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Home arrow Northern Exposure arrow Prop Tape???
Prop Tape??? Print E-mail
Written by Greg Kremer   
Wednesday, 20 January 2010

 I am looking to find out what eveyone is using for protection on the leading edges of thrust props.

Any advise and or recommendations for wood props would be greatly appeciated

              Thanks, Greg

Comments
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Pete   |2010-01-29 11:28:18
avatar OK Guys

My next dumb question.......READY!!

I am about to glass
the prop and lift fan but both have knots in them.....

QUESTION: Do I just glass over them or do they need some preparation over them to
prevent the wood resin from reacting with the glass fibre resin?
 

Normaly I would use French Polish [mixture of resin and meths] to
prevent the wood resin from leaking out from under a painted
surface.

Any advice sought please!

Pete...
Mike   |2010-01-24 07:08:14
avatar I have often wondered if bugs would be great prop protection, they sure are hard
to wash off. Mike
Mike   |2010-01-23 11:41:30
avatar Pete
If you are talking about the aluminium tape I have, it will tear with your
hands if there is a start. I usually use scissors or a razor knife because it is
much neater. Mike
Mike   |2010-01-23 09:18:11
avatar Ed
I have some aluminium tape that a contractor friend uses here. Not sure if
it is the same stuff. It is made by "Venture Tape" and lists a
"CW", cold weather formula. Mike
Mike   |2010-01-22 11:42:16
avatar Gerry
I am not sure if this applies the same, but will throw it out for
discussion.
When I sandblast or glassbead parts, the harder stuff comes off way
quicker than soft stuff. I believe the softer material tend to absorb the
abrasive impact. I bet if you could "rubberize" the leading edge, it
would stand up well. I intend trying a thin fingerful of silicone, that is the
worst to sandblast off. Mike
Bee Keeper  - leading Edge   |2010-01-22 12:04:18
avatar Mike

I gess its worth a try. I have tried the 3M rocker panel spray number
05911 and it will not hold up. please let me know how your methed works. I know
that the tape will only hold up for a short time and then you have to redo
it.
We are all looking for something new to use so any idea is worth a
try.

Gerry
Pete   |2010-01-22 10:13:31
avatar I will be using an aluminium adhesive tape. It is used quite a lot in the
UK by the Gyroplane groups to protect the leading edge of their props.
It's so "sticky" that the RAF use it on non stressed parts to
cover bullet holes on jet aircraft! Made by the 3M company specificaly
for Battle Damage Repair purposes, it comes in 1" and 3"
widths, or sheet form 12" wide 20' long. BUT CHEAP IT AINT!

Pete...[Mid UK]
Bee Keeper  - Alumenium Adhesive Tape   |2010-01-22 10:56:09
avatar Hi Pete

I use to work for 3M 30 years and now retiered and have some of that
same tape and yes it is great stuff but never thought of using it a leading edge
tape. Thanks for the tip I will have to try it.

Gerry
edaho   |2010-01-22 22:52:36
avatar Pete,

Years ago I had some three inch wide aluminum tape that was made to
repair auto mufflers. I never used it for anything and misplaced it somewhere
along the way. I'm wondering it it's still available. I'll have to check.
Thanks for the idea.
tvthover   |2010-01-20 23:57:18
avatar What has worked good for me is to grind off about an 1/8 inch off of the leading
edge and replace it with an epoxy and cotton flox or milled cotton fibers. If
you mix it to peanut butter consistency lay the right amount down you can
re-create the leading edge using wax paper. If ya mess with it and get it right,
after it sets you peel off the wax paper and have very little sanding to do.
Turns out to be a wear resistant strong leading edge, and she also fairs pretty
well if ya put a nut through it or something :-)

TVT
edaho   |2010-01-20 11:14:28
avatar Prop tape sure sounds easier than applying layers of glass cloth and resin like
UH calls for in their plans - which I did.
hoverwest  - prop tape   |2010-01-20 11:51:21
avatar Edaho,
You should still use some sort of leading edge protection even after the
glass and resin,otherwise it will eat through the glass after awhile. Water and
sand will chew through a prop edge in no time especially if you have a fast
moving prop.
Jake W.
John   |2010-01-20 13:27:53
avatar Mike has listed the best tape - I've tried several different makes and the 3M
stuff is the clear winner (make sure your get the HS version = high shear
adhesive). It isn't cheap but, in this case, you get what you pay for

It
has a life of around 150 hours or so on mostly water use. Eventually, pinholes
caused by particle impact allow crap to creep under the tape and de-laminate
bubbles until it starts to eat the prop itself.

It needs to be VERY carefully
applied if you want it to last (spotlessly clean surface and half an hour of
rolling/pressing to get a good bond - at 20C temp minimum. It's also worth
edge-sealing particularly near the tips (a bead of gel super glue works as well
as anything I've found).

A hair-dryer or paint stripper is the only way to
remove it again
edaho   |2010-01-22 07:32:32
avatar Hey Jake,

It sure sounds like a good idea to reinforce the leading edges -
especially of the thrust prop. The UH method seems to require frequent
maintenance and repair.

I'm not so concerned with the lift fan because it's
mounted directly to the engine shaft so water and sand shouldn't reach it much.
However, it could more easily get a screw or nut dropped into it.
Mike   |2010-01-20 06:27:39
avatar Greg
Product code specification
3M 8671
Title and Description
HS
Polyurethene Leading Edge Tape
This tape is used in military, commercial,
business and private aviation as leading edge protection against particle and
rain erosion. Also known as prop tape. Tape 8671 HS can easily be die-cut to
exacting shapes and is paintable, printable and thermo formable
Colours
available
Clear
Standard Widths(mm)
25, 144, 288
Standard Lengths(M)

33
Total Gauge(mm)
.144
Temp Range
-56c to +160c
Mike
Pete   |2010-01-23 11:32:41
avatar Mike

Sounds as though technology has overhauled my experience then....The
Battle Damage Tape did a superb job, but this sounds even better.......One
query, can it be easily cut with a knife or scissors?

Pete
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