I like Master Airscrew props for just that reason....the white tips show up! Plus, they look cool

You're not getting it.

Saying something is false because you want to see a study to prove the validity is specious.

The converse is to ask you to find a study supporting your point.

You can go back and forth with this and it serves no purpose, nor does it prove anything.

Common sense tells you that you should not drop paint into a wound.

Does this mean that you should not actually paint the tips?

Hmmm... don't know, but the physician was indeed telling me about similiar problems and why he thought this a bad idea, leading to the discussion about molded in colors, which would be even better.

If all our props already came this way already which point of view would you take? Would you still ask for a study?

Thanks for arguing the point... (somehow you always seem to do this...)


Does painting the tips help us see the props?

Certainly. I wouldn't think otherwise.



Is using paint a good idea?

Well, is there another solution?



IS there another solution?

That was the point being raised.

Paint has worked well for a long time. Why create a million dollar solution for a 5 cent problem, which has no repercussions 99% of the time.

I would suggest that not every sentence in this everygrowning thread is meant for you. We very often take things personally in threads when in fact the message is for everyone.

And maybe the reason most people missed your message has something to do with the Subject of the thread, "Don't paint the tips!!!" and it's three exclamation points.

whatever.............
I think you've opened a very interesting topic (wound? ) and it deserves dissection (discussion (argument)). So let's cut it into littler pieces.......

Has any mfg actually done what? Going by the Subject topic..... Master Airscrew offers white tips on their black nylon props. At least a couple of lines of their props have the white tips. I think TopFlite had a line of wooden props that had white lines and red lines. I think the lines were painted with the same paint that the prop is "soaked" in. It's not obvious, but all wood props are painted with clear. So anyone who is worried about the paint coming off a prop should avoid all wooden props period.

For those who're afraid of paint on plastic props, consider this..............

In the last few years, at least one paint mfg has marketed a line of "plastic paints". You'll find it in the "paint in spray cans" area of most home improvement stores. The closest Home Depot has a couple of colors, white and black. The Lowe's Home Improvements have a couple of different lines with 6 or 7 colors.

The paint is supposed to "bond" with the plastic and "become one" with it. I've used it before and it appears to be fuel proof. Truth is, most enamels are decently fuel proof if you give them enough curing time. But this plastic paint sounds like there is a bit more to it than what happens with regular paint, enamel or lacquer or whatever.

So if you're planning to paint a plastic prop, you might consider "plastic" paint for the job.

Opjose,
I would think that using something other than paint would be a good idea. Do you have any reason to believe however that a dye that would be visible enough on a prop to be an effective warning would not contribute to medical problems if it was overlooked in a wound and by the medical professional who is going to be cleaning the wound?

Do anyone have any to suggest?

One reason to "argue the point" is to work out reasonably important details. It's also worthwhile to argue to discover what the point is when it's buried and not very obvious. So now that we've got one of them clarified, let's discuss it.

Got an EPA approved coating to suggest? Anyone?

It should adhere to the prop material as perfectly as possible and if left in a wound be as benign as possible.

Well there have been some good comments from medical professionals more qualified than I as a Paramedic, but I will second the idea that the possibility of a little paint winding up in a wound is really very secondary to the advantage of seeing the prop arc. Also as has been pointed out, that idea is your Doc's opinion and it doesn't necessarily mean it's everyone else in the medical profession's opinion.

Suggesting that manufacturers be tagged with coloring the tips as a safety issue is just more fodder for the legal profession and they're out of control anyway.

I will add that I have substantial experience as a licensed A&P mechanic with full scale props. The FAA mandates that those props have contrasting color tips which is accomplished by painting the tips. Maybe you could get them to drop that requirement for your noted reasons, or force the full scale manufacturers to provide pre-colored tips while you've working on APC...

The whole point of this thread has gotten silly to be sure. A zillion wood props with laquer have been sold and I suppose laquer is not paint to you who are worried about painting your prop tips. Geeeeze. Let's give this dead horse a break. Paint or don't paint. Not going to make any progress here talking about something that is so trivial. Do what's safe I would say and other than that to paint or not to paint is your personal choice.

