Dacron and stits sails

[Troos Jacobs]

What is the difference between Dacron and Stits?
How do you work with Stits, covering to cover wings etc.?

[John Young]

What is the difference between Dacron and Stits?
How do you work with Stits, covering to cover wings etc.?

HUGEwelcome TJ,

Enjoy

Hope someone else can help you.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[Morph]

Dacron is the same type of material as they use on Trike type wings. It is very hard wearing, but unless treated with a UV protection fades and weakens with exposure to the sun. It is also heavier than "Stits" Later developments produced superior fabrics like Trylam. This is used to a large degree on planes such as the Cheetah. YOu cannot spray this type of material to colour it and you are dependent on the available pre-impregnated colours. The fabric is made in a sock, sewn together and then pulled over the wing/fuse. It is then held in place using lacing or velcro etc. Dacron usually has a limited (500hour) lifespan

Stits is a Polyfibre type material, far thinner and lighter than Dacron. The fabric looks and feels like silk. You apply it to the surface using a special glue and then using a calibrated iron the fabric is heated to pull tight. The fuse/wing must be strong enough to handle this tightening process or it will bend. This means that planes built with Dacron (which is not pulled tight like this) generally do not have sufficient struts to prevent bending during this process. The fabric is then UV sealed using a Nitrate/Butrate lacquer. After that it can be sprayed using 2K automotive paints with a softflex additive. It has a much better durability to UV and 25Year lifespan is typical. It also looks much better IMHO. However since the fabric is very tight and thin it is prone to "hangar rash" and can be sliced easily by sharp objects.