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Making tape stick

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Dick Maddux

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Location: Milton, Fl

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:17 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Hard to come up with a proper name for this subject. Anyway, I am always dressing up my airplane and recently I applied 1/8 inch vinyl trim tape around the bumps on my radial style cowl. It is a very tight turn around the front part and after a week it lost its adhesion and the tape is buckling and looks bad. Does anyone know of a clear adhesive enhancer I could apply to the surface to get the tape to stick ? (the tape is several months old)

  If this doesn't work then I will have to buy matched paint and stripe it. I would rather not do this as it takes a quart minimum, rather expensive and requires a steady hand. Tape trim has worked well for the rest of my aircraft.

                                   Thanks!

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola, Fl

 A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

  [quote][b]

henrysfork1(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:08 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Dick

  

 Try pre-cleaning the area with rubbing alchol prior to applying the tape. This works real well for other applications. 

  

 Dee Young

 Model II

 N345DY

  

 Do not archive

 

  From: Catz631(at)aol.com

Date: Mon C 27 Apr 2009 08:13:38 -0400

Subject: Making tape stick

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com



 Hard to come up with a proper name for this subject. Anyway C I am always dressing up my airplane and recently I applied 1/8 inch vinyl trim tape around the bumps on my radial style cowl. It is a very tight turn around the front part and after a week it lost its adhesion and the tape is buckling and looks bad. Does anyone know of a clear adhesive enhancer I could apply to the surface to get the tape to stick ? (the tape is several months old)

  If this doesn't work then I will have to buy matched paint and stripe it. I would rather not do this as it takes a quart minimum C rather expensive and requires a steady hand. Tape trim has worked well for the rest of my aircraft.

                                   Thanks!

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola C Fl



  A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! 

[quote]



 	  Quote: 	
		  http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

ronics.com
	


ww.matronics.com/contribution



[b]

Gary

Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Posts: 13
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:10 am Post subject: Re: Making tape stick

Most of my rc models are covered in peel and stick sign vinyl.  What works for me is to wipe the surface and your fingertips with 99% rubbing alcohol so everything is squeaky clean.  Apply the vinyl.  Hit it lightly with a heat gun and rub it in with a gloved finger at the same time.  The heat gun removes the tension in the stretched vinyl and gives the adhesive a jolt.  This might prevent the vinyl form deforming on that hot engine cowl.

_________________
Gary Del Bel Belluz
Toronto, IV / 912UL
Just getting started

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:08 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Dick,



If the previous suggestions don't fix the problem,  pin stripe paint is 

available in half pints for about $15.  Check the link.



http://www.eastwoodco.com/   click on painting and pinstriping then One 

Stop.



Lowell

---

rexinator

Joined: 31 Jan 2009
Posts: 33

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:10 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Not sure there is another solution other than consider cutting sheet 

adhesive vinyl to apply like a decal. There are of course folks that can 

make custom cut vinyl signs who may have the software to make custom shapes.

I've seen booths in fleamarkets that make vinyl signs. Might be reasonable.



Rex Hefferan

Colorado M2/582



Catz631(at)aol.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Hard to come up with a proper name for this subject. Anyway, I am 

 always dressing up my airplane and recently I applied 1/8 inch vinyl 

 trim tape around the bumps on my radial style cowl. It is a very tight 

 turn around the front part and after a week it lost its adhesion and 

 the tape is buckling and looks bad. Does anyone know of a clear 

 adhesive enhancer I could apply to the surface to get the tape to 

 stick ? (the tape is several months old)

  If this doesn't work then I will have to buy matched paint and stripe 

 it. I would rather not do this as it takes a quart minimum, rather 

 expensive and requires a steady hand. Tape trim has worked well for 

 the rest of my aircraft.

                                   Thanks!

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola, Fl



 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! 



 *

 *

Paul A. Franz, P.E.

Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Bellevue WA

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:07 am Post subject: Making tape stick

On Mon, April 27, 2009 5:13 am, Dick Maddux wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Hard to come up with a proper name for this subject. Anyway, I am always

 dressing up my airplane and recently I applied 1/8 inch vinyl trim tape around

 the bumps on my radial style cowl. It is a very tight turn around the front

 part and after a week it lost its adhesion and the tape is buckling and

 looks bad. Does anyone know of a clear adhesive enhancer I could apply to the

 surface to get the tape to stick ? (the tape is several months old)

  If this doesn't work then I will have to buy matched paint and stripe it.

 I would rather not do this as it takes a quart minimum, rather expensive and

 requires a steady hand. Tape trim has worked well for the rest of my

 aircraft.


	


Dick - I have been recently working with Vinyl lettering for signs on vehicles. I've

learned a little so naturally, I can spout off like a self-described expert who has

actually little expertise (me). OK, with that terribly honest disclaimer out of the

way, I think you should make the design in a vector graphics program such as Corel

Draw, Adobe Illustrator or AutoCAD. These programs create vector graphics as opposed

to raster graphics and are infinitely scalable so vinyl sign cutters can use the

output to make the pieces you need. The sign material is thinner than the vinyl tape

you're using and since it will be cut in the shape you need, it will stick down

tightly without curling away. There is quite a bit of layout skill required in my

opinion, meaning transferring the cut designs from the backing to the final

destination is a bit tricky.



