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Cox Engine of The Month
Sealing Decals From Fuel
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Sealing Decals From Fuel
Hi, everyone:
I'm building an Ace Simple Series Corsair and documenting it over on RCGroups, but seeing how many of us have moved to this forum, I'd like to pose my question here. I'm trying to seal hinges and decals which lie over Helsman Spar Urethane. Can anyone share their method for sealing? Might nail polish fit the bill?
Many thanks,
KP
I'm building an Ace Simple Series Corsair and documenting it over on RCGroups, but seeing how many of us have moved to this forum, I'd like to pose my question here. I'm trying to seal hinges and decals which lie over Helsman Spar Urethane. Can anyone share their method for sealing? Might nail polish fit the bill?
Many thanks,
KP
kpriddle- Bronze Member
- Posts : 35
Join date : 2012-05-29
Location : Maine
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
Hi KP, I used to spend a lot of time at RCG, and remember you from there. My recent interests have caused me to defect to Stunthangar, with CEF being my hobby anchor.
Clear fingernail polish seals them, but on the last two planes I used it, it turned white after cleaning with alcohol. For the sake of looks, I had to rub some clean castor oil on it to make the white disappear. Maybe I bought the wrong kind.
On other planes, I have masked around the decals and sprayed several dustings of Lustrekote crystal clear. Mine were applied on top of Rustoleum paint, so I don't know if the urethane will have a problem with Lustrekote. But I have gotten overspray on Minwax Polyurethane and it didn't phase it.
I use either sewn hinges, fabric or pin hinges, so I've never thought of sealing them. Can't offer any help there.
Rusty
Clear fingernail polish seals them, but on the last two planes I used it, it turned white after cleaning with alcohol. For the sake of looks, I had to rub some clean castor oil on it to make the white disappear. Maybe I bought the wrong kind.
On other planes, I have masked around the decals and sprayed several dustings of Lustrekote crystal clear. Mine were applied on top of Rustoleum paint, so I don't know if the urethane will have a problem with Lustrekote. But I have gotten overspray on Minwax Polyurethane and it didn't phase it.
I use either sewn hinges, fabric or pin hinges, so I've never thought of sealing them. Can't offer any help there.
Rusty
_________________
Don't Panic!
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
RknRusty- Rest In Peace
- Posts : 10869
Join date : 2011-08-10
Age : 68
Location : South Carolina, USA
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
I used to seal all of my decals with Minwax polyurethane. The only problems I encountered was yellowing. Ken
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5609
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
K --
Fingernail polish generally contains acetone which will melt foam. If you decide to try fingernail polish, test it on a safe location before use.
I usually seal trim and decals with clear butyrate dope -- again, you may want to test it on a scrap piece of decal material. Some decals will bubble or wrinkle with dope.
andrew
Fingernail polish generally contains acetone which will melt foam. If you decide to try fingernail polish, test it on a safe location before use.
I usually seal trim and decals with clear butyrate dope -- again, you may want to test it on a scrap piece of decal material. Some decals will bubble or wrinkle with dope.
andrew
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
Thank you for all the responses. Rusty, may I ask how long the polish took to turn white? I usually use a light spray of Windex on a paper towel. I read elsewhere that Windex contains isopropyl alcohol, but I don't know if it contains enough to harm the polish.
Either way, I have three types of polish on a test piece now and will give all three a go with Windex. I'll post the results...
KP
Either way, I have three types of polish on a test piece now and will give all three a go with Windex. I'll post the results...
KP
kpriddle- Bronze Member
- Posts : 35
Join date : 2012-05-29
Location : Maine
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
I am sure that clear finger nail polish will not be fuel proof. The main constituent is nitro cellulose and this is not fuel proof.
A coat of butyrate dope will be fuel proof but only with low nitro fuels. From the Windy videos I watched, it was his conclusion that it was only fuel proof to 5% nitro and definitely not to 10%.
From my own experience, butyrate dope (or the version I used) was definitely not fuel proof at 20%.
Ron has been bravely flying the Rocking Donkey - This has decals and was coated with this stuff
http://www.pegasusmodels.co.uk/product.asp?prodid=995857#.VKZsUp1FCUk (probably not available in the US)
I believe he used 30%+ nitro so it would be interesting to see if the decals have survived ( Apart from his attraction to landing upside on concrete and flying into trees! )
A coat of butyrate dope will be fuel proof but only with low nitro fuels. From the Windy videos I watched, it was his conclusion that it was only fuel proof to 5% nitro and definitely not to 10%.
