Leading edge felt ?

[pthfndr]

I was just watching the Stewart system videos today, and was wondering what the general consensus is on using felt on the leading edge. In the video, they apply a layer of felt covering the entire leading edge skins.

My leading edge skins have some minor dings, but are in pretty good shape. Maybe a little bit of filler will be necessary.

Just not sure about the felt though. Any opinions ?

 

[Roger Peterson]

It sure keeps the leading edge from cracking at the skin splices.

 

[pthfndr]

It sure keeps the leading edge from cracking at the skin splices.

Roger, do you use any special type of felt, e.g. 100% cotton or poly cotton ? They seem to completely saturate the felt with glue in the video, putting two coats in it.

I never thought about the cracking issue, don't have it on my cover now which is 25 years old with no felt underneath, but I can see where it could be a problem.

 

[Roger Peterson]

I purchased it from the distributor that I buy my fabric from but it sure doesn't look like felt. A real light white material, and I have never saturated it with anything. It stays soft and feels like a cushion under the fabric. Like the look it gives.

 

[Skip]

I have never been a fan of covering up dented leading edges with felt, just my 2 cents but if it`s dented or damaged why not get a new section and use anti chafe tape over the splices. I have done it several times with no problems at the splice

 

[Fortysix12]

Isn't that flannel only usable when using a sock?

 

[Skip]

Isn't that flannel only usable when using a sock?

yeah you can`t use blankets with the felt you will have a sewn chordwise seam if you use the felt thats why I don`t use it.

 

[sharp]

Unless you use the Stewart covering system.

 

[Josh]

doesn't it "suck in" moisture and lead to corrosion?

 

[Skip]

doesn't it "suck in" moisture and lead to corrosion?

Both my champ and PA-12 had felt on the leading edges, the PO were trying to cover up some really bad dents and dings, when I removed the leading edges there was some corrosion between the felt and the leading edges, I didn`t look at them to close as they were out the door and on the way to the trash

 

[upda lk]

I put the felt on my leading edges and sealed it with stewart's glue. My leading edges were nice but I put it on as added protection for chaffing on the screw heads. This was a problem area on the original covering. I liked stewarts system until the final paint. Now . :evil:

 

[pthfndr]

I liked stewarts system until the final paint. Now . :evil:

Kind of off the thread topic, but can you elaborate on that ?

 

[upda lk]

I liked stewarts system until the final paint. Now . :evil:

Kind of off the thread topic, but can you elaborate on that ?

I have had to sand and start over and order $700+ more paint weighing over 30 pounds. I have had two different experienced guys behind two different guns painting in a proffesional aircraft paint booth and we still can't get a quality finish. It has been dry, fisheyes, sags, runs, orange peel. I spent 5 hours sanding on the fuselage again today. We have watched the videos, read the manual and talked to Stewarts. I don't wish it on anyone!!

 

[Skip]

It isn`t new or fancy but Stitts gets the job done for me, I`ll let others work out the bugs in the new stuff I`ll stick with what works for me.

 

[mike mcs repair]

doesn't it "suck in" moisture and lead to corrosion?

depends on what you use... think old stits book talked of what material works best..

also would only do it over great primer... and yes you must seal it good, or it will suck all your fabric coatings into it and have pits where it sucks it in....

too much a pain for work involved.... plus most every thing gets new leading edges here... and stademeyer? "drafting dots" round masking tapes over screw heads (idea stolen from burl's) , and seems are well screwed and taped so to prevent the carcking root cause.

 

[Steve Pierce]

The felt looks good when covered but I have seen sharp objects hit the leading edge and cut through the fabric due to the felt giving under the fabric. I agree with Mike, new leading edges. Just got the last set customer's leading edges on and now all I lack is the left tank bay skin on my own wings.

 

[bob turner]

I am with Mike - except that my leading edges get three layers of Ceconite. First, I trim the selvage off and butt the two pieces right at the leading edge. Then I apply an 8" wide piece of fabric to give me two legal seams no matter what the system. Then I rib stitch and tape, and finally I cut a piece of surface tape that extends from two inches aft of the spar all the way around to two inches aft on the other side. No need for chafing tape on the screws, and no need for felt. The last wing I did has developed cracks at the junction of leading edge pieces, but I suspect that is not the fault of the cover, since it never happened before.

 

[Steve's Aircraft (Steve)]

I stay away from the felt. Seen too many corroded leading edges because of it.

Steve

 

[mike mcs repair]

new leading edges. Just got the last set customer's leading edges on

and I bet with your wiz-bang clamps it takes you way, way, way less time to put new skins on than it would take to soak and scrub the old glue and coatings off the old leading edges even if they were not dented or corroded.....

 

[R. JOHNSON]

I just finished recovering a set of Vagabond wings and used the felt for the first time at the request of the owner. I must say I was skeptical at first but I like the finished product. I used the stuff that Jim and Dondi Miller sell and glued it to the leading edge with 3M adhesive, before this the leading edges were coated with Rand o plate.

When I sprayed the dope on it did NOT soak in any more than it normally would.

I don't like envelopes so I had Dondi Miller sew up some "bulk" widths of fabric to make a blanket that wrap the wing around the leading edge and used an overlap glue seam from the front of the outboard aileron rib around the tip bow, aileron cove and trailing edge. This eliminated any sewn seams on the perimeter of the wing. There are seams running chord wise but this doesn't bother me because that's the way Piper did it and this is an original restoration.

As far as the felt retaining moisture when is the water going to get between the felt and the fabric, are you guys just meaning moisture in the air? Otherwise the inside of the wing should stay pretty dry unless its under water

I do however also like the look of nice new straight leading edges directly under the fabric but the felt makes for a very nice smooth appearance. Also on my finish I like to do LOTS of sanding and the felt made that alot easier around the screw heads on the leading edge.

Ryan

 

[R. JOHNSON]

I posted a picture in my gallery I've never been successful at posting a picture in a post. I'll post a picture of the finished product tomorrow.

 

[mike mcs repair]

As far as the felt retaining moisture when is the water going to get between the felt and the fabric, are you guys just meaning moisture in the air? Otherwise the inside of the wing should stay pretty dry unless its under water
Ryan

yes ,also why we use drain grommets... the moisture out of the air condensing... unless you live somewhere real dry....

 

[Tim]

Johnson, this it

 

[R. JOHNSON]

Thanks Tim.

Ryan