So, to deal with that problem you can either do some practice, get some help from the

people that you choose to cut your design or you can just do it in pieces. Maybe have

the sign cutter just do the tight radius portions and you fill in the rest with your

straight tape or transfer the entire cut pieces for each bump in sections. I can't see

joints when the pieces are cut with a razor knife so if moving the finished cut pieces

from the backing can be done in sections and no one will be able to see it.



If you use Corel Draw, save your output as "Adobe Illustrator" .ai file as well as the

native .cdr and if using a cad program such as AutoCAD export it as IGES or DXF so

other programs can use the input. Many programs including Adobe Illustrator can import

DXF. Sign cutters use Adobe Illustrator frequently. Most CAD programs will output

drawings in DXF or IGES and there are a number of free CAD programs available. I

personally see the CAD programs as easier to learn for this task than the programs

like Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator. BTW, Adobe Illustrator is free to download and

you can run it for a month before you have to buy it. But it is a pile of money so,

unless you're going to be using it a lot, you's be better off to just have the sign

cutting company do it for you. You can hand draw the things you want cut out and they

can measure and enter the data into the program.



-- 

Paul A. Franz

Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT

Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP

Bellevue WA

425.241.1618 Cell



"Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the

nation because the people were so poor. Now we are told we must

collectivize the nation because the people are so rich."

-- National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008)



"What's called the public debt stands at $11 trillion and growing.

That pales in comparison to the federal government's unfunded

liability -- obligations that are not covered by an asset of equal

or greater value. Mike Whalen, former policy chairman of the

Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis, commenting on

last year's Social Security Trustees annual report on the state of

the Social Security and Medicare programs, said, 'The report on the

state of entitlement programs is rather grim -- the combined

unfunded liabilities of both programs are $101 trillion.' What that

means is that in order for government to make good on its promises,

Congress would have to put aside tens of trillions of dollars in

the bank today. Keep in mind that our GDP is only $14 trillion. In

the absence of massive tax increases or cuts in benefits, in order

to meet its promises Congress must cease spending on one in four

programs by 2020, such as education and highway construction, and

one in two by 2030, and by 2050 or so all federal revenue will be

spent supporting Social Security, Medicare and prescription drug

benefits. Such a scenario is unsustainable. There will be economic

and political chaos. Today's politicians are not likely to take

measures to avoid the coming chaos because senior citizens, the

major beneficiaries of Social Security and Medicare, vote in large

numbers and will exact a high political price. Plus, neither

today's senior citizens nor today's politicians will be alive in

2050. I'd be more optimistic if my fellow Americans were simply

suffering from congressional deception as opposed to their not

caring about the economic calamity that awaits tomorrow's

Americans."

-- George Mason University economics professor Walter E. Williams

_________________
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
425.440.9505 Office

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:02 am Post subject: Making tape stick

I would suggest painting the stripes on with masked edges and a small  

spray gun. It is the only permanent way to do the job....and scores  

more points with the judges when it comes time to be judged...even if  

the judging is only done by your hangar buddies. It shows that you  

took some time (ok, a LONG time) and put some thought...and  

pride...into the job.



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger

Jabiru 2200, #2062, 635.2 hrs

Sensenich 62x46

Electroair direct-fire ignition system

Status: flying





On Apr 27, 2009, at 8:13 AM, Catz631(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Hard to come up with a proper name for this subject. Anyway, I am  

 always dressing up my airplane and recently I applied 1/8 inch  

 vinyl trim tape around the bumps on my radial style cowl. It is a  

 very tight turn around the front part and after a week it lost its  

 adhesion and the tape is buckling and looks bad. Does anyone know  

 of a clear adhesive enhancer I could apply to the surface to get  

 the tape to stick ? (the tape is several months old)

  If this doesn't work then I will have to buy matched paint and  

 stripe it. I would rather not do this as it takes a quart minimum,  

 rather expensive and requires a steady hand. Tape trim has worked  

 well for the rest of my aircraft.

                                   Thanks!

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola, Fl



 A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy  

 steps! _- 

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Dick Maddux

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Location: Milton, Fl

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:04 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Lynn,

   Your idea is a good one,however, I have been using vinyl tape trim on a number of aircraft in the past and you can hardly tell it from paint.It works very well.(ala the new Cessnas,cars,etc)

   This is the first time I have had trouble having it stick but I know the reason is because of the very tight radius ,age and the width of the tape. 

   I assure you I can get a very nice looking job with the thin tape.

   No one in my area even know what a Kitfox is.I am the only aircraft in my immediate area with a Rotax engine. Most of the other guys think I am flying around in one of those "whiney" ultralights.I really don't care what they think of course as I recently discovered fun flying again and I am flying this airplane more than any of the others I have had. 

