I tried a seach on here before I asked this question and it didn't work and I know I have seen this subject discussed on here before.
Ironing down silver Monocoat. When I hit it with a 325 degree iron it EXPANDS untill it cools off but still didn't shrink enough.
I am running a damp paper towel over it while hot...still not perfect....sugestions??
Jim

Unfortunately, you are going to find that MOST of the Monokote (especially the metalics and neons)
does not shrink well. They changed the formula for how it is made several years ago and the
"new Monokote" doesn't shrink very well.

I still have some Monokote that is about 12 - 15 years old. The old Monokote shrinks very well -
the new stuff...................lets just say my heat gun almost has to blow holes in it to get even a
semblance of shrinking.

Seriously consider switching to Ultracote (I know - limited color selection) or SolarTex and save the
Monokote for trim using the Windex method.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9717398/tm.htm
This more than covers the subject - Happy reading.
When yer done go buy some Ultracoat and kiss yer troubles away.

I found the "secret" If you want to call it that, with silver is to apply it on the edges first & draw it as tight as you can before attempting to shrink it. I use an iron to seal the edges and a heat gun to shrink it, followed imediately by a clean cloth pressing the heated area into the wood. Heres a few pics of my silver monokote coverings....Gene

Tower fun 51

Looks like RCU is haveing issues with the photo upload, sorry for the large pics...Gene

I'll try 2 more...Tower Kaos recovered...Gene

The Tower fun 51 is over 5 yrs old in those pics, so take that into consideration, along with the Kaos, that was covered about a year before these pics were taken...Gene

Thanks, Campy....and Mike for the link, that was the one I remembered.
Yes, I use Ultracoat nowdays when I can....but was recovering a old TF P-51 wing and Ultracoat is too shinny to mach the fuselage.
Pictures on RCU....I hear you Gene, I don't know why the pics on here are that way. If you click on "for full size" they get smaller......crazy.
Thanks guys
Jim

While I'm not an expert on plastic coverings I have used them since 1966. The new Monokote is not as good as the old as has been said frequently. But it still is useful if handled a little differently. Make sure that you pull the covering tight as you tack it down to the surface and make sure that you have the complete perimiter attached before you shrink anything. heat should only be the amount needed to shrink and no more. You use the maximum amount of heat to shrink and the plastic has no memory it wont rebound out any. When it puckers or loosens it probably will disappoint you with its attaching or shrinking abilities. Wing tips are not difficult if you handle them in small sections and do not slit it up to the wingtip. Guaranteed to tear if you pull on it too hard. I'm showing some models that are covered with the new stuff.

Hi Dennis,
Thanks man for that information.....But what you are telling me is IF I get the iron too hot it will pucker and not work right??Right?
This is a large ARF and the covering was already applied for me.
Now I have recovered a old wing with Monocoat and I did pull it tight and had less problems and the wing looks good...I am about ready to do the same with this new wing.
Jim

Jim, Sorry for the confusion.
What i meant is that eventually all film coverings get loose in some places and if you have shall we say used up all of the elasticity of the material by overheating it on initial application, it may not do as well as you expect when you try to shrink it down and reattach it to the framework.
If you get that material on as tight as you can before you do your initial shrinking you will probably never have a serious problem. Remember to get the material attached firmly to every part of the structure that you can. Firmly attached film is less likely to pucker then film that is just blow dried tight and left loose over the structure.
Dennis