Laying Tapes

[d.grimm]

Steve,
Saw your picture of laying tapes. I used to hang around Air Repair a little down in Cleveland, Mississippi.
They were using a HVLP gun with the fan set to about two inches and made one pass, laid down the tape and laid another pass over top. Said it really cut down on the sanding.
I also asked why they still used polished dope. The old gentleman looked me up and down and said, "you're pretty arrogant if you think you will never damage one of these." I think he was talking about repairability.
I've used the spray gun technique since and really like it.

[Steve Pierce]

I have heard of that method also. I intend to try it next time I tape. I can see where it will keep from building up that ridge that you have to sand down to make look good. Back before they changed the STC we used dope over Stits. We got a shiny repairable finish and never had any of the adhesion problems thay claim to have had that made them change the STC. :?

[Steve Pierce]

I should clarify the above. The old Stits STC covered their process up through the silver, after that you could apply automotive paint, dope or whatever. Polyfiber changed it so you had to top coat with Polytone or Aerothane. Then Polyfiber bought Randolph who made the dope system and they changed the Randolpg STC so you had to use dope or Randthane for a top coat. Recently they changed the Stits/Polyfiber STC to allow Randthane polyurethane top coat or Aerothane or Polytone.

[behindpropellers]

I am pretty sure the air-tec stc will let you top coat with what you want after their primer is used. This is from reading stuff on their website fyi.

[Gilbert Pierce]

When I recovered my Clipper with AirTech I had to send them proof of purchase of all the covering materials. They then send you an Approved STC with your N number and serial number. Proof of purchase of AirTech materials must be on file with AirTec coatings.
If you are going to use the AirTech system with something else on top I highly recommend you talk to Mac Hogan at AirTech and ask about the top coating on their system and whether their STC allows you to use something else.

Covering system manufacturers use this little gotcha to make sure you buy their expensive paint.
I believe you have to finish it off with their AirTech Polyurethane.
I guess after you put on their topcoat you could then spray something else on top but by that time what is sense.

[Steve Pierce]

The Air Tec paint shoots so nice and looks so good I doubt I would want to use anything on top of it. I did talk to the Stewarts about this same thing and they said as long as I met the STC they didn't care what if I put something else on top of it.