Bob, since I am still receiving e-mails from the KRNet I'll throw this out too you. I would seriously recommend you rethink your idea to use vinyl ester resin/flox combination in building an aluminum tank. The tank, unless made as one piece, flexes. Proseal, or the product I'll mention later in this post, are made remain plyable and not become brittle as your resin/flox combination will do. Do what you want, it's just my opinion but you may get a tank that is leak proof until it's first go round with vibration. Remember, another decision factor in using aluminum tanks is the ability to use any type of fuel you want with no regard for additives. Some additives will adversely affect composite compositions.
Proseal is messy but it is a product that is made for this use, there are others. I'm just familiar with Proseal and know how good it works. The new stuff Van's is recommending now is MC-236-B2 which is the quart number. I used less than a quart on Mark's tanks. In this case, I would seriously recommend one stick with products made for this use. Bob, I understand your desire to use products you have on hand or are familiar with but in this case I just really feel you will be disappointed in the final results when you have to go cutting into your foam wings to take out the tanks and replace them. As for gluing the sides together, when you put 10 gallons in the tank you have added 60 plus pounds. Add vibration throught the years and any "gluing" is going to be prone to separation. I still stick to my guns and say rivet is together for integrity and the piece of mind in knowing you will not have to cut your wings open to solve a problem that could have been avoided. I'll guarantee, the time you spend cutting a wing open is going to be in excess of the time you "saved" in cutting corners during the initial construction. The solid rivets I recommended in my documentation are going to cost you about $35.00, once again they are made for this arrangement. The bonding agent is $39.40. Is it worth saving $75.00 to reinvent the wheel?? I think Mark Jones can chime in on the plyability of the proseal and the rigidity of his wing tanks. Dana Overall 1999 & 2000 National KR Gathering host Richmond, KY RV-7 slider/fuselage http://rvflying.tripod.com do not archive >From: [email protected] >Reply-To: KR builders and pilots <[email protected]> >To: "KR builders and pilots" <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: KR>Aluminum tanks >Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 05:52:59 -0400 (EDT) > >I am about ready to build my tanks. I am going to try alum. bonded with a >vinyl ester/flox mixture. I will let you know how it works. > >Bob Farmer > > > > > > > After all the talk about the tanks, I looked at the one that Mark Jones > > has and it reminded me of all te hours I spent repairing and sealing wet > > wings and the horrible smell of the proseal. I would think that by now > > there are better bonding agents for aluminum out there where one could > > possible just glue aluminum panels together instead of riveting. >Anybody > > heard of anything like that? I am about ready to cut aluminum for making > > my tanks and am still debating welding, riveting and proseal, or any >"new" > > options that I have not heard of. > > _______________________________________________ > > see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
