Oratex over polyfiber

[jiott]

I have no experience at all with Oratex but I have one serious doubt about it that only time (about 20 years) will answer. That is the UV protection. The Polyfiber system has you put on 3 cross coats (that's 6 coats) of the UV protecting silver Polyspray until no light shows thru with a 60 watt bulb on the other side to give the all-important protection against UV rotting the fabric. Oratex claims built-in UV protection, but we all know that a finished plane covered with Oratex show light thru it similar to the old tissue and balsa models I made as a kid (slight exaggeration here). How can their "built-in" UV protection be much good with that much light transmissibility? Polyfiber is well proven for about 20 year+ life. Oratex hasn't proved much beyond a few years, so in my opinion the jury will still be out for quite a few years to come. FWIW

[jrevens]

I have no experience at all with Oratex but I have one serious doubt about it that only time (about 20 years) will answer. That is the UV protection. The Polyfiber system has you put on 3 cross coats (that's 6 coats) of the UV protecting silver Polyspray until no light shows thru with a 60 watt bulb on the other side to give the all-important protection against UV rotting the fabric. Oratex claims built-in UV protection, but we all know that a finished plane covered with Oratex show light thru it similar to the old tissue and balsa models I made as a kid (slight exaggeration here). How can their "built-in" UV protection be much good with that much light transmissibility? Polyfiber is well proven for about 20 year+ life. Oratex hasn't proved much beyond a few years, so in my opinion the jury will still be out for quite a few years to come. FWIW

Just a few quick quick thoughts about that, Jim... I don't know how much this actually means to anyone worrying about being able to see light through Oratex and the UV "issue", but consider if you will that you can see pretty darn well through sunglasses, many of which filter 100% of UV -A&B. There are also colorless liquid protectants like 303 that block UV rays quite effectively.

I've had test strips of my white Oratex 6000 hanging outside, directly facing South, at an elevation of 5700 ' msl, 24 hrs. a day, 365 days a year for 6 years now. They've been exposed to rain, snow and more days of high-intensity sunshine than experienced by most other parts of the U.S. They have slightly discolored, possibly somewhat from air-pollution (this is Denver) but seem to be a strong as new... at least I can't tear them. I figure that this kind of exposure is probably at least equal to 20 or more years of a normal airplane's life, especially if it is hangared (as most of our Kitfoxes are).

[Danzer1]

I have no experience at all with Oratex but I have one serious doubt about it that only time (about 20 years) will answer. That is the UV protection. The Polyfiber system has you put on 3 cross coats (that's 6 coats) of the UV protecting silver Polyspray until no light shows thru with a 60 watt bulb on the other side to give the all-important protection against UV rotting the fabric. Oratex claims built-in UV protection, but we all know that a finished plane covered with Oratex show light thru it similar to the old tissue and balsa models I made as a kid (slight exaggeration here). How can their "built-in" UV protection be much good with that much light transmissibility? Polyfiber is well proven for about 20 year+ life. Oratex hasn't proved much beyond a few years, so in my opinion the jury will still be out for quite a few years to come. FWIW

Oratex has been used in Europe since 2002 or 2003 - quite a few more than "a few years". I have not heard of any UV protection complaints or issues to date.

Thought to ponder: Most sunglasses these days have UVA and B protection of 99.9 to 100% and I can see through them pretty well (light transmissibility), much easier than I can through Oratex! Hmmm - think about it.

Also not seen mentioned here yet - Oratex can be peeled back if repairs or access are necessary and re-applied in lieu of full replacement.

If we all waited 20+ years for something to be "proven", innovation and progress would be stifled by around I'd say.....20+ years!

I think the question really comes down to: Do you like the look of unpainted Oratex (if you're going to paint it, you're not really saving anything) or are you comfortable doing lots of painting and will be satisfied with those results? Either will serve the utilitarian purpose.

[avidflyer]

Another thing to possibly consider with the UV blocking may be this. If you do the 3 cross coats that Polyfiber requires for the full amount of UV protection, the plane can probably sit outside for 30 years and the fabric should still be good. My Kitfox and Avid Flyer never go out of the hangar except to fly, and probably that is likely true for most Kitfox owners. Certainly very few leave their planes parked outside long term. That all being said, how much UV protection is really needed? Maybe it's not that big of an issue?? JImChuk

[buckchop]

Call them up in Anchorage at Better Aircraft fabric and ask about the book, usually it giving out with THEIR sale of the fabric to THEIR customers. The Class was offererd to me cause i bought fabric and had no experience and they was try to promote the fabric some more in Fairbanks that was in 2017.
If this site was easier for a none computer guy to use to post pic id show u guys some pic of the installs ive done, the aftermath of the Oratex from the 30x50 steel hanger roof that squashed the 47 pa12 and 4 of our hotrods/muscle cars, with 1hr of flyin time on new build, bent it like u cant even dream up, totally unbeliveable if u cn it, and there was only 1 rip in the fabric on the whole plane. First time ive ever cn my 82yr old Dad cry in my 50yrs, and i did lots mysef.
Soooooo here i am again rebuilding the rebuild.