Vinyl Wrap Sonex

[@gee_bee-zn9tz]

Hello, Ben, You have done a perfect slide work. Don't worry about the glue sticking to the polished areas. I had a labeling company for 35 years, I know this 3M product very well. Many greetings from Switzerland. Henri

[@1bengrubb]

Hello Henri in Switzerland! I have over 60 hours now and it's holding very well. I am very pleased.

[@rickabell2840]

The last step in applying vinyl is to heat it with a heat gun. That activates the adhesive to make the vinyl really stick. If you don’t it’s going to peel off. I didn’t see you do that step but I hope you do before flying. See any car wrapping KZbin for the way to do it.

[@1bengrubb]

I guess I must have....still on!!! 2 years and over 170 mph and no concerns at all.

[@SpaceMedic911]

This is incorrect. General rule of thumb with vinyl wraps is not to use heat where you don't have to. The use of heat is not to make it stick better. It is actually to soften the vinyl so that it loses it's memory on more pronounced contours so that it doesn't try to return to its original flat shape. There is no reason to heat flat, or nearly flat surfaces. Heat could be useful around the rivets. They make a stiff foam roller for rivets. You apply a little heat and then roll it over the rivets for a nice finish. Great job on the wrap! Looks incredible for a first time wrapper!

[@larrymangold1048]

I checked their website and the only gloss 1080 I see is Lemon Sting Vinyl Wrap | G335. I'm adding vinyl wrap accents to my Blue Angel blue Kolb and like your choice of color. However, the only think I see that is true yellow is in their 2080 series, but I don't know the difference.

[@1bengrubb]

www.metrorestyling.com/3M-1080-S335-Satin-Bitter-Yellow-Vinyl-Wrap-p/satin1080s335.htm dont' know if this is the same? I actually bought a bunch of sample yellows from them to figure out what I liked. Somewhere they had the option to buy samples.

[@imonchakraborty]

Does the FAA have anything to say about this kind of vinyl job on an experimental?

[@1bengrubb]

I don't know that the fars say anything about aesthetics on aircraft. I know my required equipment list is a starter and that's all!

[@Zenithflyer1970]

Thank you Ben for the great video. I have used a lot of vinyl inside my cockpit. I too did my instrument panel in carbon fiber. That knife tape is awesome!! I've thought about doing more on the outside of the plane. Can you tell me how the vinyl was to work with over pulled rivet heads? I just finished my Zenith 701 and have been really looking at a Sonex project next. I need a fast plane. 👍 thanks again for the great video.

[@1bengrubb]

At 20:30 I'm fingering the rivets...its a zen thing one rivet at a time.. Sometimes the rivets are air tight and it's hard to get the bubbles out. On the bigger pan head screws I just carefully worked the vinyl around to get the wrinkles and air out and they came out great. send my a pic of the vinyl in your cockpit! [e-mail]

[@Zenithflyer1970]

@@1bengrubb will do. Thanks for the reply.

[@TheLastDay-BobReese]

Thanks for the great tips... good luck with it and keep us posted.

[@russclifford5676]

Really liked your informative video. I decided to wrap my Sonex and I will try it by myself. I fly RC planes and I've used Monocote which is similar. I'll let you know how it comes out! Keep us in the loop when you get it flying. Looks like you have done great work with the vinyl. Russ Clifford Nampa, Idaho

[@1bengrubb]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5W9qWxqqKapl5Y 40 hour update! I'll need to do another one..

[@halhirsch3606]

Can you seal the edges with a clear nail polish? We do that on model airplanes with monokote.

[@1bengrubb]

Hmm. After 13 hours in the air at 140 mph max 170 I have one corner starting to peel up. One of the other comments below used laquer thinner so I'm going to do some tests with that and acetone and see if adhesion to the aluminum is better

[@clarkbarnard6879]

Ben, I really appreciate your video! I am very near completion on a Sonex Legacy (Tri-gear), and I have been contemplating the idea of doing a vinyl wrap. The information in your video was very helpful in explaining some of the things I need to be aware of because at the present, my plane is polished (And yes, Nushine is awesome stuff!) . Vinyl wrapping definitely looks like something that is within my skill set. One question ... who made your "N" number?

[@1bengrubb]

. www.ebay.com/itm/Racing-Numbers-Vinyl-Decal-Sticker-Dirt-Bike-Plate-Number-BMX-Competition-200/291962620631. Glad you like my n number I was really happy with that. I wanted a Nascar look.. eBay link above.. check my channel you can see my 40hour update. Has some tips. Super happy with vinyl!

