How to identify fabric/coating process used?

[Wallace Berry]

I've got a pair of wings that are finished up through a silver coating
on the fabric. The wings are beautifully made, never been outside, never
even mounted on a fuselage, no rust on the metal parts, no deterioration
of the wood. Glue joints look like new. Rib stitching looks like it was
done yesterday. However, I don't have the original builder's logs or any
other indication as to what fabric was used or what covering process.
There was an old can of butyrate dope in the pile of parts that came
with the wings. What can I do to figure out how these wings were
covered?

Thanks,

Wallace

--
Take out the airplane for reply

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
Wallace Berry > wrote:

> I've got a pair of wings that are finished up through a silver coating
> on the fabric. The wings are beautifully made, never been outside, never
> even mounted on a fuselage, no rust on the metal parts, no deterioration
> of the wood. Glue joints look like new. Rib stitching looks like it was
> done yesterday. However, I don't have the original builder's logs or any
> other indication as to what fabric was used or what covering process.
> There was an old can of butyrate dope in the pile of parts that came
> with the wings. What can I do to figure out how these wings were
> covered?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Wallace

If lacquer thinner softens the material, it is dope. Ceconite (Dacron)
uses a blue-tinged nitrate dope as a binder for butyrate dope.

IIRC, Stits process uses a rust-colored primer, giving a mottled,
rust/white back to the fabric.

[Wallace Berry]

In article
>,
Orval Fairbairn > wrote:

> In article >,
> Wallace Berry > wrote:
>
> > I've got a pair of wings that are finished up through a silver coating
> > on the fabric. What can I do to figure out how these wings were
> > covered?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Wallace
>
> If lacquer thinner softens the material, it is dope. Ceconite (Dacron)
> uses a blue-tinged nitrate dope as a binder for butyrate dope.
>
> IIRC, Stits process uses a rust-colored primer, giving a mottled,
> rust/white back to the fabric.



Absolutely the information I was looking for!

Thanks so much.

[jerry wass]

Wallace Berry wrote:

> In article
> >,
> Orval Fairbairn > wrote:
>
>
>>In article >,
>> Wallace Berry > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've got a pair of wings that are finished up through a silver coating
>>>on the fabric. What can I do to figure out how these wings were
>>>covered?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Wallace
>>
>>If lacquer thinner softens the material, it is dope. Ceconite (Dacron)
>>uses a blue-tinged nitrate dope as a binder for butyrate dope.
>>
>>IIRC, Stits process uses a rust-colored primer, giving a mottled,
>>rust/white back to the fabric.
>
>
>
>
> Absolutely the information I was looking for!
>
> Thanks so much.

Were the wings covered with clear plastic film while stored ??
There is a clear plasticizer that evaporates from the poly film
and deposits on the wings--makes adhesion difficult for next coat.

Jerry

[Wallace Berry]

In article >,
jerry wass > wrote:


>
> Were the wings covered with clear plastic film while stored ??
> There is a clear plasticizer that evaporates from the poly film
> and deposits on the wings--makes adhesion difficult for next coat.
>
> Jerry

When I found the wings, they were covered with very dusty old bed
sheets. The wings were essentially clean except for the fine dust that
had filtered through the sheets.

[Cy Galley]

Wipe down with MEK to remove any latent skin oil problems.

"Wallace Berry" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> jerry wass > wrote:
>
>
>>
>> Were the wings covered with clear plastic film while stored ??
>> There is a clear plasticizer that evaporates from the poly film
>> and deposits on the wings--makes adhesion difficult for next coat.
>>
>> Jerry
>
> When I found the wings, they were covered with very dusty old bed
> sheets. The wings were essentially clean except for the fine dust that
> had filtered through the sheets.

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article <iuj1f.403215$x96.154743@attbi_s72>,
"Cy Galley" > wrote:

> Wipe down with MEK to remove any latent skin oil problems.
>
> "Wallace Berry" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >,
> > jerry wass > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Were the wings covered with clear plastic film while stored ??
> >> There is a clear plasticizer that evaporates from the poly film
> >> and deposits on the wings--makes adhesion difficult for next coat.
> >>
> >> Jerry
> >
> > When I found the wings, they were covered with very dusty old bed
> > sheets. The wings were essentially clean except for the fine dust that
> > had filtered through the sheets.

If they are a dope finish, MEK will remove some of the dope and,
possibly, make a mess. I would suggest soap and water, instead, with a
good water rinse. You may have to do a very light scuff coat of wet
sandpaper to get t he next stage of finish to adhere.

[jerry wass]

Wallace Berry wrote:
> In article >,
> jerry wass > wrote:
>
>
>
>>Were the wings covered with clear plastic film while stored ??
>>There is a clear plasticizer that evaporates from the poly film
>>and deposits on the wings--makes adhesion difficult for next coat.
>>
>>Jerry
>
>
> When I found the wings, they were covered with very dusty old bed
> sheets. The wings were essentially clean except for the fine dust that
> had filtered through the sheets.

Bed Sheets iss goot, Yah, dot's vot der man said everybody else told him.