iron on fabric"whats a good choice please.
09-30-2014, 08:18 PM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ottumwa IA
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iron on fabric"whats a good choice please.
ok i am getting ready to recover my Balsa USA flybaby bipe,it was covered with sig coverall and dope 15 yrs go,i have not used any fabric in yrs and health problems will not allow me to use dope anymore,so i would like some opinions on what is a good quality fabric used today???thank you Ron
10-01-2014, 03:42 AM
#2
It sounds like the "tex" products are for you.
21st Century Fabric http://www.coverite.com/covering/covq0301.html may be your best solution. It is fuel proof and requires no paint to seal it.
It's not my first choice, however. I prefer Solartex from BUSA. http://shop.balsausa.com/category_s/119.htm It's easier to apply (21st Century Fabric isn't difficult), going around corners with ease. It comes in colors, and it's fuel proof, too.
Solartex states that it doesn't require sealing, but I find that it attracts dirt quickly, without doing so. This means that it needs to be clear coated. If you are good with that idea, I feel that it's your best choice.
My models are covered in Natural Solartex, and then painted. The paint seals the covering from dirt, and there are no hassles with finding matching paint for your fiberglass parts.
These models are covered in Natural Solartex and then painted.
21st Century Fabric http://www.coverite.com/covering/covq0301.html may be your best solution. It is fuel proof and requires no paint to seal it.
It's not my first choice, however. I prefer Solartex from BUSA. http://shop.balsausa.com/category_s/119.htm It's easier to apply (21st Century Fabric isn't difficult), going around corners with ease. It comes in colors, and it's fuel proof, too.
Solartex states that it doesn't require sealing, but I find that it attracts dirt quickly, without doing so. This means that it needs to be clear coated. If you are good with that idea, I feel that it's your best choice.
My models are covered in Natural Solartex, and then painted. The paint seals the covering from dirt, and there are no hassles with finding matching paint for your fiberglass parts.
These models are covered in Natural Solartex and then painted.
10-01-2014, 09:37 AM
#3
Senior Member
I'll second the choice for Solartex, an excellent product. You will find that Colortex and Worldtex are an identical product in so far as characteristics and ease of use is concerned.
10-01-2014, 04:40 PM
#4
My Feedback: (-1)
Completely agree with the Solartex covering. I have sealed it and not sealed it. If you don't want to seal the Tex and you worry about stains from oil then you have to clean it as it gets nitro snotslime. When using a gas engine I don't bother with a seal. It goes on so easy it makes you wonder why you ever used anything else.
10-03-2014, 06:54 AM
#6
Moderator
The seal or not seal question also depends on the look you want. Solartex is completely flat as it comes off the roll, so it won't look like painted fabric. If that's what you're going for, you're all good. But if you want a slight luster to it like you'd expect on a Cub or Stearman, you'll want to hit it with at least a couple of coats of clear gloss. It still won't have the same look as doped fabric, but it will be much closer.
10-03-2014, 07:01 AM
#7
The seal or not seal question also depends on the look you want. Solartex is completely flat as it comes off the roll, so it won't look like painted fabric. If that's what you're going for, you're all good. But if you want a slight luster to it like you'd expect on a Cub or Stearman, you'll want to hit it with at least a couple of coats of clear gloss. It still won't have the same look as doped fabric, but it will be much closer.
10-03-2014, 07:19 AM
#8
Yes, I have. Made the mistake of flying my gas plane without sealing it and now have oil stains from the exhaust I can't get out. I did my next project and sealed it with satin water based Minwax and it cleans up easily now and has a nice look to it.
10-03-2014, 09:50 AM
#9
My Feedback: (-1)
I can't recall what plane it was but it was a new plane with a new gas engine. I always break in with standard chain saw oil and the new engine splattered out some dark oil drops onto the Tex yellow covering. I tried acetone and alcohol to clean it and the little dots could still be seen. My old Boeing Bipe had a glow engine in it and the snot was all over the fuse. It was OD green so not a big problem but dumbass cleaned it with acetone and alcohol and decided to clear coat it. I was told to just use water based poly so I let it set up for a couple weeks before I flew again. Not fuel proof!! To this day it's still tacky. Still not a big problem on the OD green though. I tried to remove it and nothing ever got the poly off so I just live with it.
