Fabric Punch Test (Rans S-12) FAILURE!!!

In this video we go through the entire process of punch testing the Dacron sailcloth on a Rans S 12 using a Maule punch tester and a Quicksilver Dacron sailcloth punch tester.

[@eahenrie]

Brian, thank you for another informative, safety minded video. Your expertise and willingness to share it is a great service to those of us who are not as experienced as you.

[@aerocam2]

Excellent review Brian. Always appreciate listening to you guys teach. Mack L.

[@kenburrell6227]

Brian and Carol, thank you for such excellent and helpful information. Happy holidays to all.

[@620473]

Used the maul tester many times but I never used the quicksilver because it looks too aggressive. You have to watch out for guys who paint their airplane over and over it makes the fabric very hard. Find a spot that has been exposed to the UV but not painted over and over. It can be difficult. Your license is on the line boys.

[@devinrobinson415]

Very informative video. Great to learn the different methods and reasons for testing with different conditions of fabrics and tools.

[@TheLandloard]

Thanks Brian great video. You and Carol have a good Christmas

[@awodsaeed]

Brian . Thank you for punching all of this fabrics just to show us this nice informative information. I am planing to come in May 18 for my licence renewal.

[@L51able]

Thanks Brian for another great presentation! Your the Best!

[@P40BTomahawk]

Very good demo, thanks for the upload.

[@denishooper2618]

pro , informative , objective BIG THX

[@USNVA11]

Nice looking Varga Kachina. I’ve always liked that airplane. 😃

[@karanchhetri5121]

Thanks Guru for your great knowledgeable video 👍

[@Yellow_cub]

Great test and presentation

[@esau82]

This testing has always looked so scary to do even on new sails

[@willwagner7222]

Awesome! Another home run by Brian and crew at Rainbow aviation

[@ronnetzel356]

Enjoyed it very much, learned a lot. Thanks for sharing.

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

VERY informative! Especially considering I am looking at purchasing a used ultralight! Thanks.

[@StingFlight]

So enjoyable & super-nice graphics. Thanks!

[@LupusMechanicus]

Doesn't this weaken the fabric at that spot? Seems kinda counter productive.

[@pegbars]

Outstanding video! I learned much. Thank you!

[@randyrichmond3638]

What type of cotton or linen was the covering? Table 2-1 only refers to these two materials.

[@cliffordc9497]

Bryan you sir! Need a haircut.

[@michaelamick8295]

Drop price by 4k, ouch! Thx Brian, always learn alot watching your videos. Have you tested the newer prepainted fabric skins in the darker colors yet?

[@RainbowAviation]

I think you're referring to Oratex. In the answer is no. This is such a new fabric that it hasn't been service long enough that anyone really is needed to punch test it.

[@thatguy2105]

What does new fabric punch test to failure at?

[@Hybridhuman100]

What type of fabric you are testing in your video?

[@jorgepon7612]

Hi Brian ! coul you tell me the diameter punch ? todo some chek

[@PeteCH701]

Great information. Thanks for making the video. Question- The punch test leaves a dimple that can be seen after several years. Have you found a way to remove the test dimple? I was going to try some heat.

[@RainbowAviation]

Great question. There are several points that can be made here. First of all during the early years of the life of an aircraft and experienced mechanic can identify that there is no need for a punch test. Typically, after the aircraft starts to show some signs of UV damage is when we really need to start testing the fabric. When the fabric is new it is much more elastic. And typically will stretch back to nearly invisible. As the aircraft gets older and the fabric starts to deteriorate is when these dimples no longer flatten out again. That's one of the clues that the fabric is getting a little older. Using a heat gun on stabilized Dacron has always been considered to do more damage to the fabric than good. In order to" force" the fabric to stretch even tighter than when it was originally stabilized would require temperatures that compromise the integrity of the fabric. Keep in mind, that even using the punch tester is considered only a tool to assist in determining the condition of the fabric. In the instructions for the punch tester it is identified as such. "The Maule fabric tester is inspection aid. Through its use, the inspector is certifying that in his judgment, based on the FAA and industry standards, plus his training and experience, the fabric is acceptable for return to service". Personally, on new aircraft, I rarely use the punch tester. But remember, I have years of experience, and have punch tested literally hundreds of fabric surfaces to failure. In our maintenance class, we have a series of a dozen different surfaces of different conditions to allow our students to punch test all the way to failure to establish a sense of when the fabric is getting close to its limits. All this being said, I hate those dimples too.

[@MatHelm]

I knew this about paint, as in the "Day Glo" colors break down faster, but hadn't considered it with fabric. I suppose it's the same principle of which wavelengths it absorbs, and which it reflects. So the most durable color would be white?

[@RainbowAviation]

Anecdotally, the dark colors seem to hold up better. No definitive tests about this that I can find.

[@pacificwindenterprisesinc.8348]

@@RainbowAviation In my plastics backround we added carbon black to block UV at the very surface. It is all about UV penetrating into the material. Notice the clear plastic degredation vs black plastic. Some of our products had 45000 year half life in direct sun exposure as long as they were BLACK!!

[@float_sam]

It's rumored Brian still hasn't cut that hair

[@hillbilly4christ638]

Is that a wig?

[@jolllyroger1]

Before the test I predict it will fail

[@deafmusician2]

I hate the punch test. It's a usually destructive test. There are other ways

[@pacificwindenterprisesinc.8348]

The .095 dia tip calculates to 159,160 lbs/sq ft using the 10 lbs test standard. Maybe 10 lbs for a square inch tip; at least that's only 1,440 lbs/sq foot load. Ultralights are in the 3 to 6 lb/sq ft wing loading range. Who's doing the math?