Covering with a HAIR DRYER!??

[Mchone, Jake]

Im getting ready to build my first Nitro powered airplane!

I've been flying electrics and gliders for 8 years next month, but I never had to cover one, only touch up the wrinkles and such on ARFs with a hair dryer(which, although slow, worked well), but now im re-covering my new nitro World Models YAK-9D .25 Aircombat to look like a P-51D. :cool:

I have personaly seen and heard of people useing a house hold Hair Dryer and cloths Iron to cover thier planes and that is all I have to use, so is it possible to cover this very basic plane(box fuse and wings and solid balsa tail feathers) useing Hanger9 UltraCote useing only a hair dryer and iron??

I need to know any rules of thumb and basic tips on covering that anyone can provide for me.
Any info, negative or incurraging would be very appresiated! :rolleyes:

I'd Like to have it covered before wednesday so I can maiden her next Saturday ;)

Thanks so much
-Jake

[orenda635]

There are low heat covering out there but they're usually used for smaller aircraft. Regular covering uses a lot of heat to tack. You'll need a proper heat gun and sealing iron that you can get at your LHS.

[fhhuber506771]

i used a travel iron for 20+ years... works fine. (I still use a travel iron even though I have a real "Monokote" iron...)

Never did use a heat gun... never found a need.

[Mchone, Jake]

I talked with out local Club Hero last night and he is letting me borrow his iron for re-doing his old stryker for him.

He also said that you need to use as little heat to shrink it as possible the first time because eventualy it will become loose again and if you use a heat gun(which I also see no need for)you could shrink it too much and never be able to do so again!
He uses hair dryers sometimes too...so a proper heat gun isnt a Must Have for the first couple shrinks, orenda635.

Thanks for responding so quick, im going to get started asap :D

If anyone has any tips and/or tricks that a newbie should know, please post!

Thanks
:-Jake

[abenn]

If you're using a domestic iron (I've never used a covering iron), make sure that you test the temperature with a scrap piece of covering first. With my travel iron, the ideal setting is about one-third heat.

[Mchone, Jake]

Thanks guys

Just finished it last night and it was MUCH easyer than I expected and it looks almost profetional, if I say so myself ;)

I didnt have to use a hair dryer after all becasue I could turn the temp up on the iron and shrink the coverying very nicely that way, so you dont need a heat gun, just an iron, though I would suggest getting a real covering iron unless the traval ones are about the same size becasue it was SO much easyer to use!

Thanks again for all teh help, and keep posted this next week and i'll try and get a few pix for yah!

[robert harik]

I have covered quite a few airplanes with a travel iron also, but have found a covering iron works much better.
A hair dryer just does not get hot enough(at least not for monocote).
I have covered airplanes with just an iron ,no heat gun and it takes much longer.
You only use the heat gun on the open structures of the wing, when you use an iron for that, you have a tendency to stick the cover to the wing ribs,(which you dont want) causing wrinkles.
Also the heat gun works better for removing warps and putting in twist(washout) in the wing.
The heat gun is not going to shrink the cover anymore than the iron, either way you just shrink the cover till its tight.

[Mchone, Jake]

I used just teh iron @ 350* for all tightening of the Ultracote and I only had one wrinkle, but that was a mistake by me before shirking it.

A heat gun is nice to have, but not a nesesity! Unless your covering BIG planes where the iron doesnt cover the span between the ribs...


This Sunday will be the maiden of my purty new 51 Combat :D
Wish me luck on my first nitro landings ;)
HOT! :eek:

[ettyheloD]

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[jib]

I have used a home iron (I calibrated it) and a hair dryer, but now have a dedicated covering iron and heat gun (Thanks SD). Both work, but the dedicated tools make the job easier and faster, and probably better too.

Jack

[jim_ag3y]

I have an industrial strength heat gun that is used for shrinking heat-shrink tubing in wiring harnesses , and although it is usable, it is NOT RECOMMENDED for the faint of heart. I have found that if you hold it, like 18-24 inches away from the plastic, it will shrink large surfaces, very evenly ! Great for wings and large tail surfaces ! But BE CAREFUL !