Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

I am considering painting the outside 2 to 3 inches of my prop to make it more visible while running.  I have a Warp Drive prop and would probably paint white tips on it with just a can of regular white spray paint.  Any chance of changing the balance of the prop?  Good idea or bad?

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

FlyboyTR

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

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

In the past I have used spray paint (or clear coat) to balance several props.  Yes, It can change your balance...how much???  It's really hard to get the same amount on each blade.  Also, after it drys it weighs a little less.  A two blade prop is more prone to small changes in balance than is a three blade.  ...Not sure what you have.



Also, adding anything to the ends of the prop can make a big change in balance!  I like the idea of painted tips!  Much more visible...but only paint the front!  



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)

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

My Warp Drive is a 3 blade. Sounds like it might not be a good idea for a novice like me to be painting a prop.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

Jim Shumaker

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 106

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

I paint the outer tip of the prop on the back for visibility.  The front I paint as needed for repairs.  I use yellow because it is visible and matches my plane.  Balance with a lawnmower blade balancer, available at Sears.

  

 Jim Shumaker

 ---

_________________
Jim Shumaker

rjdaugh

Joined: 30 Aug 2006
Posts: 195

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

Steve,

I checked with manufacturer about this and they said it was unlikely that I

would make them out of balance if I did all three blades the same.  I did do

a couple of inches on the back of the blade too.  I think it is a good

safety move.



Randy Daughenbaugh,  N10NH

Black Hills of South Dakota, - Near Mount Rushmore

Home Strip, Grass   Room in Hangar for visitors

Series 5/7 (7 Firewall Forward) 912S, Warp Drive Taper Tip

Gross Weight 1320 lbs, Flying since November 2004



--

_________________
Randy
Kitfox 5/7 912S
Black Hills, South Dakota

thesupe(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

A couple of months ago, I had the prop off my Jabiru powered Avid (64" two blade)  and checked the balence of the prop by running a 1" rod through the center hole that was set on two thin pieces of steel.  (the thinner the better, less friction) and when I put a piece of paper that was  1/4" X 1" on the end of the prop, it immediatly dropped on that side.  Just shows how easy it could be to balence a prop, cause that paper didn't weigh much.  Jim Chuk   Avids,  Kitfox 4  Mn

[quote] From: rjdaugh(at)rapidnet.com

 To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:55:23 -0600

 --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Randy Daughenbaugh" <rjdaugh(at)rapidnet.com>

 Steve,

 I checked with manufacturer about this and they said it was unlikely that I

 would make them out of balance if I did all three blades the same. I did do

 a couple of inches on the back of the blade too. I think it is a good

 safety move.

 Randy Daughenbaugh, N10NH

 Black Hills of South Dakota, - Near Mount Rushmore

 Home Strip, Grass Room in Hangar for visitors

 Series 5/7 (7 Firewall Forward) 912S, Warp Drive Taper Tip

 Gross Weight 1320 lbs, Flying since November 2004

 --

FlyboyTR

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

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

Jim,

I personally do not recommend painting the back of the prop.  In doing so, the prop now becomes visible to the pilot and creates a white or yellow ring in the visual field.  In general terms, the back of the prop should be black.  The color needs to be on the front.  I had the opportunity to fly behind a new composite prop that was all white.  After about 2 hours of looking through this white ring I suggested to the new owner that he paint the back of the prop black.  Now the prop is virtually invisible to the pilot...and no more headaches and tired eyes.



When you paint your three blade prop, just try to apply the same amount of paint to each tip.  Don't forget to remove your tape before the paint dries!  Let us know how it turns out!



Travis  



 	  Jim Shumaker wrote: 	
		  I paint the outer tip of the prop on the back for visibility.  The front I paint as needed for repairs.  I use yellow because it is visible and matches my plane.  Balance with a lawnmower blade balancer, available at Sears.

  

 Jim Shumaker

 ---

_________________
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)

Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

At 03:48 PM 6/13/2008, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  I am considering painting the outside 2 to 3 inches of my prop to 

make it more visible while running.  I have a Warp Drive prop and 

would probably paint white tips on it with just a can of regular 

white spray paint.  Any chance of changing the balance of the 

prop?  Good idea or bad?


	


         I painted the forward faces of my prop white, with red tips 

with black pin striping. I was careful to paint the same, but 

dynamically balanced after anyway. The balance turned out to be very 

close so I don't think you'll have a problem. It's a good idea for 

safety, but as was mentioned elsewhere, don't paint the back of the 

blades, it makes them visible from the cockpit.

Guy Buchanan

San Diego, CA

K-IV 1200 / 582-C / Warp / 100% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.

_________________
Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
A glider pilot too.

Lynn Matteson

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

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:11 am Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

I've got a clear-coated wood prop and when I land with the sun low  

and behind me, it's a bitch to see through that reflective prop  

circle. I've thought about painting the backside black, but have  

hesitated because of the necessity of balance afterward....it's one  

thing to touch up the tips as I just did, but painting the whole  

prop, even just the backside would almost certainly call for a  

balance job. I've done model airplane props, and if you paint one  

tip, it will swing radically to one side (of the balance jig) until  

dry, then it will swing less actively. This is to say the dried paint  

weighs less, but you all knew that. I've done balancing on several  

large fan blades, but haven't tried a prop like mine yet. I guess  

I'll have to rig up a larger jig and check my prop now that it looks  

like the "chunk" is liable to stay on. Besides, I need to earn my  

Airplane Propellor-Balancing Merit Badge.

Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster

Jabiru 2200

Status: flying w/528 hrs

On Jun 14, 2008, at 1:05 AM, Guy Buchanan wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 At 03:48 PM 6/13/2008, you wrote:

> I am considering painting the outside 2 to 3 inches of my prop to  

> make it more visible while running.  I have a Warp Drive prop and  

> would probably paint white tips on it with just a can of regular  

> white spray paint.  Any chance of changing the balance of the  

> prop?  Good idea or bad?

         I painted the forward faces of my prop white, with red tips  

 with black pin striping. I was careful to paint the same, but  

 dynamically balanced after anyway. The balance turned out to be  

 very close so I don't think you'll have a problem. It's a good idea  

 for safety, but as was mentioned elsewhere, don't paint the back of  

 the blades, it makes them visible from the cockpit.

 Guy Buchanan

 San Diego, CA

 K-IV 1200 / 582-C / Warp / 100% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: Painted Prop Tips vrs Prop Balance

I had a three blade Ivo IFA on my 582.  It had the stainless steel tapes to

protect the leading edge.  I did find it would glint in the sun when I was

flying with the sun behind me.  Rather than have a prop all white I think

the two white stripes near the tips of the props 



Noel Loveys

AME Intern, RPP

Kitfox III-A, 582,B box

Ivo IFA, Aerocet 1100 floats



--

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum