REFLECTOR: Epoxy question

Reiff Lorenz Reiff at Lorenz.com
Sat Oct 6 09:07:39 CDT 2012


>> Do you have any pictures of the bid tape? <<


Ron,

It is: West Marine #727 (Episize Biaxial Tape, 4" x 20 yard roll.)  Here is the link to the part on West Marine's site.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=14880&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50218&subdeptNum=50219&classNum=50226

(If the above link is broken, try:    http://goo.gl/iHedd   )

It is 50% heavier than the stock Velocity BID, so where the plans call for 5 layers of (woven 8.9oz) BID, I've been using 3 (straight 15oz) plies of this. It doesn't stretch or contort as much as standard BID (due to the non-structural, in-line stitching that holds it together), which is great when trying to place a long strip in position, but be aware that it won't conform to tight corners very well.

West has free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

For cosmetic applications, I've been using the Aircraft Spruce fiberglass tape. It's lighter that Velocity BID and it's laid out at 90-degrees, so it's not as strong. Good for keeping seams from cracking or as a smooth layer of glass on top of a structural layup.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/etapes.php

While you're there, get some peel-ply tape, too. So much easier than trying to cut 4-inch strips from a long roll. I got this from another builder and have used it almost exclusively.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/peelply.php

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a fiberglass expert. Most of my fiberglass work at this stage consists of fairings and flanges. I have no qualms about using the West fiberglass for things like holding on canard tips or making cowl flanges. I'd check with Velocity HQ or an engineer, though, before I used it in load-supporting applications like bulkhead reinforcements.

Hope this helps!


Reiff Lorenz, Dayton, OH
Velocity XL-RG, 37% complete
Currently working on: Creating a large-radius wing root fairing on the engine cowl.


The Velocity Builders' Virtual Hangar is available 24/7 at:
https://liveconferencepro.com/guest/loginguest.php?id=86a48563bb517ade0abf1a7ee1f38e65





From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Ron N VelocityXLFG
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2012 12:23 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Epoxy question

Do you have any pictures of the bid tape. And a part number . Sorry I can not picture what you are using.
I would love to not have to cut bid tapes

Ron
On 10/3/2012 9:54 PM, Reiff Lorenz wrote:

I'm now using West exclusively. I use the fast hardener and mix it in small batches. Layups gel within an hour. If I hit it with a heat gun after it has gelled (and the exotherm danger has passed) it is fully set and sandable within a few hours. It keeps me building instead of waiting. I switch to the slow hardener for larger batches or projects that I don't expect to work on again in the next for 24 hours.

While we're talking about West products, their 4-inch 45-degree BID tape saves a ton of time cutting tape strips! It's 50% heavier than the 8.9 ounce BID that the kit calls for and its fibers are not woven ( they're held in place with a non-structural thread, like triax), so they are supposedly even stronger than woven BID. Anyone else using this?


Reiff Lorenz, Dayton, OH
Velocity XL-RG, 37% complete
Currently working on: Fitting cowl to wings.


The Velocity Builders' Virtual Hangar is available 24/7 at:
https://liveconferencepro.com/guest/loginguest.php?id=86a48563bb517ade0abf1a7ee1f38e65







From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org> [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Lou Stedman
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 6:04 PM
To: Canard Aviators; Velocity Reflector
Subject: REFLECTOR: Epoxy question

I got a lot of different answers to my question about epoxy from everyone. They were much appreciated. Today I called Velocity and asked them. They told me that I used the wrong hardener, which you all told me. They said that I could use the West as long as I used the slower hardener. In my case it is the 206. He did say that the 209 would be better but if I mixed more micros, they would take away some of the heat. He also suggested that instead of trying to fill the entire void which was created, that I epoxy in close cell foam to fill the original area. He told me to let it dry using the 206 and the next day I can cut a slot just a bit larger the the horn and epoxy it into place. The last thing he suggested was to put one layer of bid over the repaired area, sand , and paint.

So today I followed his instructions and had no problem. Tomorrow I will cut my slot and epoxy in the control horn. So not others know the "right" way to do this repair. Thanks again for all of your comments. It helped a lot.

Lou Stedman
Velocity SEFG
N7044Q
Olean, NY




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