Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:55:16 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail.indian-creek.net ([209.176.40.9] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.5) with ESMTP id 2634302 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:15:26 -0400 Received: from VAIO (sl8.du.indian-creek.net [209.176.40.24] toucan@78055.com) by mail.indian-creek.net with SMTP (IOA-IPAD 3.90e/96) id 6Y5YA00 for ; Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:15:43 -0500 X-Original-Message-ID: <002301c3912f$d71083a0$1828b0d1@VAIO> From: "Jim Cameron" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" Subject: Gap Seal Tape X-Original-Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:14:36 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0020_01C39105.D6E3E770" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2720.3000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2727.1300 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01C39105.D6E3E770 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I've used gap seal tape on two ES's, with no problems. I bought = everything from Wings 'n Wheels (through their online site). Most of it = is made in Germany. The only product I got from them that didn't work = out was some super-special (read expensive) tape from 3M that was = supposed to be good for wing root gaps. It wasn't -- the type 33+ = electrical tape in white works much better. Probably the key to the gap seal tape is to have everything really, = really clean before installation. That means putting it on before the = first wax job, and cleaning everything with ethanol. (This isn't = available everywhere, but any specialty paint store that still sells = shellac should have ethanol, since that's what you have to use to cut = shellac.) Installing the tapes is a three-part process: first the = double-sided sticky tape goes on, then the gap seal itself, then a = leading edge sealer tape. The gap seals are available in several = widths, and in various lengths. Everything gets rubbed down hard with a = thumbnail or other non-marring implement. If any corners don't stick = down properly, the surface wasn't clean enough. If a plane has already been waxed, it might be problematic to get = good adhesion. A straight carnauba wax can be removed with solvent, but = silicone-based waxes are essentially there until the next ice age. (Yet = another reason to use good old carnauba.) In descents the ES will occasionally see speeds of 220 knots or so. = How the tape will hold up on a Legacy with significantly higher cruise = (and descent) speeds is a question mark. This stuff is normally made = for gliders, and as long as the wings are still on, they're a bit slower = than the Legacy. I'm going to put it on this one, so I'll let y'all = know in a few months. Jim Cameron ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01C39105.D6E3E770 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I've used gap seal = tape on two=20 ES's, with no problems. I bought everything from Wings 'n Wheels = (through=20 their online site). Most of it is made in Germany. The only = product=20 I got from them that didn't work out was some super-special (read = expensive)=20 tape from 3M that was supposed to be good for wing root gaps. It = wasn't --=20 the type 33+ electrical tape in white works much better.

Probably the key to = the gap seal=20 tape is to have everything really, really clean before = installation. That=20 means putting it on before the first wax job, and cleaning everything = with=20 ethanol. (This isn't available everywhere, but any specialty paint = store=20 that still sells shellac should have ethanol, since that's what you have = to use=20 to cut shellac.) Installing the tapes is a three-part = process: first=20 the double-sided sticky tape goes on, then the gap seal itself, then a = leading=20 edge sealer tape. The gap seals are available in several widths, = and in=20 various lengths. Everything gets rubbed down hard with a thumbnail = or=20 other non-marring implement. If any corners don't stick down = properly, the=20 surface wasn't clean enough.

If a plane has = already been=20 waxed, it might be problematic to get good adhesion. A straight = carnauba=20 wax can be removed with solvent, but silicone-based waxes are = essentially there=20 until the next ice age. (Yet another reason to use good old=20 carnauba.)

In descents the ES = will=20 occasionally see speeds of 220 knots or so. How the tape will hold = up=20 on a Legacy with significantly higher cruise (and descent) speeds = is a=20 question mark. This stuff is normally made for gliders, and as = long as the=20 wings are still on, they're a bit slower than the Legacy. I'm = going to put=20 it on this one, so I'll let y'all know in a few months.

Jim Cameron

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