Painting a prop

[Biggles]

I am thinking of adding a few high visibility yellow stripes at the tip of my prop. Should also look cool as it will match the overall colour scheme. But primarily for safety.

Could I pick up balance problems?
What paint to use on Carbon Fibre?

[Morph]

Yes you can

just make sure you balance the prop again afterwards, either using more paint on the lightest side or clear lacquer

[John Boucher]

You can use 2K...

And correctly said by Morph - You can and most probably will "unbalance" the prop. Most guys use the tips to finely balance wind inducing laminated wood with nice coloured tips!

[Biggles]

You can use 2K...

And correctly said by Morph - You can and most probably will "unbalance" the prop. Most guys use the tips to finely balance wind inducing laminated wood with nice coloured tips!

What is 2K?

[Morph]

Car paint, 2 pack. Cape Auto Paints are the cheapest. It is quite difficult to paint for a beginner, easier to get someone to do it for you

If the prop is black, paint the tips white first. Then put the yellow on

I'm sure is you ask really nicely, perhaps a beer or two, Ranger can do it for you, otherwise you are going to be spending quite a bit of money on paint for such a small job. He has a spray booth etc. I'll ask him, when are you going away again?

Alternatively you can also use the typical aerosol paint, mask out everything you don't want covered with brown paper/plastic and masking tape. Use the white first, then the yellow.

[IceAge]

Sorry for the hijack..................

Based on the situation that painting the tips of a prop could 'unbalance' it... I have a 3-blade Warp on my trike with a type of plastic (cellotape) protection on the leading tips of about 4-5 inches. Over time and landing on gravel strips objects (grass, small stones, etc.) have damaged the covering, ie. small chips of the 'plastic' gone or fraying. Would it make any difference to the 'balance' if I remove the tape completely and rather paint the tips for the same length, ie. strip and repaint if it starts looking shabby ?

Thanks

[John Boucher]

I know 3M has a polyurethane product for aviation that can be applied to the leading edges for stone chip protection. Possibly this can be applied to the prop as well.

With a WARP, you balance each blade individually and If I am correct, then a single coat of paint equates to an A4 page (80g/m bond). So quite easily if you have built yourself a static balancer then you can get the coats quite accurately! Have to do mine shortly but luckily mine has metal plates on.

[Biggles]

I know 3M has a polyurethane product for aviation that can be applied to the leading edges for stone chip protection. Possibly this can be applied to the prop as well.

With a WARP, you balance each blade individually and If I am correct, then a single coat of paint equates to an A4 page (80g/m bond). So quite easily if you have built yourself a static balancer then you can get the coats quite accurately! Have to do mine shortly but luckily mine has metal plates on.

VPS that do the car protective film id also advertised for props.

Morph, I am in the sahara dreaming of flying at the moment. Back in October.

[Biggles]

Thanks for teh tip on white first, makes sense!! I am thinking of just going 2x 2cm stripes at the tip. So will masking tape everything up and use normal spray cans. see if I can get a higher quality paint that will not go brittle and crack off.

[John Boucher]

That's the stuff Biggles -Vehicle Protection Surfaces

http://www.vpsprotection.co.za/Aviation ... _home.html

[Biggles]

That's the stuff Biggles -Vehicle Protection Surfaces

http://www.vpsprotection.co.za/Aviation ... _home.html

Oops I was wrong. It's not cleared by CAA for use on the prop.

[John Boucher]

TC vs NTC ?

[Morph]

I wouldn't put that on a prop. You are relying on the glue to provide Centripetal force on a spinning prop.

[John Boucher]

Daai goed sit soos "snot in 'n wol kombers" if applied correctly but in hindsight listen to what "Morpheus" says....

[Biggles]

I have seen a plastic film on a prop before. I was thinner than the automotive 3M product. It should stay on OK but after a few knocks who knows... you can also be guarenteed that one blade will go first resulting in an unbalanced prop.