Harry,
I think when I shared a little clip with John about how I seal and bevel the edges on the donor piece, may have caused some confusion. The use of heat to seal and bevel the edges is something I have done for years but with synthetic backings. I must apologize to John for not giving more explanation but I was simply trying to share one way I graft and how I try to fit the piece in nice and tight.
Here is a part of the clip I shared with John. The reason for this has to do with how many repairs and edges and seams and on & on I have seen with the slight little edge overlapping just a little but how poorly it can make the repair look. I have found by trimming and beveling with heat and then using hot melt, which will soften synthetic material a little and then makes it easy to manipulate.
I shared this with John to try to be helpful but I did not give much information along with it. I must say I am sorry to John for not doing so.
It is very obvious John is a highly skilled technician, I just did not give him enough to work with on this one.
I use this same method when I do a bonded insert, I have found just a slight trim can make a world of difference as to fit and manipulation of what I am working on. While one can trim with a shear, sometimes the close trimming leaves things a little weak.
Here is part of what I shared with John, maybe this will clear up a question or two that I think was partly my fault.
Sealing and beveling the donor edge to make a precision fit.
SA
I think when I shared a little clip with John about how I seal and bevel the edges on the donor piece, may have caused some confusion. The use of heat to seal and bevel the edges is something I have done for years but with synthetic backings. I must apologize to John for not giving more explanation but I was simply trying to share one way I graft and how I try to fit the piece in nice and tight.
Here is a part of the clip I shared with John. The reason for this has to do with how many repairs and edges and seams and on & on I have seen with the slight little edge overlapping just a little but how poorly it can make the repair look. I have found by trimming and beveling with heat and then using hot melt, which will soften synthetic material a little and then makes it easy to manipulate.
I shared this with John to try to be helpful but I did not give much information along with it. I must say I am sorry to John for not doing so.
It is very obvious John is a highly skilled technician, I just did not give him enough to work with on this one.
I use this same method when I do a bonded insert, I have found just a slight trim can make a world of difference as to fit and manipulation of what I am working on. While one can trim with a shear, sometimes the close trimming leaves things a little weak.
Here is part of what I shared with John, maybe this will clear up a question or two that I think was partly my fault.
Sealing and beveling the donor edge to make a precision fit.
SA
Also Steve tip on the the hot knife is great for flat weave olefins.
