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Making Hybrid Tape.

To: <swiftsolo@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Making Hybrid Tape.
From: "Greg Ryan" <gregoryrryan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:40:27 -0500
Bias tape is hideously expensive, but easy to make using bi-directional hybrid. 
Simply stick two strips of 1/2 inch wide masking tape (or time tape) a few 
inches apart across the desired length of the hybrid material. Cut down the 
center of the masking tape strips to release the hybrid tape. When applying the 
hybrid tape to the job pull the taped sides in opposite directions to create 
biased fibers. With the masking tape on the underside you usually cannot see 
the tape but can still completely wet out the fibers. Stray fibers along the 
edge will also be held neatly and fairly blunt scissors can be used to cut the 
Kevlar and your leftover roll of Kevlar will not have frayed edges. If the bias 
hybrid tape is being used to reinforce along a curved shape, say the 
bulkhead/hull joint on a Swift,  snip the masking tape edges of your hybrid 
tape every 10mm or so to allow it to flex as easily as the tape and conform to 
the required shape. A butt joint reinforced with fibers on the bias where every 
fiber crosses the vertex of the joint will lead to a stronger joint. 
Reinforcing tubular structures with biased Kevlar fibers leads to a more 
resilient structure, that if fractured, might stay together in one broken piece 
and get you home, rather than give you two useless pieces.


Greg
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