What's all the fuss about???

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue May 30, 2006 10:27 pm

I had my first session of tank sealing tonight, and I gotta ask...What's all the fuss about? I thought this stuff was gonna be the killa of all tasks in this project. I actually kind of enjoyed it!

Weird, I know...

I'm using PR-1440 instead of Proseal. This is the stuff we use at work to seal the tanks on everything from our 152's to the Lear 35 and Challenger 600. It works great!

I was even clean when I finished!

One set of stiffeners down, one to go...then on to the rest of the tank...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:51 am

Chad, Looks GREAT!!!

Really, it ain't THAT hard... is it?

It does wear on you towards the end of the tanks. The cleanup, the mixing, the gloves.

I was glad to start it and was glad when it was over!

Have fun and keep us posted!

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:37 am

I think CJ hit the nail dead on the head.

It's all the mixing, cleaning, changing gloves, getting the crap all over you, so on. As hard as I tried I could not keep from getting at least a little bit on myself. I eventually got a long sleeve shirt I dedicated to the prosealing process.

Post by **Spike** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:35 am

Thats the way I felt about riveting the TE of the rudder on the 9. Once it was all done I still waiting for the gut wrenching part. Too cool once you start feeling comfy doing some of this stuff.

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:30 am

Chad -

Lookin' real nice!

Did you back rivet the stiffeners??

Let us know of any other "tricks of the trade" you come up with.
I plan to seal my tanks immediately after Golden West (with Van's Pro Seal).

Lorin D
9A Wings (Tanks)
N194LD reserved

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:42 am

Yup! I love backriveting!

While I'm very new to the sealing thing, the only thing I can pass on at this point is to take your time (within the limits of the sealant obviously!). I don't know how long it took me to do that job last night, but I do know that I just relaxed and worked it out. I did get started as soon as possible after the tube was mixed, but from that point on, I basically took my time to get it looking right.

I used the sealant in a can when I did the rudder, and used a 6 oz. tube of sealant last night. The tube and gun is MUCH better IMOH. It works like any other tube and gun combo where it oozes out after you've stopped pulling the trigger, so plan for that (if using the tube). Otherwise, you waste expensive sealant.

BTW, PR-1440 is the EXACT same stuff as Proseal, just not the name brand...

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:39 pm

Having everything ready in advance of mixing the pro-seal is key to giving oneself the most amount of time to work with it. Also, having a fridge nearby to store the unused portion like the Capt'n has helps to prolong the remainder incase you need it for fillets or capping over the shop heads.

It's only messy if you get some on you that you don't know about, and then touch other things you didn't want it on. Having lots of little wipes handy to clean spots helps too.

When bucking rivets on the ribs.. you can check your formed shop head by looking at your bucking bar surface for the "ring around the proseal" it leaves behind on the bucking bar surface. Or, you can wipe the shop head and check with the gauge if need be, then re-cover with pro-seal later.

The clean up is usually the most tiresome part of fuel tanks..

Be sure to score the surfaces well, and to get them very clean afterwards before doing the proseal.

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:56 am

Wicked -

Great suggestions....
I'll be prepped & will check my bucking bar appropriately!!
BTW - your "fridge comment" forced me to move my brewskies to the back to make more room for the ProSeal.
Too bad I ain't gotta enough froom for Bill's famous ground loop ale...

Thx,
Lorin D
9A wings (& about to start playing with the imfamous black death...)

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:42 am

Here is a pic of the "proseal smash" WS is talking about. Look for this on your BB to determine the size of your formed head. It usually is a good indicator. By the time you reach the tanks, you should have a well calibrated eye for the size of the -3 head.

...and yah, the fridge is an essential tool for many reasons!

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:53 am

I am going to piggy back on Wicked's comments. I highly recommend wearing a long sleeved shirt that you don't want anymore. You WILL get the crap on your arms and it is a pain to get off. Whatever you do, don't use MEK to clean it off. That stuff is extreemly bad for you. Oh yeah, make sure you wear a good resporator approved for chemicals. The proseal don't smell all that bad, but the chemicals you are going to be using to clean with are.

Lorin Dueck wrote:Too bad I ain't gotta enough froom for Bill's famous ground loop ale...

Don't worry Lorin, I have a cousin who lives in Santa Barbara. I'll bring some out that way the next time I go visit her. I do plan on flying my -8 there once it is done. I figure that will be the closest place to get my surfing fix in.

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:50 am

John (Capt'n),

Thanks for posting the picture of that.. I thought I had one laying around but couldn't find it.. maybe I was thinking of yours that we took.

Care to buck a handful of rivets tonight and if time permits go visit Rob's 7 ?

If so give me a call.