimensional curves better than anything else. It's 100% waterproof and airtight. I have MANY many hours of flying with weatherstrip/blenderm seals on the control surfaces of my gliders, and if properly applied the stuff lasts a long time.

After you sealed your door frame, tape over the top of the stabilizer where it meets the fuselage, covering the attach bolts, and wrapping the tape down around the front and rear of the tube. This keeps water out of your attach bolts and provides an air seal.

Put the elevator in the full nose down position, apply a small dab of Vaseline on the elevator hinges, then apply the 2" wide Blenderm over the hinge line from above. This will keep water and dirt out of your hinges (that's a GOOD thing), and provide an air seal. Same with both sides of the rudder if you like.

Just make SURE the control surface is deflected the full travel towards the opposite side of the side you are taping, so the tape does not get tight before the surface reaches full travel. Put the tape on so it is not stretched over the control surface gap, the middle portion of the tape should be sagging down a little bit into the gap.

The Blenderm is the only really good solution to those problematic, annoying and usually ill-fitting wing root cover straps. It will keep water out of the wing root (uhh... that's where your wing attach bolts are, out of visual inspection range !) and prevent air leaks, drafts, and whistling.

Blenderm will 100% stop water or fuel from leaking under the windshield. Imagine that, flying your Taylorcraft without a fuel smell in the cabin after fueling!

Bill

[M Towsley]

Re: Door Seal

Thanks Bill, I'll try it.

[Wayne]

Re: Door Seal

http://www.gcmedicalsupply.com/shopd...t=Medical+Tape Here is one place to find it but it's readily available, just check Google.