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola,Fl

  

 PS; I have a box full of awards for my British cars so adding any more for my airplane and pleasing judges, is not a factor. I just want to have a nice looking airplane without making a mess of an otherwise nice looking cowl

 Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!

  [quote][b]

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:02 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Hi Dick-

Have you tried the model airplane/hobby stores for narrow tape? The 5- 

year old tape I have on hand is 1/8" and 1/4", and maybe like yours  

is too old. I just looked up the Carl Goldberg line of tapes (that I  

used in the past) and their address is:  http:// 

www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/accys/gbgq0680.html



Another line is "Hangar 9" by Horizon Hobby, Inc. I haven't looked  

into the automotive line of tapes, but they probably have a good line  

of products as well. Maybe the modeler's tapes are better because of  

the closer proximity of the viewer to the plane...the closer you get,  

the better the tape has to be, might be the motto, I don't  

know...just throwing ideas out there.



I saw you got one post that mentioned heat to relax "the stretched  

vinyl". That...the stretching....is a no-no from what I have learned  

and read: "DO NOT over-stretch Stripe during application! Tape must  

lie comfortably on surface." says the instructions on the Carl  

Goldberg Color Stripe instructions. Then they "apply medium heat  

250-300 F, using an iron and a soft cloth to rub down...."



I've done this on models and it works well, but the trick is to  

follow the "don't stretch" instructions, just like you would if you  

were laying down the narrow masking tapes prior to painting....any  

stretching and the tape will shrink and lift off the surface.

The reason I shy away from the tapes on a full-size plane is the  

amount of time it will (probably) be in the sun. I've seen tapes lift  

from a plane and then it looks bad.

Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger

Jabiru 2200, #2062, 635.2 hrs

Sensenich 62x46

Electroair direct-fire ignition system

Status: flying





On Apr 29, 2009, at 8:02 AM, Catz631(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Lynn,

   Your idea is a good one,however, I have been using vinyl tape  

 trim on a number of aircraft in the past and you can hardly tell it  

 from paint.It works very well.(ala the new Cessnas,cars,etc)

   This is the first time I have had trouble having it stick but I  

 know the reason is because of the very tight radius ,age and the  

 width of the tape.

   I assure you I can get a very nice looking job with the thin tape.

   No one in my area even know what a Kitfox is.I am the only  

 aircraft in my immediate area with a Rotax engine. Most of the  

 other guys think I am flying around in one of those "whiney"  

 ultralights.I really don't care what they think of course as I  

 recently discovered fun flying again and I am flying this airplane  

 more than any of the others I have had.

                                                       Dick Maddux

                                                       Pensacola,Fl



 PS; I have a box full of awards for my British cars so adding any  

 more for my airplane and pleasing judges, is not a factor. I just  

 want to have a nice looking airplane without making a mess of an  

 otherwise nice looking cowl



 Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops! _- 

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Dick Maddux

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Location: Milton, Fl

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 2:52 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Lynn,

   Thanks for the excellent advice !! I will try the heat  and   cloth method !

    Right now I am at my    cabin in the NC  mountains driving my Triumph TR3B through the curves ! What a blast !!  Won't be dealing with my Fox for a month or more

  The Internet over the phone lines up here in the mountains is a  dismal 21 k. Boy is it slow ! No other way though. Don't believe I will be  writing much.

                                         Dick Maddux

                                         Bryson City, NC

 Join ChristianMingle.com® FREE! Meet Christian Singles in your area. Start now!

  [quote][b]

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 4:47 am Post subject: Making tape stick

Watch out for those mountain curves, Dick....sounds like a blast,  

alright!



Lynn

do not archive

On May 1, 2009, at 6:47 AM, Catz631(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Lynn,

   Thanks for the excellent advice !! I will try the heat and    

 cloth method !

    Right now I am at my    cabin in the NC mountains driving my  

 Triumph TR3B through the curves ! What a blast !! Won't be dealing  

 with my Fox for a month or more

  The Internet over the phone lines up here in the mountains is a  

 dismal 21 k. Boy is it slow ! No other way though. Don't believe I  

 will be writing much.

                                        Dick Maddux

                                        Bryson City, NC



 Join ChristianMingle.com® FREE! Meet Christian Singles in your  

 area. Start now!

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

FlyboyTR

Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mobile, Alabama

Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: Making tape stick

Dick,

As you know, my plane has a lot of detail work.  Here's my take on your problem.  The compound curves are a given but can be overcome with the application of a little heat when installed.  However,  I think you may need to consider the temperature of the cowling after shutting down.  That is enough to soften the adhesive on most vinyl products causing them to turn loose and then they naturally want to roll along the edges.  I think painting is the better choice as mentioned by several.  



Let me know when you're back in town!



Travis

_________________
Travis Rayner
Mobile, AL
Skystar Vixen, N-789DF
Continental IO-240, Prince P-Tip Prop
ADI-II Autopilot
AnyWhereMap Navigation with weather
www.enotam.net (My Flying Info Website)

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