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Bob's RV-8 Build Site
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Date:  11-6-2019
Number of Hours:  5.60
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Prepping and Sika Bonding #2

I began by removing the tape off the canopy in order to strip back the protective plastic a little more and tape the canopy in preparation for applying the Sika. A lot of my information came from Jim Novak and Steve Riffe. You can look up their build logs on Kitlog and they will be a great resource to you as they were for me.

The taping process involves two layers of tape to be applied where the Sika will be applied to the canopy and frame. I used quality 3M electrical tape for the first layer of tape. It goes around the curves of the frame well and adheres to the powder coat fantastic. Next I put on the second layer of tape. It was a high quality 3M flexible paper tape that also did well on the circles but also important it DID NOT pull off the electrical tape when it was pulled off.

The theory behind this is you place the first tape layer then put the second layer with about a strong 1/16th inch overlap. If you look at photo #2 you can see the light yellow strip where I overlapped the black tape underneath. When the Sika is applied you do your initial smoothing with a latex glove and dipping the smoothing finger in water (this really assists in giving a smoother finish).

HINT: In addition to the latex glove, my wife has a supply of "rubber finger protectors" from CVS that are used to cover bandaids or whatever ( I refer to them as finger condoms). The problem I found is that the latex gloves will transfer any wrinkles in the finger into the Sika....with the protector placed on my index finger it made a very tight surface to smooth the Sika (It also encourages folks to "practice safe Sika" in our society :0) ). More on this later.

So after placing the initial Sika bead and smoothing you can pull the top tape and it pulls off all the extra Sika that has spread around during application and smoothing. That exposes the second tape and now you can final smooth the Sika and then the second tape is pulled it should leave a nice line on the canopy frame or canopy.
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Tape Removed

Tape Removed

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See black under yellow tape..about 1/16 overlap

See black under yellow tape..about 1/16 overlap

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Double taped where Sika is placed

Double taped where Sika is placed

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