Hello,
Do I need to open the string that seals it?
The thin string is sewn so well like its not meant to be opened.
In general why should I use this sock, I can iron it without the sock?

Thanks
Alex

Sit your iron on top of the sock, grab the ends of the string and pull them up, one on each side of the handle. then tie them off. That will close the sock on the iron. After you use it a bit you'll notice that it gets very dirty and even gets color smeared on it. That's why you use it. So you don't get that all over your iron and put it back on teh plane.

You mean like this?
Shouldn’t the sock be covering the iron?

Pull the strings tighter and the sock will draw itself around the base of the iron.

OK i got it,
now i know

thanks

Alex that,s perfect , just a tip though , when that sock is old and covered in burns and residue from film coverings , cut up an old cotton t-shirt and make 50 or so socks for free ! . Use a cable tie to fix your new sock to the iron and cut it off when it,s past it .

Others have said to buy cotton baby socks and slip them over the iron. I've never tried this but plan to.

Im wondering... do u need to have a sock over you're iron ? thanks

You will find using commercial hot socks will get very expensive indeed as the socks rude up and burn out quickly expecially if you are a monocoat user (a higher temperature application).

Some folks like to use inexpensive baby socks and if that works for you great. I don,t care for that method since its hard to get them so they do not rotate sideways when you apply a side pressure.

So I use the method indicated by Frijock suggested above and this is how I attach them. They change quickly and cost nothing by using three large safety pins.

John

Yes you should. As I explained earlier teh socks get very dirty and pick up color from trim tape and cheaper coverings. Without a sock you will get this all over your iron and then all over any plane you use it on. They last quite a while for the average guy so don't sweat it. Buy a pack of hot socks.

Thanks guys its great, from now on only the method frjock and john showed.
thanks for the tutorial John. [8D]

It's a good thing to do, but it's not a "Must"

I've never used one and I've covered a LOT of planes

I have used one, but I think it takes away to much heat.

Austin

Just because you're great at this don't mean we all are!! LOL Some of us are "iron challenged" and need the safety of that sock Mr. Smarty Pants!!!LMAO Personally, I can burn a hole in the work bench with mine! LOL[sm=red_smile.gif][sm=red_smile.gif][sm=red_smile.gif]

That would be the reason why they have variable heat controls. Feel free to adjust it.

Doesn't help! It's either too cold or too hot!! I just use it sparingly under close supervision. LOL

Why use them ?


I only use them when I'm covering a large area, like a wing panel. No dings, or marks, just a perfectly smooth wing. Folks scratch their heads and wonder how you did it.

I tried a hot sock and took it off. The sock provided too much insulation between the iron and the covering, making a difficult job harder. Now I just use the uncovered iron. If I have a large surface, I just seal the edges with the iron, then use the heat gun to shrink, and a soft cloth to press it down and fully adhere the covering once its shrunk.

My understanding is the sock is really designed to prevent you from scratching the covering with the iron when you move it around. I've found that I prefer to NOT move the iron by sliding it. This just encourages wrinkles. So if I don't slide the iron, I don't have to worry about scratching the covering, so no sock. Quicker heat transfer, better adhesion.

Brad

I agree with bkdavy completly about the commercial hot socks being impractically thick and forcing a higher temperture for use (which in turns shortens the life of the hot sock due to burn out).

That is why I prefer the thin cotton T shirts.

John

what do you guys think of the thunder tiger irons ?

Seb,
I think that I've used just about every iron on the market these days and I can say that all of them are pretty much the same. I haven't found one that would stand out in my mind as being better than the others. You should do fine with the one you listed.

As for using a hot sock. I use baby socks. I do a LOT of covering and a few dollars worth of socks lasts me for at least a couple of years. When I am covering I keep two covering irons heated up (well three if you count the trim iron). One iron has no sock on it and I use it for tacking down covering, sealing the edges of covering, and anything else that I need to heat and direct pressure to secure down. The other iron I use will have the covering sock on it. I keep this one heated up a little hotter to compensate for the sock being on the iron. I use this iron for adhering the covering down to the wood of the plane. After tacking down the covering I will then seal all around the edges. I then use my heat gun to shrink the material down. Then I use the iron with the sock on it to adhere the the covering down to the wood.

Hope this helps

Ken

RCKen,

I have been looking for 100% cotton baby socks for my covering iron with no luck. I have found 80% cotton and the remainder Lycra and Spandex. Is 100% cotton a must or can there be some synthetic material also.

I have seen posts that mentioned Walmart as a source, but upon looking I found only partial cotton.

Thanks,

DaveB

if you have a new out of the box plane and want to fix a few bubbles how do you do this with or without the sock and i would like to here some of your methods of doing this type of repair covering