Tapes - pinked or plain?

[TahoeTim]

I'm going with Oratex and am wondering if pinked edges or plain is preferred.

[avidflyer]

Hi Tim, never got your last name in the private message.... Pinked tapes were supposed to hold better with old covering methods. I believe originally they frayed the edges of the cotton fabric. I have no idea if it matters with the Oratex though. Jim Chuk

[AirFox]

Oratex uses strait edge tapes. I hear you should double up the glue layer to stick the tape on.

[jrevens]

My belief is that straight edge tapes are best with Oratex. I think one of the main reasons for pinking the edges of any fabric is to minimize raveling. You don't have that problem with Oratex because it is pre-finished/sealed, and raveling is mostly eliminated. Since there isn't a layer of paint applied over the whole covered surface after finish tapes are applied, helping to hold down all those little pointy edges, the straight edged tape makes more sense to me. There is less exposed "edge" also. There were airplanes in times past that used straight edged tapes, but pinking is "standard" now. I've grown to like & prefer the look of the straight tape on my project, but you can't tell if they're straight or pinked from 10 feet away anyhow. You can get them either way from Oratex.

[Peteohms]

Ditto what John Evans said. He was a big help when I covered the elevator on my Kitfox as a test piece. ( Thanks John ) I like the smooth edge.

[TahoeTim]

I placed my order today with plain tapes

[efwd]

Tim, have you got your order of Oratex? I spoke to Paul and Lars this past week and one of the questions I had was what the lead time was.
I received an Estimate that was not entirely complete as Paul states he didn't have sufficient data on the SS7 and its measurements. Have you done research as to how much it would actually cost you to do the paint yourself with all the incidentals like putting a paint booth together, respirators, Paints and thinners etc. etc? I realize paint products can vary in price depending on the product.