Original Posted By: Michael Brusilow
I sent doug's e-mail to Tammy and Paul and they responded with thefollowing. I changed the subject line when I sent the e-mail and did nototherwise include the URL. However, they were aware of the thier site.Hope this addresses all the concerns.KenOn Fri, 25 Jun 1999, Aircraft Finishing Systems wrote:> Dear Ken,>> Thank you for your email this morning regarding Doug=92s comments, posted> on the Piet list, addressing different covering systems. I would> appreciate it if you would post the following to the same list.>> I agree with Doug, Air-Tech has a great covering system, so does> Randolph, so does Poly Fiber, so does Cooper and so does Aircraft> Finishing Systems. Doug should have revealed the source of the> paragraphs following his first comment -- they were taken directly from> a technical article written by Kenny Blalock from Special Products> Aviation Inc. and posted to Air-Tech's site. Although Mr. Blalock> appears to have decent knowledge regarding covering techniques I do not> believe Mr. Blalock has enough if any hands on experience with the old> Blue River Process to be passing judgement.>> Let me give you some history - -After 25+ years of using every system on> the market, teaching my employees and others to cover aircraft and> answering technical questions for Blue River Aircraft Tammy and I> decided to develop and market an entirely non-toxic, user friendly> covering system. Blue River had two incredible products that we had used> and were very interested in, a waterbased contact cement and their> fabric primer/ultra violet barrier. Along with those two products and> the help of our chemist, one of the leading polymer chemists today, AFS> was able to come up with an entire system that is a winner. It has been> an uphill struggle to overcome the bad reputation that water based> systems had acquired over the past 15 years, I might add most of the bad> press was not deserved. All fabric systems have their good points and> their bad points and it would be irresponsible and unfair for me to say> Brand A is better than Brand B. If I have discovered anything about> covering systems over the years it would be this, they all work if> applied as instructed. They can all fail and have if applied improperly.>> It is so sad when I hear someone say "I would never use that system" or> " how did the FAA ever allow that system to be approved" etc. When I> quiz these people on their comments I usually hear some typical answer> such as; they actually had never used the system but they had heard from> a friend who's son-in-law's mother's great uncle tried it and it wasn't> very good--OR--they tried to cover their fabric covered airplane last> winter in a rented T-Hangar heated with a borrowed space heater that> they only ran 30 minutes before working so they wouldn't blow themselves> up and usually the very first or last thing out of their mouth is "I> followed the instructions exactly"!! Anybody, regardless of their> covering experience, can ruin a project if they do not read and follow> the manufacturers instructions, I know from first hand experience> myself. When and if people learn to be responsible for their own actions> instead of pointing the finger at someone else -- every covering system> out there could be the best.>> As for the reference Mr. Blalock makes to the Piper Super Cubs that were> covered with the Blue River System..... I have personally inspected and> repaired a few of these cubs, the topcoat failure was definitely due to> improper application. Every cub I saw had at least 10 mils of paint if> not more on the fabric. The instructions specifically stated not to> exceed a 2-mil topcoat thickness. As Mr. Blalock points out in his> article "Material buildup is the evil of a fabric covering job no matter> what system is used......" Is the product failure the fault of the> system or the applicator?>> When systems are approved by the FAA they must meet or exceed the> standards originally set forth for cotton fabric.. The FAA reviews the> test data submitted by the manufacturer and a certified lab testing> facility. If all the test perimeters are met and the manufacturer can> show that the products will be made the same for every production batch> the system receives approval.>> In closing, I would like to leave you with this idea -- If you are using> a system and have a problem I would highly advise you to call the> covering system manufacturer or one of their tech reps, don't ask John> Doe 3 hangars down because he covered an airplane 10 years ago and don't> call a shop that uses another system. If you don't have or can't find a> number for the system you are using call me at 800-653-7200 and I will> gladly give it to you. Covering your aircraft can be a positive,> enjoyable experience that you can share with your fellow builders and> future builders. We wish you success no matter what system you use, each> one has the potential to be a show winner!!!!>> Good Covering,> Paul Yedinak> Technical Application Manager> Aircraft Finishing Systems LLC> afs(at)3rivers.net>________________________________________________________________________________