AndyB Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Hi, looking for any advice or experience regarding protection of carbon props from wear. I fly off sandy beach and the leading edge wears out very quickly. The solution is to put tape on it. However, even the tape doesn't last long. The picture below is after 2 flights of 45 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilzy Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Andy how much of the 2hrs plus were spent skirting along the beach lol mate I'm only jealous lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Only about 10 mins max!....there was not beach without obstacles on it (people). Most of flights were at 300 to 500 feet, apart from a jaunt up to 3500 feet to see if it was cooler. It wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilzy Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Really that amazes me what I thought was joking isn't lol. So would you say that damage is done on take off and landing or is the sand in the air at that sort of height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 I deliberately didn't fly low for long and yet still loads of wear. There always tends to be a 'haze' of sand in the air here, coming from North Africa - which we can see from here. It might also be sea air? ie with salt in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Some proper helicopter tape would work 'at vast expense though' at £130 a roll. https://www.selfadhesive.co.uk/3m-8672-2-inch-ind867202.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5KyO5cai1gIVipPtCh0RwQDOEAQYBCABEgJ5Y_D_BwE SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unwind-protect Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 I don't know how big your props are but I don't think I'd ever manage to use 30m of the stuff!! You can get it in much smaller rolls - OK technically it's 8671 rather than 8672, but it's the same stuff, only thicker. https://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/products/bike-protective-tape-3m-8671hs-polyurethane-protective-tape-short-rolls-25mm-x-3m?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwruPNBRCKARIsAEYNXIjVkkfc6hFMBeNsF1uN-nuS5kNnr-qdVJ0o-t0bjiLtpxYL7iQNbwMaAkDGEALw_wcB&variant=34688318791 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Cheers guys, will try a small bit of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Second the recommendation for Helicopter Tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 The actual heli tape (linked above) is balanced, meaning as long as you cut the exact same length it will be exactly the same weight I think thats why the expense. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frosty100 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I would worry about the ingress of sand and salt into the inner intricacies of the engine 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 Sand is too big to get past the air filter. Salty air can be a problem anywhere within 10 miles or so of the sea. Best preventive measure is constant use I think. Don't leave it standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frosty100 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 BRILLIANT! Take care and fly safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Maybe there are enough people to justify buying a full roll, as a collective? SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Or should I buy one and cut it in to 1.5 meter strips for those that want some? This would produce x20 1.5m lengths SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 I bought this one. Cut in half is enough and give 24 feet. I have found that only the last 18 inch needs to be covered, so use 24 inch for good measure. So 4 feet per covering gives 6 lots for £30. https://www.amazon.co.uk/ISC-Helicopter-OG-Surface-Guard-Tape/dp/B000TR6EW2/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1506854129&sr=8-17&keywords=polyurethane+tape+4in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noddyc Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Simon , If you buy the tape let me know, I am in , want to cover my two props !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superloop Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Whatever you do, DO NOT try to glue metal leading edges on the prop! My first microlighting adventure back in the 90's was a 5 day trek across the Kalahari Desert (called the Kalahari Bundu Bash, if you ever want to do an amazing adventure) and my esteemed pilot (I was filming) - who happens to be an engineer par excellance (and now great friend and sail-around-the-world-sailor), put metal leading edges on his 3 blade prop. We took a test flight before starting the 5 day trek and within minutes one of the leading edges had shot off right through the wing. We had to land out in the desert due to an un-balanced prop. The forces at near the speed of sound cannot be under estimated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dariuszk24 Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 I use this tape for years from this link working excellent many times rescue my prop from much harder objects after hit tape absorbing energy from impact its eaven very difficult to cut by scissors,to cut that you need new razor blade On 13/09/2017 at 18:00, unwind-protect said: I don't know how big your props are but I don't think I'd ever manage to use 30m of the stuff!! You can get it in much smaller rolls - OK technically it's 8671 rather than 8672, but it's the same stuff, only thicker. https://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/products/bike-protective-tape-3m-8671hs-polyurethane-protective-tape-short-rolls-25mm-x-3m?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwruPNBRCKARIsAEYNXIjVkkfc6hFMBeNsF1uN-nuS5kNnr-qdVJ0o-t0bjiLtpxYL7iQNbwMaAkDGEALw_wcB&variant=34688318791 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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