Oratex is like Yoga Pants

[BDA]

Thanks Ken!!

Those look great

I will add pics of mine too

[kenryan]

Shawn, what is the story behind your avatar photo?

[BDA]

Ken
That is my dad with his PA-12 in Anchorage in 1948

[BDA]

I have learned more, so I thought I would share.

The test piece that I covered before I started the plane has been out in the weather a year now and has suffered multiple freeze thaw cycles as well as below zero temps. I had covered one side with new Oratex and the other with oratex I took off of my horizontal to see if it was reusable. Then I punched holes in the new fabric and patched with Oratex tape.

First of all the fabric and color have held up well to the weather. The patches did not.

I also had 2 of my edges come loose on the reused fabric. After inspection the glue was still pliable and had not heat set.
My bad.
The steel tube frame is a big heat sink and must not have gotten hot enough.
When reglueing I would hold the iron on it then check temp by hand, it wasnt feeling hot, so i used the heat gun at progressively hotter temps until it was too hot to touch on the tube, definitely have to be careful. But that worked and the glue set.
I was using 600* on my inferior gun.

The tape patches on the holes were dissapointing. I followed all the rules, but they peeled off w very little effort. They were NOT applied directly to fabric, the fabric had been painted. I was hoping the tape would stick to the paint.
So I redid the test. I put glue on both holes this time, and put a fabric patch on one and tape patch on the other.
The glue made the difference. They both stuck this time, BUT while trying to heat set the glue the tape patch kept coming loose. Also while shrinking the patch the next day the tape came loose again, fabric did not.
SO, I will NOT be using the tape to patch holes. It works good as tape, but thats all.

Glue used for this last test had a use by date of last Feb. worked fine.

The fabric patch I used had dried glue on it from a year ago (trim piece), worked fine.

I have tightened the fabric on the test piece multiple times after it got slack in the cold, no problems.

So, word to the wise - always check your temp when setting the glue.
Pics to follow

[BDA]

This is the pull test after a couple days.
Could not pull fabric off without leverage.

If you can peel the fabric - it has not been heat set.

The patch with the wrinkles is the tape, it kept trying to lift with heat.

The normal fabric patch is stuck - and shrunk tight as it should.

I noticed when ironing the fabric back on the tubing that any lumps or bumps kept the iron off enough to cause cold spots.

[BDA]

Update on the electrical tape residue...

As I posted before, we used electrical tape to mock up a paint scheme. But when we took the tape off it left visible lines of adhesive residue - or so it seemed.

I tried alcohol and acetone with no luck at all.

After much discussion with others w Oratex experience, I used MEK on my test piece with very good results - BUT - It softens the coating on the Oratex when it is on there long enough to remove the residue. After a few minutes it is back to normal.

I had to apply it, let it sit, then apply again and scrub w cloth, and I do mean SCRUB.

So after doing the test I am off to work again for a couple weeks, will see if it causes any changes in color or fabric tension before I attempt to scrub the airplane down.

[AV8R Paul]

Call and ask Lars.

[alan]

Tape residue comes off extremely easily with WD40. The WD40 comes of fairly easily with soap and water then alcohol.

Alan

[BucF16]

DON't use brake cleaner!!!!!!

Bruce

[kenryan]

Sorry to hear about the tape residue. There is an Oratex branded cleaner, but I did not find it to be very effective on anything stubborn. I think it is mainly for dirt and grime? Might be worth a try anyway. It is not harsh (so it probably won't work). One suggestion (this is NOT something that I have tried) is 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner. I would be willing to bet that it will take off the residue, but I have not tested it on the Oratex. Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=3m+adhesive+ ... qvuy486h_b

[Tralika]

Did you try this?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MMM08984

[danerazz]

Only half joking...have you tried WD-40?

[BucF16]

I ended getting my tape residue of with "Goo Off" Nylon pad that this stuff and it too 15 minutes.

https://www.amazon.com/Goo-Gone-Origina ... 8981&psc=1

[BucF16]

Damn iPhone

I took my tape residue of with "Goo Off". It took 15 minutes per wing.

https://www.amazon.com/Goo-Gone-Origina ... 8981&psc=1

Cheers,
Bruce

[AV8R Paul]

15 minutes is better than damage the Oratex.