Proven fuel proof coating for field box -summary so far

[Tom Simes]

Thanks for the feedback everybody, to summarize, here is what I think I
understand about the finishes so far.  If you have first hand experience
contradicting this, please let me know!

Lacquer:  From what I've read, aircraft dope is a catalyzed lacquer and
aparently the catalyst used determines how fuel/nitro tolerant the
finish will be.  Don't know what the "good" catalyzing agents are, but
apparently non-catalyzed lacquer is not fuel proof at all.

Epoxy / finishing resin:  Definately highly fuel resistant, but the
longest pot life epoxy I regularly use is 30 minute and so I don't
really have a need for the extra 1/2 quart or so I would need to buy
(not available in < 1 qt. quantities as far as I know).  Even the West
system stuff is not naturally UV resistant - they recommend top coating
with a UV resistant varnish.

Spar varnish:  Should be color stable and highly UV resistant.  May
become brittle and succeptable to cracking / crazing.  Should be fuel /
nitro resistant to some degree.

Polyurethane (exterior/spar):  Should be color stable, very durable and
highly UV resistant.  At least the Varathane water bourne acrylic flavor
is reported to not be fuel resistant.

So far I am leaning towards either a non-acrylic polyurethane or the
spar varnish because of durability and ease of application, but I'm
still not clear on how fuel resistant the various brands / flavors of
these finishes are.  I may end up buying the smallest quantities I can
get of the spar varnish and polyurethane and conducting some
experiments.


Tom

_____________________________________________________________________

       |  ,  |               Tom Simes
---------(@)---------        AMA 230068
        --|--                NSRCA 3830
          '                  nsrca at shinymetalass.com
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