Hello Gang, Dana is right the coefficient of expansion does not work well with epoxy as the sealant, rivets are the only the answer with the proper sealant. However, I just want to expand of the use of vinylester in tank construction. Vinylester is impervious to all acids and chemicals, fuel, this is used in chemical factories where a 20 foot piece of pipe can be placed on ones shoulder be it 2" or 6". I have seen these pipes used in the petroleum industry which we have a lot up here. Only thing is to leave a hole in the top so one can put your arm in to fill the corners and then patch, this is what I used in my KR and nary a leak in 20 years, use the balloon trick to check for leakage. Just a pointer to inform that aluminum is not the only way to go. It is easier to custom build this way. Good Luck and Happy Flying!
Dana Overall wrote: > Bob, since I am still receiving e-mails from the KRNet I'll throw this > out too you. I would seriously recommend you rethink your idea to use > vinyl ester resin/flox combination in building an aluminum tank. The > tank, unless made as one piece, flexes. Proseal, or the product I'll > mention later in this post, are made remain plyable and not become > brittle as your resin/flox combination will do. Do what you want, it's > just my opinion but you may get a tank that is leak proof until it's > first go round with vibration. Remember, another decision factor in > using aluminum tanks is the ability to use any type of fuel you want > with no regard for additives. Some additives will adversely affect > composite compositions. > > Proseal is messy but it is a product that is made for this use, there > are others. I'm just familiar with Proseal and know how good it works. > The new stuff Van's is recommending now is MC-236-B2 which is the quart > number. I used less than a quart on Mark's tanks. > > In this case, I would seriously recommend one stick with products made > for this use. Bob, I understand your desire to use products you have on > hand or are familiar with but in this case I just really feel you will > be disappointed in the final results when you have to go cutting into > your foam wings to take out the tanks and replace them. As for gluing > the sides together, when you put 10 gallons in the tank you have added > 60 plus pounds. Add vibration throught the years and any "gluing" is > going to be prone to separation. I still stick to my guns and say rivet > is together for integrity and the piece of mind in knowing you will not > have to cut your wings open to solve a problem that could have been > avoided. I'll guarantee, the time you spend cutting a wing open is > going to be in excess of the time you "saved" in cutting corners during > the initial construction. The solid rivets I recommended in my > documentation are going to cost you about $35.00, once again they are > made for this arrangement. The bonding agent is $39.40. Is it worth > saving $75.00 to reinvent the wheel?? > > I think Mark Jones can chime in on the plyability of the proseal and the > rigidity of his wing tanks. > > > > Dana Overall > 1999 & 2000 National KR Gathering host > Richmond, KY > RV-7 slider/fuselage > http://rvflying.tripod.com > do not archive > > > > > >> From: foamh...@ls.net >> Reply-To: KR builders and pilots <kr...@mylist.net> >> To: "KR builders and pilots" <kr...@mylist.net> >> Subject: Re: KR>Aluminum tanks >> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 05:52:59 -0400 (EDT) >> >> I am about ready to build my tanks. I am going to try alum. bonded with a >> vinyl ester/flox mixture. I will let you know how it works. >> >> Bob Farmer >> >> >> >> >> >> > After all the talk about the tanks, I looked at the one that Mark Jones >> > has and it reminded me of all te hours I spent repairing and sealing >> wet >> > wings and the horrible smell of the proseal. I would think that by now >> > there are better bonding agents for aluminum out there where one could >> > possible just glue aluminum panels together instead of riveting. >> Anybody >> > heard of anything like that? I am about ready to cut aluminum for >> making >> > my tanks and am still debating welding, riveting and proseal, or any >> "new" >> > options that I have not heard of. >> > _______________________________________________ >> > see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html >> > >> > >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online > http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 > > > _______________________________________________ > see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html > -- Adrian VE6AFY Calgary, Alberta Mailto:cart...@cuug.ab.ca http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~cartera
