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Canopy "peel ply" step

PRE911

Member
Do I understand correctly that in the final steps of the fiberglass layup, the peel ply layer is applied only to add more resin for a smother finish? Then is the peel ply gently pulled off and discarded?
Thanks in advance,
Rich
 
It is primarily added over the top of the glass layup.
With peal-ply in place, capillary action draws resin up and out of the lay-up which will result in all of the weave of the the top layer of glass cloth being fully saturated with resin. Without the peal-ply, the top layer would not be fully saturated and there would be a lot of the weave texture showing (that would have to be either sanded off or further filled with resin).
The peal-ply is pulled off once the resin has fully cured.

The secondary benefit to using the peal-ply is it results in a surface that is fully ready (no other sanding or prep. necessary) for adding more glass layers or coats of resin if needed.
 
And don't forget, peel ply is just Dacron - old scraps of Ceconite are just perfect, if you have end rolls of rib tape - better still as already cut up.
 
And don't forget, peel ply is just Dacron - old scraps of Ceconite are just perfect, if you have end rolls of rib tape - better still as already cut up.

For those new to aircraft building, these products are used on fabric covered aircraft, so perhaps your buddy might have leftovers if he built a fabric covered plane.
 
And don't forget, peel ply is just Dacron - old scraps of Ceconite are just perfect, if you have end rolls of rib tape - better still as already cut up.

For those new to aircraft building, these products are used on fabric covered aircraft, so perhaps your buddy might have leftovers if he built a fabric covered plane.

Good tip
It is also mentioned in the RV-14 supplemental videos.
 
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