[@kevinkoehler859]

Ben, thank you very much for posting this. The knifeless tape demonstration was huge for me. One thing about the polish part to try. I do a lot of aluminum TIG and years ago the books and industry standard for cleaning prep was acetone. I found that to be a poor cleaner as it does leave a petroleum film behind that would contaminate my weld and was troublesome to clean up. So years ago I switched to using lacquer thinner for my clean up like that as it doesn't leave residue behind. I do the same for prep when painting. You might try that to get the polishing compound off in those areas. Just keep rubbing it in the aluminum until the cloth comes back clean. Lacquer thinner will however destroy the finish on that vinyl so I don't advocate putting it on there. Maybe try a practice piece.. The whole thing looks awesome though!

[@1bengrubb]

Hey thanks a bunch for the tip I'll try the lacquer thinner and see how that does. I have couple aluminum projects now and I'm trying to MIG 1/8" and 1/4". Its working ---the metal is melting but I havne't done enough yet to figure out how to make it look good.

[@stephendonahue9764]

Looks great! Be sure to post finished airplane. I think I'll vinal N1472X. Thankyou for posting.

[@1bengrubb]

Here it is!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3S5eJKDrZtkjdk

[@1bengrubb]

Here it is again if that didnt work kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3S5eJKDrZtkjdk

[@Extra300goldberg]

Really interesting video. Just wondering if you tried to spray Windex on the adhesive first, instead of applying it dry? I do this all the time on models - much easier to position and to squeegee out bubbles. The adhesive returns to its super sticky state after Windex dissipates and dries. Also, could you tape off your polished area, and re-roughen the surface where leading edge of vinyl will be applied? Again - very cool.

[@1bengrubb]

That is one thing they recomend is spraying the Rapid tac on the surface first so you can adjust it easier. But the sheet was so big and I was so slow applying it that the liquid would run off or evaporate and it was easy enough to pull up and re position. Although when I was coming up against areas that were already wrapped then it helped to spray the wrapped area so what i was laying down would not stick so hard--it really sticks good to itself.

[@samuelzavala623]

if maybe not for the resale value and the ability to re-wrap or paint your plane to "sell to someone else" I fail to see why this would be superior and less time consuming than an actual paintjob given that I can paint and polish a bird that size in a matter of hours.

[@1bengrubb]

One Word...."No Overspray..No clean up...No masking!"... by the time I got the etch, primer, color, clear, it was $1000/gallon plus get the equipment and learn to paint---all on one gallon. I asked a painter how much to do my plane... he said "How much do you want to spend?" I said " $2000 or less" he said " you can probably get all you need at the hardware store to do it yourself....." When he saw my finish he didn't realize it was vinyl---he thought it was paint.... I am verrrrrrrry pleased. If a guy doesn't' have the money or the skill this stuff ROCKS... Plane is at 40 hours now and vinyl is holding up good I'll have to do the update vid.......oh as far as polish----it takes me about 1 hour per 2 square feet to get the mirror finish

[@samuelzavala623]

I guess youre right, I didnt consider the fact that I have the equipment on hand.

[@spinnetti]

That cut tape is cool. Never seen that before.

[@carlmccall7198]

Hey man where you out of? Michigan by any chance??

[@1bengrubb]

Eugene Oregon! Got it moved to the airport a few weeks ago and the club comes over monday night 4/1 to check it out!! fun stuff. Ernie will do weight and balance for me hopefully next week then send in the DAR!!!!

[@Leesbiz52]

Based on your concerns I would abandon the idea of using this material. If it peels in flight it could lead to a catastrophic crash. Models are one thing. Risking your life might be a mistake. Hate to be a downer, but Steve Whittman's crash was cause by fabric pealing off this wing and flapping on the empennage and destroying the flying wire holding it together. I recommend you bite the bullet and use Imeron paint. You'll never have to worry. You have a beautiful airplane and I wish you all the luck in the world.

[@1bengrubb]

I guess there's not a lot of history with this material and aircraft.... But there is some... I feel the risk is low enough to not bite the bullet and use imron paint.. but I will be diligent in checking it. I feel it might be a little more risk than driving a car.. 40000 people die every year in them but I still drive one. The results are great casual looking by a professional painter he didn't know it wasn't paint... I am very very pleased

[@garflyboy]

I used signature finish on my Onex five years ago and have no problems. It was cheap and just rolls on. Yours looks better, but cruising at 140mph, I would be nervous. It probably will be fine though. Post a follow up video in the future. Thanks for sharing.

[@time2burn282]

Hard to see cracks in the skin, popped rivets under the vinyl, etc. isn't it?

[@RobertTheFriscoSchmid]

Can you please give me the name of the material you used, or even better a link if you have it please? Thanks, awesome video btw Robert

[@1bengrubb]

HI Robert in the first 20 seconds the vid has that info..

[@RobertTheFriscoSchmid]

@@1bengrubb Dahhh, my bad. Thanks!!!

[@dbcrn859]

Wrapping it around the edge of the rear cabin bulkhead would probably have worked well. I don't think you need to worry too much about it coming off anyway

[@courage1st]

Sweeter the second time. Onex 207 Sends

[@1bengrubb]

Hey Onex 143!

[@MrBen527]

Cool looking bird there!