Oratex Drain Vent Holes

[SilverFox5]

I am curious as to how others have created and completed drain vent holes in Oratex.
I know BAF (Lars) recommends using seaplane grommet’s on every hole but I have seen VERY few Oratex covered planes with these grommets. Until now I just did not look at how they were finished off.
Does anyone have pictures of your holes and how they were finished.
I have wings and all tail parts completed except for a few tapes left to put on.
Fuselage is also almost complete.
.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Joe Leeman
Wisconsin
Kitfox 5
912uls
.

[jiott]

I would suggest regular grommets (flat) rather than seaplane grommets which have a little scoop on them.

[PapuaPilot]

Basically you want one at any low point where water could gather. For wings you want a drain hole in every rib bay at the inboard aft corner. I put two on each elevator, rudder and horizontal stabilizers. I can't remember how many are on the fuselage bottom, but you want one as far back as possible near the tailwheel mount area.

Like DenaliFox said, seaplane grommets create suction and will draw out the moisture and humidity. That's why I like them and recommend their use over the flat washers.

[Denalifox]

i did every rib bay in the wings and lowest points in the drooping elevator and rudder. Beauty of Oratex is you just poke a hole and glue whatever grommet of your choosing to the spot and you are done. I would not just poke holes (cauterized or not) without some form of reinforcement (that being a grommet). The amount of drain holes sort of depends on your area. Up here having water in your airplane is near impossible to avoid. So water mitigation is more the name of the game here. After figuring out all my little hidden spots water liked to creep I have yet to have any issues. Another thing to note, Water doesnt effect Oratex glue nor does subzero temps. Not a single issue through out the winter.

[jrevens]

Drain holes, or holes for grommets are easily made with a soldering iron, just like with Poly-Fiber. I have a few different soldering irons, but I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight for a couple bucks that has a real pointy tip about 3/16” dia. I don’t know if anyone else does this, but I used a thin Exacto blade to carefully trim off the little melted ridge that forms around the hole, inside & out. If you use grommets, they can be securely attached to Oratex with a spot of super glue.

[Kitfox Pilot]

I used what John said just a soldering iron. It makes self-sealing holes.

[efwd]

Just as John and Harlan. I didn't have a problem with a melted bead around the hole.

[SilverFox5]

Thanks for the tips guys!
Question to all, did any of you use any type of grommet?
Or did you just melt the hole thru the patch and fabric and call it good?
l know Lars recommends a seaplane patch on every drain hole but I don’t remember ever seeing these on any of the Oratex covered planes I’ve looked at.
If I did decide to use flat grommets do they come in clear or will they need to be sandwiched in between the fabric and the patch? The ones I see on Aircraft Spruce do not say if they are clear.
Thanks again!
Joe Leeman

[bumsteer]

Joe

The grommets I got from Wag-Aero are clear.

Rick

[PapuaPilot]

I have two on each wing, one of the outboard ones is for accessing the pitot tube. The inboard ones are between the lift strut attach point and fuel tanks (bay 4?). At times I wish I had more for the sake of internal inspection or the possibility of getting debris or a dead critter, but I can see a lot by pulling the wingtips and two covers.

For Oratex planes this isn't an big issue because you can always add a ring and fabric patch later if you want to cut more holes. With any of the other covering processes you need plan ahead and put the rings and fabric patch on before the finishing coats. During covering you can put as many rings as you want and never cut them open; it only costs the weight of the plastic rings. FYI I didn't even cut out my wing inspection holes for a couple years. I painted the inspection covers (plus a couple spares) and had them waiting for that day.