MTFCA Forum

Does anyone have a recommendation for float shellac? I'd like to coat the cork float on my Holley G before its installed. I've heard of Indian Head gasket shellac, is there is a float shellac?

The alcohol in modern fuels will dissolve old-time shellac.

Use model airplane clear "hot fuel proof dope" instead. Model airplane fuel is a mixture of methanol and nitromethane and the dope is designed to be impervious to it.

See Fahnestock, The Model T Ford Owner. It is a period book with some usable advise on cork floats.

Example to coat a cork float make a mixture of glue, glycerine, and water.

Or, See: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.aviatio ... TxzefcTW9s Suggestions are : used "Indian Head" gasket shellac, or hobby store and get 'hot fuel proof clear dope"

Who knows there may be other suggestions.

Unfortunately, "model airplane hot fuel proof" dope is a thing of the past. As a long time model builder, I can remember when butyrate dope was truly hot fuel proof. But no more; the most you can hope for is to be able to resist a quick splash of fuel and an equally quick wipe with a clean, dry rag.

Today, most of my modeler friends cover their planes with a heat shrinkable pre-colored mylar material. The ones who still paint their models (like me) use a product called Klass Kote It's a two-part mix paint that resists all the model airplane fuels that I'm aware of. I have no idea whether it would adhere to a cork float. Klass Kote may even dissolve floats for all I know.

Sorry, I don't have any other substitutes to suggest.

Dick

You can coat it with PVC pipe glue. I use blue because that’s what I buy for plumbing but the clear probably works as well.

Old bottles of hot fuel proof dope are sold on Ebay, that's where I got mine.

I have been using "line-a tank". Gas tank liner. Comes with a green & white label.

Mark S wrote:

"Old bottles of hot fuel proof dope are sold on Ebay, that's where I got mine. "

Dick writes: " I never thought of that Mark. Good idea. That Klass Kote costs more than liquified diamonds."

DF

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check them up. I've got a stalwart old cork float that I'd like to see go a few more miles.

There used to be a model airplane shop near here, but it closed last year.

I use shellac, harvested from a burnt roadside yakka plant on Kangaroo Island. The shellac occurs at the base of the razor sharp fronds of the bush. When the fronds are burnt off, the stubs and the shellac car be salvaged from the trunk.
During the First World War thousands of acres of native yakka plants were razed to get high quality shellac for use in munitions. It was hot, dusty, filthy work harvesting the shellac, and is responsible for the colloquialism 'hard yakka', applied to any physically demanding task.
I simply toss some of my harvest into a can and add methylated spirits to dissolve the shellac. The liquid is poured off, leaving behind the dirt, ash and any vegetable matter. If the mixture dries out, I just add some more metho. Floats I dip three or four times and that is it. It goes to say that I never use alcohol adulterated fuel in my T's. That's easy down under.

Allan from down under.

I made this new cork float for a 1912 Holley and sealed it with Red Koat tank sealer. Claims to be alcohol and additive resistant.

Hi Kim, thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into that.