Original Posted By: "Richard Navratil"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?I'm going to be making a fuel tank for an air camper soon. #1. Who is a good source (Aircraft Spruce?) for the resin and cloth?#2. What weave material is recommended?Thanks,Sterling________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?
Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?
Original Posted By: "gbowen(at)ptialaska.net"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?I'm going to be making a fuel tank for an air camper soon. #1. Who is a good source (Aircraft Spruce?) for the resin and cloth?#2. What weave material is recommended?Thanks,Sterling________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?I'm going to be making a fuel tank for an air camper soon. #1. Who is a good source (Aircraft Spruce?) for the resin and cloth?#2. What weave material is recommended?Thanks,Sterling________________________________________________________________________________
Re: Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?
Original Posted By: N321TX(at)wmconnect.com
I bought mine from ACS. Check page 34 in cataloug un the heading of PolyesterResins, read carefully. You will want to use #6060-5 resin. You will need touse a combination of heavy roving and mat. If you havent done fiberglass workbefore you may want to do some reading on it or get with someone from your EAAchapter first. Dick N. ----- Original Message -----
I bought mine from ACS. Check page 34 in cataloug un the heading of PolyesterResins, read carefully. You will want to use #6060-5 resin. You will need touse a combination of heavy roving and mat. If you havent done fiberglass workbefore you may want to do some reading on it or get with someone from your EAAchapter first. Dick N. ----- Original Message -----
RE: Pietenpol-List: Correct resin for fiberglass fuel tank?
Original Posted By: N321TX(at)wmconnect.com
Spruce and Wicks both carry a glass weave called 7781. It's a tight weavein the satin style that drapes over edges very nicely. Stay away from "boxweaves" because they give you problems in compound curves. Just about anygood laminating epoxy resin will work, but Derakane epoxy based vinyl esterhas better chemical resistance. You work Derakane just like you do apolyester (ie. boat type resins). A little dab of catalyst, you have towork in small batches. Whatever you do don't use polyester resin on gastank, it'll get "fried" by the fuel additives and leak. EZ Poxy andAeropoxy were both approved by Rutan for composite fuel tanks. I ain't gotno dog in that fight no more, but I still use EZ Poxy from Epoxical for mylaminates.My Piete rebuild came with a galvanized steel tank but if I were going tobuild a fuel tank today I'd use the following technique: 1) shape a blockof styrofoam to fit the area you want, round the corners for ease of lay-up2) laminate over the carved block with min. 6 plies of 7781 glass andDerakane. Derakane doesn't need a post cure to completely cure but I'd let3 weeks pass at Room Temp (25C) before I put fuel in any composite tank. 3)Put the drains and vent blocks thru a 1/4" aluminium block I'd laminateinto the first 3 plies and cover with balance of plies. Laminate in thefiller cap ring, too. 4) drill and tap the al block for the fittings. 5)Cut the entire laminate and foam block in half 6) use acetone or gasolineto dissolve the foam and pour out the mess. 7) using min. 4 strips ofglass and Derakane reglue the now empty tank back together.Piete purest can forget the above techique. Back to the dark ages.Gordon BowenOriginal Message:-----------------
Spruce and Wicks both carry a glass weave called 7781. It's a tight weavein the satin style that drapes over edges very nicely. Stay away from "boxweaves" because they give you problems in compound curves. Just about anygood laminating epoxy resin will work, but Derakane epoxy based vinyl esterhas better chemical resistance. You work Derakane just like you do apolyester (ie. boat type resins). A little dab of catalyst, you have towork in small batches. Whatever you do don't use polyester resin on gastank, it'll get "fried" by the fuel additives and leak. EZ Poxy andAeropoxy were both approved by Rutan for composite fuel tanks. I ain't gotno dog in that fight no more, but I still use EZ Poxy from Epoxical for mylaminates.My Piete rebuild came with a galvanized steel tank but if I were going tobuild a fuel tank today I'd use the following technique: 1) shape a blockof styrofoam to fit the area you want, round the corners for ease of lay-up2) laminate over the carved block with min. 6 plies of 7781 glass andDerakane. Derakane doesn't need a post cure to completely cure but I'd let3 weeks pass at Room Temp (25C) before I put fuel in any composite tank. 3)Put the drains and vent blocks thru a 1/4" aluminium block I'd laminateinto the first 3 plies and cover with balance of plies. Laminate in thefiller cap ring, too. 4) drill and tap the al block for the fittings. 5)Cut the entire laminate and foam block in half 6) use acetone or gasolineto dissolve the foam and pour out the mess. 7) using min. 4 strips ofglass and Derakane reglue the now empty tank back together.Piete purest can forget the above techique. Back to the dark ages.Gordon BowenOriginal Message:-----------------