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Light fabric

Little_Cub

Little_Cub

MEMBER
Palmer, Alaska
We are very pleased with the ORATEX fabric.. we have 140+ hours on our Cub since May, very durable in the rocks but most of all IT'S_LIGHT, Where a normal cub fabric weighs what.. possibly 75-85 # this stuff is about 20#! The glue is water based and could be used in the living room, the other thing I liked was the fact the glue will turn liquid again with enough heat.. this allows you to tighten or clean up any rough spots and even remove something (like fabric tank covers). Once the fabric is separated a new layer of glue must be applied.

It took 4 days to complete ALL fabric on ours.

The fabric is certified overseas and used on air freighters for the weight savings, Oratex 6000 is certified for 6000KG (over 13,000#) aircraft.

If I can help with any questions please contact by email fknapp (at) alarmspro.com

Lars has been most helpful and I recommend their product..
Lars Gleitsmann:lars@betteraircraftfabric.com
Telephone: (907) 229-6792

Regards,
frank
 
Need some Picts. Sounds interesting. How do you keep the pinked edges down if you keep the glue 5mm back from the edge of the tape.
 
mike mcs repair said:
ummmm, that's old cotton with a zillion coats of dope weight..... not the modern stuff...
Click to expand...

it is impressive.. However I am not the expert. I have covered several and always disliked the stink and mess. This stuff works the way I feel it should.
http://www.betteraircraftfabric.com/
http://www.oracover.de/
http://forum.bearhawkgroups.com/viewtopic.php?t=2233&sid=580574cfcc327d6cfa304f32aa6c1dc9
http://www.g-tlac.com/oratex.html

The tape has glue attached to the back and allows the edge to attach pretty well.

It's non toxic.. I have had enough two part (paint). I really appreciate the way this stuff doesn't knock you out!

The cost is more than Stits but there is weight savings and no spray rig investment,

Mike.. what does a light covering weigh? I have removed well endowed Ceconite and it sure seems heavy. One possible down side.. the weave is noticeable on this fabric, it is a tighter weave but not a mirror finish.

When we were building we calculated the cost of weight savings on things like carbon and titanium parts.. it seemed like a pound (savings) was costing between $500 and $1000.. if we saved even 20# it was a huge deal.

personal opinion.. don't shoot the messenger! ;-)
 
Clint -
I want to say it was about $7K for our Cub.. my wife (has never done any aircraft work) did much of the fabric work.. once prepared we were done in 4 days.

Doc -
1- We spoke with Mark (from the link you posted) before we purchased.. I don't think he has installed the product.
2- We used the 6000 not 600 that he was speaking about.. it's still very light but certified overseas for 13,000# aircraft..
(they are currently working on certification over here).

We are not selling the product.. simply impressed with both the product and the company and for that reason alone we are willing to speak up.. I would suggest getting a sample and testing for yourself. Roger has completed some tests.. http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthread.php?42211-N3150P-Expermental-PA11&p=551412#post551412

We were running out of fabric at some point and called the factory, DHL was in our driveway on the morning of the third day after the order, not bad from Germany! It's not like many places.. when you call generally you speak to the owner/CEO and it's obvious he is all about service.

They now have good local representation which will help.

Good luck
 
That's good to hear. That thread is three years old. I was hopeful. Seven grand isn't bad and four days is great!
 
Little Cub, did you get the pre painted one of did you have to paint the fabric. Ho about some pictures?

Regards,

JM
 
1.JPG

The fabric is pre colored.. not a bad finish however not the luster of a new Oldsmobile.
In my mind all the benefits far out value any lack of luster!
(we saved someplace between 25# and 45# over some processes)!

PM if you would like more specifics

regards,
frank
 

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This fabric sounds too good to be true. It will be nice if they can get it certified here. I mentioned it in my household that perhaps I'll have to build another plane so that I can try this new fabric. The response was "you have enough planes now, just fly them" :p
 
Not having to paint would really save lots of time so that alone would be a big deal to me. What do you do if you want to paint a trim color on or something like that? Or maybe you order something from a graphics place and stick it on...Will MEK or other solvents attack it? So many questions, I guess I should give this place a call, but it will be a couple or years before my next project is ready to cover.
 
skywagon8a said:
I mentioned it in my household that perhaps I'll have to build another plane so that I can try this new fabric. The response was "you have enough planes now, just fly them" :p
Click to expand...

Guess we think alike. Exactly the same response in my household!
 
Do you have more pics of the covering process?? And the final result.

Not having to paint is really time saving.
 
Just search for "Oratex 6000 fabric" in Google..
there is getting to be quite a bit of information on YouTube.

It makes fabric an enjoyable experience.. sounds like an advertisement doesn't it..
I get that way when something goes right.

http://www.oracover.de

http://www.betteraircraftfabric.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFW5wU4mz6o

The same company makes paint which can be used for stripes, we used the local graphics company for N numbers and they stuck very well.

hope that helps-

frank





PM little_cub (at) alarmspro.com if you want more info
 
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I notice that your taping is a different color from the pre-colored fabric. Did you have any problems painting the taping and having the whole job look cohesive?
Doug
 
Doug

the tape you see on the wing is 'masking tape'.. we marked out the areas to be glued on the fabric surface.. then glued the tape in place.. it's all colored and attaches quite well.

this is after tapes are applied..

2.JPG

hope that helps

frank
 

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Little_Cub said:
Doug
this is after tapes are applied..

View attachment 9049

hope that helps

frank
Click to expand...

you sure thats not the after shrinking, before tapes picture??? the tapes seemed to show up bad in Manufactures site picture, I don't see any tapes in that picture.....

like
d6218243f3f573b84f701bab492207dc.jpg


from http://www.betteraircraftfabric.com/Photographic_Gallery.html
 
Went to the hanger this evening, this is a shot after flying 160 hours.

IMG_0524.JPG

I think my wife did a fine job with the fabric for having no previous experience!

We had a great time but I know she wouldn't have been in the same building with any of the previous processes we have used.
 

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I am very impressed with what you have shown us about this fabric. Have you noticed any flight performance differences with this fabric, even if slight, when compared to the other common processes?
 
The weave is tighter, it seems easier to clean.

Actual performance is hard to judge but anytime you loose 20-30 pounds it's probably good.

It holds up very well to rocks on the Knik, they say ring worm not possible.. I believe it.

This one gained the uglies with a leaking wing tank drain, replaced the drain and replacing area with Carbon patch. (Any fabric would have the same issue)

Gas and oil spills on surface no problem and no residue. (simple green cleanup)
 
Say Little_Cub,
was it that you cleaned the plane with a high-pressure washer ? and nothing came loose...
I really would like to see a video of THAT.
On the B7GCBC, when we have to repaint it, That is what we will try to take the paint off...
... That poor thing has ringworm all over it...
regards,
Lars
 
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