I realize there is much I do not know about many things so it surprises me
to learn that an automotive paint which I suspect would have been a solvent
based enamel could adhere to a latex paint. It stands to reason the two
materials are vastly different in chemistry and properties.
The typical enamel automotive style coating would be a brittle material more
rigid and with little flexibility other than its own expansion properties
where as the underlying a latex material is a more flexible rubber type material
with greater flex capability. When the skin needed to flex under load, the
top coat automotive coating would be resistant to that mechanical stretching
and begin to lose adhesion to its latex bonding base and chip off perhaps
causing the cloth to follow.
Although the use of automotive paint sounds attractive and would permit a
nice smooth and highly more aerodynamic surface it doesn't sound practical over
the latex base. I suspect one would have to uses an automotive primer, base
coat and clear coat system to do it all properly.
These are my own though's of how materials work and behave. I call once
again on the collective wisdom and science of the experts and the coating Gods
to
show me the errors of my ways and point me the direction of truth.
I would love to use a latex base and get the ease of application and cost
benefit and the automotive finish topcoat if it is possible, practical and does
not compromise safety of flight. It seems that like the airplane the coating
systems are a series of compromises and there is just something about a wing
loosing its covering in flight is just a bit more adventure than I care to
experience.
John
In a message dated 11/26/2008 8:44:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
taildrags@hotmail.com writes:
--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: Oscar Zuniga <taildrags@hotmail.com>
Bill Church wrote-
>
> This is the first time that I have read that John Dilatush's (now Greg
> bacon's) Piet was painted with Latex.
> Is this a recent discovery?
Well, I went back and re-read the info from John (down near the bottom, at
http://www.westcoastpiet.com/steve_eldridge.htm ) and it actually says that he
used the Fisher method, which involves black latex house paint as the
primer, weave filler, and UV protection, and then applied automotive enamel over
that. So I was only partially correct in what I said.
On a completely different subject, I just noticed that Mike Cuy's Piet has
brass leading edges on the prop. Hmmm... I don't remember seeing that in the
construction videos. I sure like that look on a prop for these airplanes.
Oscar Zuniga
Air Camper NX41CC
San Antonio, TX
mailto: taildrags@hotmail.com
website at http://www.flysquirrel.net
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