Age of Ceconite?

[Danny Deger]

I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An ideas
on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want to have to
recover in the next couple of years.

Danny Deger

[john smith]

Danny Deger wrote:
> I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An ideas
> on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want to have to
> recover in the next couple of years.

A punch test that any mechanic should know how to do will determine if
the fabric is still good.

Has the aircraft been hangared the whole time since it was covered?

Also of importance is the structure underneath. If you have steel tubing
beneath the fabric that was not properly treated before the covering
was applied and the aircraft has been out in the weather, a recovering
may be advised so that a proper inspection of the tubing can take place.

[Ron Natalie]

john smith wrote:
> Danny Deger wrote:
>> I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An
>> ideas on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want
>> to have to recover in the next couple of years.
>
> A punch test that any mechanic should know how to do will determine if
> the fabric is still good.

Any good mechanic would know that a punch test is not a valid test for
ceconite. As long as the finish remains intact, ceconite will last
indefinitely. You need to examine the visible parts of the condition:
finish, tapes, etc...

[Carl Ellis]

Danny Deger wrote:
> I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An ideas
> on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want to have to
> recover in the next couple of years.
>
> Danny Deger
>
>

Danny -

Go to vb.taylorcraft.org. Really good forum with lots of info.

- Carl -

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"Danny Deger" > wrote:

> I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An ideas
> on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want to have to
> recover in the next couple of years.
>
> Danny Deger

1. Is the plane hangared, or has it sat outside a lot?

2. If you take a drop light inside the fuselage or wing, can you see
light through the fabric? If so, it doesn't have enough silver and is
prone to UV damage.

3. What is the filler? Dope? Stits? Something else?

[Jim Macklin]

Have fabric samples taken from the critical areas, by a good
A&P/AI and send them in to be chemically and physically
laboratory tested. http://www.ceconite.com/manual.htm

General Aviation News
The Ceconite had a much longer life expectancy than
cotton or linen. Twenty years was not unusual when properly
applied, and rotting was virtually ...
generalaviationnews.com/editorial/articledetail.lasso?-token.key=323&-token.src=product&-nothing
- 45k - Cached - Similar pages

Aviation Safety Letter 2/2003
The life span of aircraft fabric is affected by its
exposure to the elements, ... It may be called Ceconite©,
Stits PolyFiber©, Nylon and other names but it ...
www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/SystemSafety/Newsletters/tp185/2-03/RA06.htm
- 45k -




"Orval Fairbairn" > wrote in
message
...
| In article >,
| "Danny Deger" > wrote:
|
| > I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in
Ceconite in 1993. An ideas
| > on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I
don't want to have to
| > recover in the next couple of years.
| >
| > Danny Deger
|
| 1. Is the plane hangared, or has it sat outside a lot?
|
| 2. If you take a drop light inside the fuselage or wing,
can you see
| light through the fabric? If so, it doesn't have enough
silver and is
| prone to UV damage.
|
| 3. What is the filler? Dope? Stits? Something else?

[Danny Deger]

"Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
...
> john smith wrote:
>> Danny Deger wrote:
>>> I am considering buying a Taylorcraft covered in Ceconite in 1993. An
>>> ideas on how to make sure the fabric is in good shape? I don't want to
>>> have to recover in the next couple of years.
>>
>> A punch test that any mechanic should know how to do will determine if
>> the fabric is still good.
>
> Any good mechanic would know that a punch test is not a valid test for
> ceconite. As long as the finish remains intact, ceconite will last
> indefinitely. You need to examine the visible parts of the condition:
> finish, tapes, etc...

I have heard the no punch rule on Ceconite also, but for the purpose of a
pre-buy inspection, wouldn't a punch test be a good idea? Also, without a
punch test how is an airplane known good to fly as far as the state of the
fabric is concerned. Even Ceconite after years in the sun will degrade --
want it? Can't you have an airplane with the tape all still together and
the paint still OK, but the underlying fabric is too weak?

Danny Deger