recovering plane

[Ray]

I'm in the process of recovering my plane and I have noticed that the patches that go over the inspection ring is pinked on the edges I have tried cutting them but I can never keep it straight I'm also having this problem on other reinforcing areas I'm working on. Can anyone offer some help?

[mulwyk]

Re: recovering plane

Ray:
I'll try.

Are you having trouble with getting a nice round patch? I used a coffee can lid as a pattern for my inspection ring patches. (Folgers Columbian is the best for the money, IMHO) Seems about the right size, and readily available. Trace around the coffee can lid with a pencil, make a couple dozen patches at a time.

Are you having trouble with ragged edges on your reinforcement patches? Get a good pair of pinking shears. The cheepo pinking shears sold at Walmart in their sewing department are great. They are made in (this really hurts...) China but last longer and make better cuts than a breathtakingly expensive "brand name" pair I got at a real fabric place. Cut about 2" at a time, then move the shears ahead and carefully line up the notch in the shears with the last notch that you cut before cutting another 2" chunk...etc.

If you're having trouble getting your patches to lay down flat, be sure to use light weight cloth to make your patches, wet the patch area really good and before the dope (or whatever) dries, put down the patch and immediately run a wet brush around the patch area...then use a stipple motion with the brush to remove any bubbles. The patch must be wet the whole time you're putting it down and removeing the bubbles, if it dries before you're ready it'll be hell to get it right.

[Pearson]

Re: recovering plane

That is the way I do it!

The coffee can lid is the perfect size, just make sure you use PENCIL to draw the circle. I like to use carpenters pencils because you can see the line better than an office type pencil. I also like to put a LOT of glue under the patches and then you can work out the excess with a iron at about 220 degrees. That way the edges lay down really nice.

[Ray36048]

Re: recovering plane

I have used poly fiber, but should also works with others. Stretch fabric over a wood frame large enought to do several patches. Lightly heat shrink it until smooth. Thin the poly brush about 50 / 50. Apply one light coat. When this is dry you can mark the patches and cut the with unraveled edges.

[Ray]

Re: recovering plane

I purchased the round patches made of poly fiber but the edges are cut straight and when I pink them it nevers seems to be round I have seen other covering jobs and theres seem to be perfectly round, can you buy the patches already pinked or is there a better way to pink the ones I have.

[flyguy]

Re: recovering plane

The ones I got from Aircraft Spruce were not pinked and I used them when replacing some bad rings. Used Stits process. Went down smooth, worked fine, 4 years old, no loose edges.

How about a ring patch pinked into a straight-sided octagon pattern? I think that would look pretty spiffy. Put them down so two of the straight sides line up with the ribs.

DC

[paulnuss]

Re: recovering plane

I have made many, many pinked-edge patches, for both inspection covers and for drain grommets, without problems. I draw the round line with a pattern (e.g. coffee can as above for inspection-hole reinforcement) and with good (sharp) pinking shears cut so that the inside of the pinked cut follows the drawn line. Pre-shinking the fabric (as above) is recommended in the Ceconite manual, but I have done them without pre-shrinking because I'm too lazy and had no problems. My fabric cover work has always been very satisfactory doing so. If you're having troubles, I suspect your pinking shears aren't cutting cleanly.

[Rex Havis]

Re: recovering plane

This may help to cut a round patch. After drawing a circle with a pincel use the peaks or the valleys created by the picking shears as a guide to cut on the line. As you cut, keep the peaks or the valleys on the line, in this way you can cut a round circle.

[3Dreaming]

Re: recovering plane

Trying to cut pinked edges on a smooth cut round circle patch will be next to impossible to do and make it look good. You need to buy a yard of light weight covering trace and cut your own. It will work much better. Your other choice is to put them on with smooth edges, but I would cut my own if it was me. Tom

[Laz]

Re: recovering plane

If you are using polyfiber Jim and Dondi miller have the best tip.

Use the Light fabric for the ring covers. Pre shrink the fabric at 225 deg. on some sort of frame. Coat the shrunk fabric with one thinned brush coat of polybrush. Then use a gallon can for the pattern and cut out with pinking shears. The patch will not fray and be easy to cut. This will make a perfectly round patch. Whin you put it ove the inspection ring use poly brush to attatch just the inside of the patch to the inside area of the ring. If you lay down a good thick coat of the poly brush inside the already glued on inspection ring the patch will soften immediatly and you can trace a pencil around the inside edge to get a good seal. After that dries poly brush the outside of the ring. One other trick is to make a cardboard pattern of the outside of the patch usuing the gallon can. center a inspection ring in that pattern and cut the inspection ring area so you can lay the pattern on your already glued down rings and make a pencil outline of the ouside area . Makes centering the patch easy.