In charles.k.scott@
dartmouth.edu wrote:
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 21:08:23 +0800, Stealth Pilot
wrote:


Ernest, it isn't the dope that provides the strength, not with
Razorback fabric or with any fabric. The fabric itself is what gives
the wing it's strength and/or stiffness against the wind. The
initial application of the correct dope, in the case of the Razorback
fabric, or a calibrated heating iron, in the case of the Polyfiber
fabric, is what shrinks it.
Corky Scott you surprise me cobber. mistakes like the one contained in
the paragraph above are what led to Steve Wittman's death.

in the case of cotton, irish linen, razorback and any of the non
shrink fabrics it IS the dope which causes the fabric to tighten as
the solvents evaporate from the dope.

Stealth, what are you smoking? That's what I said.

Here's my sentence:
"The initial
application of the correct dope, in the case of the Razorback fabric,
or a calibrated heating iron, in the case of the Polyfiber fabric, is
what shrinks it.

Now you say: in the case of cotton, irish linen, razorback and any of
the non shrink fabrics it IS the dope which causes the fabric to
tighten as the solvents evaporate from the dope."

But you are just repeating what I said. Did you read it a bit too
quickly?

I spoke with my instructor at the A&P school again and he was pretty
adamant that the main shrinking agent with the natural fibers was water.
The tautening effect of the dope is actually a negative if you put it on
too thick.

I did misunderstand him, however, as far as the cause of the sagging
razorback in cold weather. He said it isn't so much caused by the
underlying frame contracting, and didn't think that would be a
noticeable problem with a steel frame. He claims that there is a
definite issue with the stuff in cold weather that can't be explained as
poor application technique.

Mind you, I am just passing this along. I would personally like to see
some testing done, and would be interested in leaving a small test frame
covered with each major process outside in my backyard over the winter.
It often gets down to 20 below or so around here so it would be a valid
test.

----------------------------------------------------
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