Prop Sox

Ironflight · #1 09-18-2006, 07:39 AM

If you live near the coast where it is humid and the air is salty, you have probably opened your hangar door early in the morning and discovered beads of moisture on the leading edge of your prop. If you see this often enough, you will probably also see growing salt crystals on those expensive blades. Those crystals are eating your prop!

An airport neighbor of mine by the name of Glenn Jones came up with a nifty little solution that he calls the "Prop Sox"....which are pretty much exactly what they sound like! They are made of quilted material and slip over your blades so that they are protected from the morning dew. You wouldn't want to use them on a plane stored outside(as they'd absorb rain), but they seem to work great in the hangar.

They have the added benefit of protecting your skull from a nice laceration when you stand up under the stationary prop, especially on a taildragger! (Glenn has a beautiful Skybolt, and that nose sits much higher than that of an RV - a definite noggin-knocker in the hangar!)

I've been using them for about four moinths now, and they really seem to work - if you're interested, don't call me, check out Glenn's web site at August and Associates

(posting approved by dr)

jonbakerok · #2 09-18-2006, 07:41 PM

Seems like it would hold the moisture in.

I've been using spray-on grease after every flight, just a little on the leading edges. It seems to control it pretty well.

I know exactly what you're talking about. If I forget and don't fly for a couple weeks, the leading edges will have a dusting of white powder, anywhere the paint has worn off. And I'm 50 miles from the coast on the other side of town!

Ironflight · #3 09-18-2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbakerok

Seems like it would hold the moisture in.

I wondered about that as well Jon - I think Glenn is using a very breathable fabric. All I know is htat the blades have ben dry when I took the sox off - even when the wings were covered in dew.

Paul

RV8N · #4 09-19-2006, 07:23 AM

I used to have a very serious problem with moisture in my hanger (probably about 150 yards from Iron Flight's hanger). The floor would be soaking wet. The steel beams would be dripping on the plane. My engine was even dripping wet when I looked inside the cowl openings.

I used to keep a restored Norton motorcycle in the hanger, it would be dripping wet. All the chrome and polished aluminum on it were rusting and corroding.

I finally went to Sears and bought a dehumidifier. I ran a hose from the catch pan out thru the side of the building to drain the water. My hanger is now totally dry 24/7/365. It does exhaust heat which is a bad thing in Houston when your trying to work in the hanger. I sometimes have to unplug it while I work and then plug it back in when I leave. Best investment I ever made.

Karl

ps: This is not to discount the value of Glen's prop covers. If you are unable to use a dehumidifier, the covers would be a great investment. Also consider the value of protecting your prop from other types of abuse, especially in a large common hanger.

frankh · #5 09-19-2006, 08:50 AM

if these kind of conditions leads to higher rates of camshaft rusting failures?

RV8N · #6 09-19-2006, 09:42 AM

You can bet money on it. If there's moisture (condensate) on the outside of the engine, its on the inside also. I recommend you do whatever is needed to protect your investment.

Karl

jonbakerok · #7 09-20-2006, 06:40 AM

I found that the cure for all the drippy dew on everything was a simple ceiling fan. I keep it running on low 24x7. That's all it took. I haven't seen dew dripping from the rafters since I started using it.

Russ McCutcheon · #8 09-20-2006, 03:30 PM

I finally went to Sears and bought a dehumidifier.

Karl, this intrests me. What model and brand did you get at Sears?

JoeG · #9 09-20-2006, 08:00 PM

Here's some "wild" socks I saw at OshKosh

RV8N · #10 09-23-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ McCutcheon

Karl, this intrests me. What model and brand did you get at Sears?

I got the Kenmore 53701. Its a 70 pint/24 hrs. unit. Largest sold at Sears. I think it was on sale for $199 but when the brought the unit out to me, the box had been opened. I pointed it out and they dropped the price even more. Here is the link:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...APPL&ihtoken=1

I don't know if that is going to come thru but if your go to sears.com and search kenmore dehumidifier, you will find it.