I know about the leading edge tape "Propguard".
But has anyone tried to paint the leading edge with some kind of flexible coating for abrasion?
Beach sand raises hell with propellers!

Sounds like another job for Bedliner goop

Sidewinder wrote:Sounds like another job for Bedliner goop

Something like that except it would need to be smooth.
Don't know if you could smooth out bedliner or not?

MT Prop, stainless/ nickel leading edge...

Yep, MT prop SS leading edge is tough as nails

MTV

I'd think that if you paint (or tape) you'd have a balance issue.

NimpoCub wrote:I'd think that if you paint (or tape) you'd have a balance issue.

I think if you measure or weigh the tape prior to application, then apply it evenly to the blades, same distance from blade tips etc, balance is unlikely to be affected.

bumper

Tape starts coming off, when it runs through sand, snow, water, etc. stuff doesn't last very long in off airport, or gravel strips, etc.

MTV

Ya I tried the tape many years ago and for really small stuff it did seem to help but if you pick up a pea sized rock you basically have to peel the whole thing off and start again. That's why I figured something that sprayed on would be better. Something like Proseal. may be good but I don't know if you could thin it enough.

Can't take issue with anything in this thread, there doesn't seem to be any perfect solution.

I have an MT prop and the SS leading edge works well. It abrades too, but very slowly and will insignificant material loss, if any (almost like glass bead blasting metal). Also, dings in the MT, at least small ones, are very easy to repair.

Any tape type coatings, for the most part, will need to be conformable to go onto compound curves, like the black polyurethane tape I have on the leading edge of the horizontal stab. The mechanical strength and thickness of the PU, and its being relatively soft, absorbs impacts from small stuff and leaves the leading edges damage free. But, like MTV says, get a bit bigger, sharp pea size on up, and the tape will show some damage. Push the cut edges back into place and keep on, well at least until you decide to replace the tape. Mine's going on 5 or 6 years and still looks reasonable.

On the leading edge of the wing struts and gear legs, I'm using Surlyn tape. It's crystal clear, 12 mills thick, and tough as nails. Bonking the strut with a ladder while refueling is not an issue! BUT, by tests show that Surlyn tape, like many other clear tapes, has a nasty failure mode with long term UV exposure. The surface degrades and cracks like a dry lake bed in the sun. Yet the surface does it's damndest to protect the adhesive below, which has turned to concrete, from any solvent you might care to try! PITA So the tape needs to be replaced now and then, and wouldn't be recommended for something stored outside.

bumper

bumper

Not sure if prop guard is in business any more . For you expenmental guys you can go to hobby shop and find the old style Monocoat trim ( sticky back ) about 6 inch x 40 inch and they it - makes a good strut main geaf or stabilize r cover ,comes with color combo s . For about 5 bucks a strip.

I have an MT prop and go to gravel, dirt and grass strips very often.
Talked to Larry at MT and he recommended to use thin prop tape.
I do use it, but never lasts more than 40 hrs or so.
So I keep re doing it.

Another advice was to wax the prop, I do it and feel soo smooth

I just saw this stuff. I'm not sure about propellers but for horizontal stab or struts why not.

www.dipyourcar.com

Mister701 wrote:I just saw this stuff. I'm not sure about propellers but for horizontal stab or struts why not.

http://www.dipyourcar.com

That's good stuff! Did the wheels on my wife's old jeep black with it. Just wash and apply even coats with a rattle-can. Peel away any overspray.

It's just a lighter, spray on version of the stuff they dip tool handles in to give them a rubbery coating for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

I think definitely for struts it'd be a good idea. I'm not sure if it'd mess with the boundary layer around the horizontal. It was fairly smooth when I used it on the jeep wheels though, so it might work.

CamTom12 wrote:

Mister701 wrote:I just saw this stuff. I'm not sure about propellers but for horizontal stab or struts why not.

http://www.dipyourcar.com

That's good stuff! Did the wheels on my wife's old jeep black with it. Just wash and apply even coats with a rattle-can. Peel away any overspray.

It's just a lighter, spray on version of the stuff they dip tool handles in to give them a rubbery coating for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

I think definitely for struts it'd be a good idea. I'm not sure if it'd mess with the boundary layer around the horizontal. It was fairly smooth when I used it on the jeep wheels though, so it might work.

That stuff is exactly what I was thinking of. Actually thought about thinning some tool dip. Didn't occur to me the might make a spray formula.
How is adhesion on a properly cleaned surface?

It's very good. If you don't like it, you can peel it off but it does take some doing to get the peel started.

Bedliner, seriously! Aviation section of NAPA.

That stuff sticks, period, UV resistant, readily available, and FAA approved for your certified aircraft. OK, just kidding about that last part. But for a LE of a hor stab, or down on landing gear legs or somewhere else (not the prop ) subject to much abuse and cosmetically somewhat out of view, Herculiner brand bed liner. You can always buy some and fool around first touching up the garden tractor or the pickup's rocker panels to get an idea of what it's like to work with, 40 bucks is all. It sticks especially well to itself, so any touchups would be no problem. Hell if it sticks and wears well on my Airstreaks, anything else would be light duty. Masked off and carefully applied, it looks good also, looks just like a tough protective LE ought to look anyway. Doing anything like this may be problematic if certified though?

Wouldn't want Heculiner on LE, that is unless there is a way to get the chunks out of it. Paint filter?

Make that "not on the prop OR the LE of the wing". The chunks brush out, the finish is no more disruptive then the rubber boots I've seen. On a hor stab LE and on a back country plane I doubt it would interfere the laminar flow, like we would have some anyway! Good point though, I won't try it with my fabric tail feathers, it's too easy to patch and touch up with the Poly Tone. But if I had a metal plane I would protect that LE with bedliner, it's exactly what the goop is made for, abrasion protection.