From my own experience, butyrate dope (or the version I used) was definitely not fuel proof at 20%.
Ron has been bravely flying the Rocking Donkey - This has decals and was coated with this stuff
http://www.pegasusmodels.co.uk/product.asp?prodid=995857#.VKZsUp1FCUk (probably not available in the US)
I believe he used 30%+ nitro so it would be interesting to see if the decals have survived ( Apart from his attraction to landing upside on concrete and flying into trees! )
ian1954- Diamond Member
- Posts : 2688
Join date : 2011-11-16
Age : 70
Location : England
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
It turned hazy white before I ever flew the plane. I would rub some oil on it and it would look a lot better.
Rusty
Rusty
_________________
Don't Panic!
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
RknRusty- Rest In Peace
- Posts : 10869
Join date : 2011-08-10
Age : 68
Location : South Carolina, USA
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
If you are using polyurethane varnish already, use some more polyurethane varnish to seal the decals. This is easiest and know to work, as long as it doesn't wrinkle or damage the decals. Look up the product you are using, there usually is an amber varnish and a clear varnish in most product lines. Use the clear.
Phil
Phil
pkrankow- Top Poster
- Posts : 3025
Join date : 2012-10-02
Location : Ohio
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
Ian, as you said, the nail polish wasn't fuel proof on any of the three polishes. After reading Rusty's post about the nail polish turning white before alcohol was applied, I thought I'd skip the alcohol and go straight for the fuel. It definitely didn't work with 25% nitro. Also, I can't seem to find the videos you refer to. Do you happen to have the link (if not, no worries)?
By now, I'm thinking I will settle on Sig Butyrate Dope (I'll have to go pick some up tomorrow) or Helmsman Spar Urethane. Phil, my only issue with using the urethane is that I have gotten very grainy results from spraying multiple coats of this stuff (a wet over a dry). One rather wet coat is usually the best. By the way, if anyone is interested, I highly suggest checking out post #15-#25 HERE. This stuff is very fuel-proof, yellows little to none, can be sprayed on lightly, and dries quickly (although my tests have shown that two days of drying is best for "fuel-proofness").
For those more experienced, are there any big hints or things-to-avoid with butyrate? Or is it pretty straight forward?
Thanks again,
KP
By now, I'm thinking I will settle on Sig Butyrate Dope (I'll have to go pick some up tomorrow) or Helmsman Spar Urethane. Phil, my only issue with using the urethane is that I have gotten very grainy results from spraying multiple coats of this stuff (a wet over a dry). One rather wet coat is usually the best. By the way, if anyone is interested, I highly suggest checking out post #15-#25 HERE. This stuff is very fuel-proof, yellows little to none, can be sprayed on lightly, and dries quickly (although my tests have shown that two days of drying is best for "fuel-proofness").
For those more experienced, are there any big hints or things-to-avoid with butyrate? Or is it pretty straight forward?
Thanks again,
KP
kpriddle- Bronze Member
- Posts : 35
Join date : 2012-05-29
Location : Maine
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
Do I understand this correctly that you already put the spar varnish on? If so, it's a oil base product. You can't place dope over top of it. It will alligator the finish. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it would need to be done in light misting coats. In addition, is this a foam wing. If indeed the dope eats through the finish it will melt the foam. In order to get a decent glossy finish you have to thin it which will more than likely attack the underlying surface. Staying back and misting the coats on will help. But if this is indeed a foam wing I would use a lot of caution. While your choice of dope (Sig) is the best in regards of fuel resistance, most dopes have little fuel proofing qualities and they all eventually fail or begin to wipe off.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5609
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: Sealing Decals From Fuel
Ken,
Yes, I have already sprayed everything with Rustoleum Navy blue and then Spar Urethane.
The wing has been covered with Doculam just like the other parts, so any reaction with the foam can be factored out.
KP
Yes, I have already sprayed everything with Rustoleum Navy blue and then Spar Urethane.
The wing has been covered with Doculam just like the other parts, so any reaction with the foam can be factored out.
KP
kpriddle- Bronze Member
- Posts : 35
Join date : 2012-05-29
Location : Maine
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