You really have to be kidding......right? While you're at it we might as well get medical warning printed on our props.....but with what? LOL This is so silly. Go ahead and argue your point. I'm just going to sit back and watch the show.

Beating a dead horse is an understatement.
For my 2 cents this thread ended on page one when DocYates weighed in with an MD's insight
Pete

I dont understand the point of this thread... Does it mean that if you Dont paint your prop tips you are going to get chewed up with your prop?? It seems like this is what happen.

If you need to paint the tips of your props to remind you to not stick your hand in that spinning thing then you need to get out of this hobby NOW......

You mean this one?

As Capt. Kirk would say........ "He's dead Jim" [X(]
Paint your prop tips if that's what it takes to keep clear of them. If that doesn't help to keep fingers out of them you're likely to run over your foot when you start your truck too. When you end up in the ER from prop lacerations I think the last thing you'll have to worry about is paint chips in the wound.

What a shame, you think it was a paint chip that killed him????

Sorry not meaning to make light of the OP's intent with this thread, but let's face it guys, there is a little risk in everything we do, I mean if we want to totally alleviate it, then why not advocate propellers laced with antibiotics...but of course then we would have to address allergies to anttibiotics.....[]
Tommy

opjose, I have the answer!!!!

You are a mod on Knife Edge with Real Flight. So now there are night flying planes with LED's in the props.

So, stuff some LED's in your prop tips!!

Benefits vs Risks

Due to several injuries suffered over the years, I take med's daily so I can live a 'normal' life. Some of these med's have become controversial, and even banned. Vioxx, for example. God, I loved Vioxx and wish it were still available. []

When discussing these issues with my doctor, he brought up the point of "benefits vs risks". He said yes there are risks, but the percentage of risk is very minute in comparison to the benefit received. So the decision has to be made, about which would you rather do. Have a much better quality of life on a daily basis. Or not have the better quality for fear of a possible risk suffered by a very small percentage of people.

The painted prop tips issue discussed here seems the same to me. I would rather have painted prop tips and benefit from the visibilty, and accept the risk I 'may' get some paint chips in a wound if I ever stick my hand in a running prop.

I like that --- I can see it now, like a cancer warning on a cigarette pack, or "the coffee is hot" warning at the drive-thru window:


CAUTION: This device (when rapidly spinning) can cause extreme discomfort and damage if it comes in contact with a body appendage, regardless of whether or not the tips are painted."

It could be printed with some kind of fruit flavored vegetable dye, so at least it would taste good when you stick your finger in your mouth after cutting it

Heh... great dead horse pic.

Paint the props or not...

I'm not telling you not to nor to go ahead and do so.

I just raised a point... and many have raised very good counter points...

e.g. frequency of accidents versus benefits of eliminating paint.

This is a good observation, as is the one about the low rate of complications because of the particulates in wounds.

Still I'm glad I don't have to worry about that too...




I also raised the query as to is there a better way, and got back the OSHA comments.

We DO put warning labels on everything ad nauseum... and yeah I can forsee some idiot suing at some point...



Beating a dead horse?

Well this is a forum, and if we were all adverse to beating dead horses, we would have nothing to post, as 95% of the discussions rehash what has already been said...

Doesn't this one?

Poor animal.


Ok, I'll keep painting my tips... the plastic paint idea sounds pretty good... especially since fairly bright day-glo colors are available.... where's that florescent orange?

OMG......stop it!!!!! Now you're here taking credit for bringing the world such a thoughtful topic and leading everyone to discover what they already knew. I'm about to puke on the rotten horse meat. Knew I shouldn't have checked back in on this topic. You have a nice day.

I make no claims one way or another.

Credit? Where? For what?

Leading everyone?

If you go back there doesn't seem to be anyone except myself being led here.


Sigh...


If you don't like the horsemeat don't eat it.

Have a nice day too... Try some antacids they may help.

Sorry, the meat's all gone! [X(]

At least we got some fresh glue made from the horse!...Let's build.

Rod