Oratex is like Yoga Pants

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AV8R Paul
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by AV8R Paul »

Very nice! I’m sure you are getting excited in seeing the light of the end of the tunnel.
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Yes excited but impatient

too much work, not enough airplane
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
AV8R Paul
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by AV8R Paul »

I’ve ended getting a e-Mail from Lars, and he said my Yoga Pant material with glue is ready to ship. I getting the Silver as well. You are coming along nicely. I wouldn’t complain about the job, it’s a good job that pays well. As long as my daughter was unemployed, I would just be happy I had a job.
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

I opened a new bottle of glue (#3) and noticed imediately that it is thinner and easier to spread than the glue that I have been using. It is a bottle that I ordered more recently that the others.
Some of my previous difficulties may have been caused by that different consistency. This new stuff goes on MUCH easier with less brush strokes.
The bottle I was using was out of date but usable, just difficult. I do not remember that it was as thin a consistency even when first opened and in date. Maybe a batch thing?

Looks like I will need a 4rth bottle after all for finishing the wings.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BucF16
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BucF16 »

BDA, How did the glue bond? Did it adhere well? My sample from Last year was gloppy. I had 2 Litters of the "New" type show up Last Month, but I haven't opened it.

Cheers,
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

I did not notice any difference in bond strength with the older glue, but will do a side by side pull test against the new glue to verify.
The new glue may be more “tacky” when dry but that could be drying time.

More to come...
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

The lumps that you refered to form every time you let air into the bottle. No big deal just have to pour thru a strainer.

But the more time since the bottle has been open or the more times it is opened, may have an effect on the consistency - would only matter if covering process is drawn out, like mine.

On the other hand, its obvious when the glue goes bad. Looks like bad milk, yellow and starting to solidify. There is no doubt.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Back to the new glue. Before I poured any more out (week later) I rolled the bottle slowly for several minutes to make sure it was mixed, just in case that was the difference (do not shake- makes bubbles - bubbles are bad. When I poured it looked just like the older stuff. Sooooo that made me not trust the first coats that were still completely invisible - so I coated them again and applied the fabric.
The adhesion seems the same as the old stuff when I pull on it. There is no difference now.
Dont forget to stir a new bottle.

Shinking the fabric over the rivets took FOREVER.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
AV8R Paul
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by AV8R Paul »

Shrinking over Rivits takes forever on the airplane Lars refers to as a “Porcupine Airplane”.
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SheepdogRD
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by SheepdogRD »

BDA wrote:Shinking the fabric over the rivets took FOREVER.
One way around the rivet bumps might be dimpling and using countersunk rivets. But I suspect that's just another version of FOREVER. :(
Richard Holtz
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AV8R Paul
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by AV8R Paul »

Chris & I discussed that. It’s doable, but very time consuming and it doubtfully result in any real benefit other than improve it esthetically. I would be concerned the dimpling the ribs & skin would cause deformation on the skins. The only way you you can find out is trying it. My question would be would there be any real performance benefit, for all the work.
SheepdogRD wrote:
BDA wrote:Shinking the fabric over the rivets took FOREVER.
One way around the rivet bumps might be dimpling and using countersunk rivets. But I suspect that's just another version of FOREVER. :(
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

I started with a heat gun and used a small socket to push the fabric down over the rivet untill I had no finger prints left. Then tried the hole in the felt, then I got smart and drilled a hole just the right size in my Toko Iron that would just fit over the rivet, and deburred and sanded, that worked the best for most of them, the pointy hobby iron worked well too but took longer and easier to scuff the fabric.
Before I do it again I will drill another hole in the other corner.
If I was not careful the hole in the iron would scuff the silver on the fabric, but worked good when used with caution. I was using the iron on each rivet for 15 sec.
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SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Some before and after pics

If you zoom in on the last one you can see what happens when you push and twist to make it go faster, peels the color right off.
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SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
AV8R Paul
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by AV8R Paul »

Chris drilled a hole in the application pad Oratex supplied, we heated up the material with the heat gun and pressed the material down with it. We didn't have any color coming off using that process.
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BucF16
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BucF16 »

Thank you both for your comments! This really helps a first timer.

Cheers,
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
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