I tested the PVC water pipes and found that the fuel would weep through the sealed pipe until it was all gone in about three months. I am also testing Vinyl fence posts. I brought the test items to the Gatherings at MVN several times. Larry always had me keep the gasoline outside the terminal building on the picnic table. The sealed Vinyl post has held automotive gasoline with 10 percent Ethanol for seven years and not lost a drop. I check the loss rate (zero) by weighing the Vinyl post test items on a digital scale. Apparently the glue used for the Vinyl stands up to gasoline and Ethanol quite well. I would have used the Vinyl posts in my KR-2 when I replaced the Vinyl Ester tanks, but would have required too much rework on the existing wing structure. Were I building from scratch, I would definitely use the Vinyl fence posts; they are available at Lowe's in 3, 4, 5 and 6 inch sizes.
Sid Wood Tri-gear KR-2 N6242 Mechanicsville, MD, USA > ------------------------------ >>>How fuel resistant is PVC, ABS? Drain pipe ABS is really strong and >>fairly light. Peter > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Bill Clapp used PVC pipe for fuel tanks and found the fuel would > slowly "weep" through the > pipe. http://www.krnet.org/mvn2004/040929277.jpg Someone else was > doing a test using the square vinyl post covers and indicate early > success. I don't recall who that was. > > I would suggest that there have been enough different things tried on > KR's to satisfy most builders curiosity. If you're building simply > to fly, go with proven ideas and save time. If you're building to > fulfill your desire to experiment, go for it.......... > > Larry Flesner >------------------------------
