Procedure Manual No. AT 101 FAA Original Issue Date: September 19, 1989 APPROVED Revision: 8 Date: June 1, 1997 PROCEDURES FOR TAUTENING POLYESTER FABRIC PROCEDURE AT 101 – T GENERAL SHRINKING – OPEN BAY SHRINKING For the tautening process an ordinary household clothing iron rated at 1100 watts or higher will produce satisfactory results. DO NOT USE A HEAT GUN FOR THIS PROCESS!. 1. Calibrate the iron with an Air Tech iron thermometer. The iron’s thermostat control position must then be marked at the 250 degree, 300 degree and 375 degree Fahrenheit positions. 2. After allowing an over night (12 hour) adhesive cure start the 250 degree setting and iron the entire fabric surface.
Move the iron on all open bay flat surfaces 4-8 inches per second. Fabric on solid will require slower movement ( 2 – 5 inches/second). Be sure all areas are ironed and the fabric is heated enough to shrink. 3. Increase the heat setting to 300 degrees and repeat the ironing process. 4. Increase the heat setting to 375 F and repeat the process again. This final ironing develops peak tension and stabilizes the weave to prevent any tension loss and will give the smooth, taut , wrinkle free surface desired. SHRINKING OF CORNERS, WRINKLES AND SMALLER AREAS 1. Puckers or wrinkles can be given special treatment with the same iron or a smaller fabric iron. Iron at a temperature of 350-375 F. 2.
Wrinkles in the lapped areas where cement has been applied may be removed by the application of heat. Iron these areas at 250 – 275 F to achieve proper shrinking but not scorch the adhesive.