Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

[N74DV]

Has anyone ever used this stuff?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/fabrejuvenator.php

We'll be having our Tcraft in the shop for a couple months while we replace strut fittings and while it's there we'd like to try to rejuvenate the dope. It's 31 yrs old. The fabric is fine believe it or not but the dope is a bit brittle.

I figure if we buy a 5 gallon bucket of rejuvenator and go for it we may be able to prolong recovering the entire plane for at least another 18-24 months.

Can we apply another top coat of white dope over the rejuvenated dope? The final color coat on the plane now is a bit thin. A few pounds of dope won't bother me and I'd like to keep the fabric as protected as possible out here in the AZ sun.

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

Hi DJ,
I'm in the middle of that process right now. I am debating whether or not to spray the entire area or just hit the hairline cracks that are developing along some tape lines. The dope for the most part is not brittle. The cover job is some 22 years old and I think that shrinkage at stress points over time, and cotton tapes in some areas are contributing factors. So far I've been following the cracks with the (technique?) of brushing on the rejuvenator with a small brush in amounts that won't run, and letting it soften the underlying dope. Once the dope is malleable I use a finger to redistribute the dope enough to eliminate the crack and then smooth the area as well as possible (not very). I plan to come back later w/ light wet sanding (320) maybe some clear butyrate to build it up even with the surrounding area, sand again, then two light color coats over everything. There are some pics of the results of the finger process in my gallery (page 8 of owners and their planes and page 11-12 in my mess) Can't get that linking thing to work just right. Get the ceconite manual from Jim and Dondi Miller. If you have lots of ringworming you may want to rejuvenate the whole thing. It has to be a butyrate finish to do this and not enamel or? I'm sure others will know more than I.

[astjp2]

Re: Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

I just used some rejuvenator, spray the whole surface with a wet coat just like you are spraying dope, it makes for an even finish and consistant flexability. if you have cracks use your finger and rub them out when they are still wet. Use invisible glove when doing this. This way is still WAY cheaper than recovering. Tim

[fearofpavement]

Re: Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

Rejuvinating is a common and useful way to fix up bad dope over good fabric. Assuming the fabric is ok I would go for it. Having the fabric off gives the opportunity to inspect better but if the plane has been treated decently and efforts are made to closely inspect the visible areas they should be representative of the areas that can't be seen. Recovering an aircraft is no small project. (no surprise here, eh?)

If you are going to rejuvinate the thing you may want to do the whole plane and then go over everything with new colored dope and accent stripes. It'll look great! Weight wise I don't think you will change the tilt of the earth. It'll add a few pounds, vacuum out the floor and aft fuselage and you're even.

[N96337]

Re: Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

Rejuvinator is the one good thing about a dope finish. Spray a good coat over everything, as per directions, and if you want to "spruce it up" a bit, by all means, go for it! You'll most likely get a few more years out of the fabric and finish....you've already spent alot of money on this plane. We just sprayed different color on a friend's Tcraft to give him a few more years on the fabric that he has, before he needs to replace it... but his dope was ok, just not enough of it...so we sanded smooth, repaired where we needed and continued on. I doubt he'll gain much weight.... and if he does, and that is the difference between getting out of somewhere and not getting out...he shouldn't be there in the first place.
It sounds like you have someone that's at least familliar with this type of plane now, so let's hope things point up from now on..
John

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Butyrate Dope Rejuvenator

31 years is a long time. Think about doing the recover now, the other will work with varying results depending upon the dope used. I have pulled off great fabric to find pin holes in the longerons clear through the tubing.
Look her over good, especially around the strut attach fitting area.