I'm wondering what the best way to handle the stars? should I cut them out of the blue and let the white show through or cut white stars and add them on top of the blue?

I've already done the bottom of the wing in blue and the top in white.
Its monocote and I've never used the windex method. I've always just ironed the trim in place.

Sounds like the windex would be easier as ironing sometimes causes shrinking and shifting.
Will the windex method stick as well as ironing? should I add anything to the seams to help it hold? like thin CA or maybe after the windex, hit it with the iron?


I'm sure either way will look good but what will hold up better to fuel and contant cleaning of the fuel?

I love the covering part as it means I'm almost done!


Thanks

Steve

I have done it both ways (Cutting them out of the blue and placing them on top) and placing them on top is much easier. What I do is to use MonoKote and the Windex method. Then the next day (or when it's dry) go over all of the edges with a Q-Tip dipped in Acetone. That really holds the edges down.

Ditto what Mike said. However, the only thing I do slightly different to seal down the edges of your applied graphics with a trim iron (or just the tip of a regular iron). Either way will work, this is just what I prefer to do.

Ken

If you use the windex method, spay it lightly with original windex, take a paper towl and spead the windex around. Lay the piece on the windex and then use a credit card to carefully worked out the bubbles. DO NOT try to iron while the windex is still wet. It will bubble up immediately. Wait a couple of days and then set your iron on low and just lightly go around the seams. Don't try to iron down the whole peice. Here is a picture of my 1/4 Cub that I am in the process of covering now. Using the windex method. The other picture is Big Bingo wing, top and botton also using the windex method.

I have not tried the Acetone, but I will thanks for the tip.

Would acetone be fingernail polish?

I've been looking for it as I also need it to clean a printhead here at work..




Steve

Most Nail Polish REMOVERS contain Acetone and can be used. But you can get a can of acetone at most hardware/Home stores

You're better off NOT using fingernail polish remover because they often contain perfumes and dyes that could have weird results for you. Buy pure acetone from the hardward/home improvement store.

Ken

Will do! Thanks

Is acetone better than CA because CA will show?

I dont think acetone is an adheasive? does it work by disolving the edge or maybe activating the original adheasive on the edges

I think I'll pick some up a lunch and do a few tests tonight before I do the real thing.

Hate to screw things up at this point. that covering is expensive and I'll need more than the 3 rolls they say you need.

Pop

You don't want to use CA because that's just going to make a mess. You'll end up with CA all over the place and possibly fog up the covering. The acetone activates the adhesive on the monokote which adheres it to the covering below. Any excess acetone can easily been cleaned up off of the covering without any mess.

Ken

One area to watch for though is little puckers in the covering. My first attempt using the windex and sealing the edges with acetone gave me a couple suspirses. First, getting large pieces of trim to follow the flow over ribs was a problem. I finally got things down with the exception of a couple areas where the trim would just not conform to the coverning. I let things dry up for a couple days and then used a capilary tube and acitone and sealed the edges. Where the covering has the small puckers, the acitone sucked under the covering. I put some pressure on the pucker and held it down for the acitone to evaporate. When I lifted the pressure, I discovered that I had pressed out the color. The acitone had softened the adheasive, which is the color on Monokote. The pressure squirted the adheasive out and left a clear cover in that area. Now, I use a trim iron to shrink down these little puckers and then do the acitone for the final seal.

Don

is acetone as effective as monocoat trim solvent?

Mike
Exactly how do you apply the Acetone? If you were doing the black in my post of the cub wing, would you apply the Acetone on all of the edges? How long for it to evaporate?
Would it do anything to the yellow base coat? WOWlots of questions . One more, do you just dampen the Q-tip?

The color is UNDER the plastic film so you should be OK as long as the edge is sealed well. Don't get sloppy with the acetone.

does the acetone method work on Ultracote too?

Unfortunately, Acetone does not work on Ultracote []

Gene, I would wet the Q-Tip and go over all of the edges of the black.

The windex will hold the covering down pretty good, but acetone works much better. So did I hear you say, "why not use Acetone instead of Windex?"

Simple, acetone is MUCH more agressive on the adhesive than Trim Solvent (That should answer jonny hthwy's question). I have tried using straight acetone on some 1/2" stripes one time and the adhesive actually globed up under the covering. I managed to save it, but I was very glad that it was only a narrow strip.

So when you wet the edges, the acetone works its magic on the edges and keeps them from lifting.

Also be careful because Acetone is a wonderful solvent. It' does a number on most paints.

Thanks MinnFlyer. Going to Home Depot to get some Acetone. I have had some of my trim blow loose with the windex method so this should help.

[color=#FF0099]Rats...and I was getting all excited over being able to do a cool custom PINK color scheme after reading this thread...but I use Ultracote!!!!! NOW WHAT???

Bev

Bev, I won't quote you, but just a trim iron works well. (I don't want my text pink...)