Covering Help
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: kaisersluatern
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
I'm working on my first ARF, and there are a few minor wrinkels in the covering on the wing. I was wondering if a hair drier wouuld be able to shrink those out.
Thanks,
Darren
Thanks,
Darren
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: kaisersluatern
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
The covering is Ultracoat. The hair dryer actually took out some of the smaller wrinkels but couldn't do much with the bigger ones. They are actually not that bad, I'm just a perfectionist I guess. Any ideas on getting the big ones out with something I could fiind around the house?
Thanks,
Darren
Thanks,
Darren
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: d, AL,
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
I'd try a clothes iron.
You'll need about 225-300 (350F MAX) degrees F....I think they'll go that high(?).
Start on low and sneak-up on it, yes? And if you do have it very high, stay away from the seams (edges) or you'll compromise the tack point and it will distort and pull away. Hard to fix.
You'll need about 225-300 (350F MAX) degrees F....I think they'll go that high(?).
Start on low and sneak-up on it, yes? And if you do have it very high, stay away from the seams (edges) or you'll compromise the tack point and it will distort and pull away. Hard to fix.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: kaisersluatern
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
Thanks, I'll have to try this while the wife is out shopping or something, she'd kill me if she caught me using her iron for this...
#9
Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
Try this idea at your own risk. We use it to shrink the covering on some helicopter blades and it works amazingly well.
Take a tea pot full of water and bring it to a boil.
Hold your plane over the steam and let the steam do the shrinking.
Take a tea pot full of water and bring it to a boil.
Hold your plane over the steam and let the steam do the shrinking.
#11
Senior Member
My Feedback: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: in,
FL
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
Hobby heat guns are typically 1000 watts. Hair driers are from 1200 to 1600 watts, therefore the hair drier will work, but it's the concentration of the air from the heat gun that makes it better, in other words the nozzle is smaller.
Steam at atmospheric (sea level) pressure is 212 deg. F ., it only gets hotter when under pressure or when super heated.
Steam at atmospheric (sea level) pressure is 212 deg. F ., it only gets hotter when under pressure or when super heated.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Spring Hill,
FL
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Covering Help
I've shrunk covering directly over a burner on the stove. Of course you have to be very careful not to reduce the covering to a molten ball of plastic on the stove.
I suggest you get a real heat gun. You'll get plenty of use from it as long as you're in this hobby.
I suggest you get a real heat gun. You'll get plenty of use from it as long as you're in this hobby.