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  #1  
Old 07-01-2010, 08:37 AM
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DanH DanH is offline
 
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Default Canopy Cover Material?

I'm going to need a custom canopy cover for my tipover -8. No problem getting it made. Miss Patti's sewing machine is the equivalent of a CNC Haas and she knows exactly how to use it.

Here's the question.....what material makes the best canopy cover?
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  #2  
Old 07-01-2010, 08:43 AM
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Smile Sunbrella is...

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH View Post
I'm going to need a custom canopy cover for my tipover -8. No problem getting it made. Miss Patti's sewing machine is the equivalent of a CNC Haas and she knows exactly how to use it.

Here's the question.....what material makes the best canopy cover?
...one material used by airlane canopy makers. It is good for long term outside tie down, but might be too heavy for a "travelling" cover.

Comes in lots of colors....

http://www.planecover.com/other/colors_page.htm
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  #3  
Old 07-01-2010, 08:53 AM
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Default See Bruce's

Dan,

I have a Bruce's Custom Cover for my Bonanza and am quite happy with it. See the following link for his FAQs:

http://www.aircraftcovers.com/faq.html#answer06

In it, he mentions using a "proprietary" reflective material, made especially for them, but also mentions Sunbrella. You can get Sunbrella at most fabric stores, and line it with a felt or micro fiber material. I might suggest that you get some sample pieces, put it under a slow speed buffer, and make sure it doesn't scratch or react with a scrap piece of plexi.

Whatever Bruce uses definitely works well and does not scratch.

Don
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  #4  
Old 07-01-2010, 09:21 AM
1:1 Scale 1:1 Scale is offline
 
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Default

I would suggest using Dacron thread also.
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  #5  
Old 07-01-2010, 09:23 AM
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Default

I would definitely try and get the stuff that Bruce uses on the inside of his covers - it is fuzzy and soft and you just KNOW it is not going to hurt the plexi....

I am an absolute fanatic about not letting the inside of my cover touch anything other than the canopy - I don't' want to get any dirt embedded that will eventually touch the bubble.

Paul
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  #6  
Old 07-01-2010, 09:48 AM
Bavafa Bavafa is offline
 
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Default

I sewed one and in the process I was looking to get the same material as Bruce but could not find it any where that they would sell the fabric. If you ever find out, I would be grateful to let me know.

I ended up buying the fabric from a fabric store and line it with a soft/thin fleece.
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  #7  
Old 07-01-2010, 10:38 AM
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Smile I just bought one from Planecover...

Quote:
Originally Posted by cfiidon View Post
...
In it, he mentions using a "proprietary" reflective material, made especially for them, but also mentions Sunbrella. You can get Sunbrella at most fabric stores, and line it with a felt or micro fiber material. I might suggest that you get some sample pieces, put it under a slow speed buffer, and make sure it doesn't scratch or react with a scrap piece of plexi.
....
...the sunbrella color link in my previous post, and he accidently shipped it without the inner lining.

When I called, he said that 80+% of his covers do not use an inner lining. As Paul said, the risk of fine grit getting held in the fuzzy stuff and scratching your canopy may be greater than the coarser material rubbing on the plexi...

It might be worse if you live - or tie down - in dry dusty areas of the country.
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  #8  
Old 07-01-2010, 10:46 AM
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revenson revenson is offline
 
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I also have that Bruce's cover. That soft inside is very nice. But it's awfully heavy to use as a traveling cover.

I'll be looking for alternatives.
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  #9  
Old 07-01-2010, 12:14 PM
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Default Non-Woven Fabric

Dan,
Coming from the plastic industry, I suggest you take a look at some of the new Non-Woven fabric developed for the auto cover industry.
They are light weight, offer great protection, are reasonably priced and could be fabricated into a very nice cover.

See data links below:

http://www.carcoverworld.com/outdoorfabrics.asp

http://www.block-it.com/technical_data.html

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/A...ric/index.html
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  #10  
Old 07-01-2010, 07:35 PM
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Default Cover material

Odyssey Softouch is used by some aircraft cover makers, the fabric is a combination of an acrylic coated woven polyester with a soft non-woven backer of 100% polyester.
The weight is 11 oz. / sq. yd. and made by Marchem Coated Fabrics located in New Haven, MO. 573-237-4444
The Softouch fabric has a slightly different texture but is very close to the fabric used by Bruce's Custom Covers. (I have both here in my shop.)
This fabric would be overkill for a day cover.

http://www.marchemcfi.com/softouch.html
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