I've read the descriptions for removing the clear plastic backing on Monokote. But a salesman talked me into buying Ultracote. When I opened a roll and unrolled it, I found a sheet of pretty heavy white glossy paper separating the layers of the roll. Not adhered to the Ultracote like the backing on Monokote, just a little electrostatic attraction.
Is the glossy paper the only thing that needs to be removed before cutting and sealing the Ultracote?? Or is there also a layer of clear plastic as with Monokote. I'm sure any of you Ultracote users will find this a pretty dumb question but will be able to answer it easily!

Yes.

THe heat requirement is lower than Monokote, read the directions.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

Thanks Dave.
I have read the skimpy directions that came with the Ultracote but was still left with this uncertainty.

I am an absolute beginner but I guess I can now proceed with covering attempts.

Frank

I tried it for the first time the other day and I can say that I like it better than Monokote. Goes around the curves better. Seems to shrink more also.

IMHO, if you follow the temp directions on the ultracote, it's far and above the easiest covering to use.

A

When something is very easy to use the directions are often very short. When it's also almost foolproof, they will not need to tell you anything more than the short directions.

It's pretty good stuff.

But since most of us learn by doing, remember that if you have problems with this stuff, you probably are doing it wrong. Reread the skimpy instructions and then do it that way. And lots of things in our hobby require us to learn the technique that works for us.

But to answer the original question - yes, the glossy paper is the removable backing. Depending on the color and the age of the roll, it is not uncommon to have it practically fall off.

For those new to covering (or simply wanting to see someone else do it) these are awesome references put together by Minnflyer

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67]How to Cover[/link]

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=726]Covering Videos[/link]

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=352]3_Videos_at_Bottom_of_Review[/link]

Enjoy!

stepping back to the original question....one bit of wording caught me.....


I would not remove the backing until AFTER you cut it to shape, so the "sticky" side doesn't get all dirty before you apply the covering

Thanks for all the input, guys. Sounds like I didn't go wrong taking the salesman's advice.
As far as removing the backing first, I don't really have any choice. It separates immediately from the sheet of covering. I bought Cub Yellow, and maybe it's an old roll. I will try to keep my work area clean. Maybe cover it with was paper or something similar.

Frank

If you bought from a LHS it could be old.. my backing stays on 90% of the surface though I purchased from LHS as well. I hold my scrap backing too as it makes good templates (for me anyway to cut the opposite side). B/C the paper backing is not completely adheard (which I like, unlike monokote which is next to impposible once you remove the overlapping nonstick edge) so folding over in half to cut both sides at once does not work to well for me with ultracote.
Mike

Hi Mike
Yeah, I bought it LHS so maybe it's really old (like me).
I miss your point when you wrote:
folding over in half to cut both sides at once does not work to well for me with ultracote.
Frank

Yes, you got an old roll.

It will still work fine, but once they have sat around for a while, the backing tends to just fall off like that.

One of the nice things IMHO about the white paper backing is that you can draw your designs before cutting them out (Or at least you can when the roll is fresh )