Stainless steel "paint" to protect flat panels

 I've been looking for some way to protect wooden solar heating panels so
that they'd be impervious to rain, snow, UV, bugs, etc - and think I've
found a solution worth sharing...

I bought a roll of 0.002 x 20 x 600 inch stainless alloy foil, cut the
roll in thirds on a horizontal band saw, and after experimenting with
double-sided tape and various adhesives, finally tried gel-type contact
cement.

I used a paper towel pad to apply a thin coat of the cement to both wood
and stainless steel, waited 'til it was dry/tacky, and very carefully
positioned the stainless steel against the wood. I used a clean cloth to
rub over the stainless surface, then a rubber roller to apply some
pressure to ensure bonding.

Works like a charm! I snapped a couple of photos before I left the shop
so you can see the result:

    http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/SS1-320x240.png
    http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/SS2-320x240.png
    http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Misc/SS3-320x240.png

I'll leave the photos online until this weekend. Enjoy!

--
Morris Dovey
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

  On 8/3/2010 6:39 PM, Bob F wrote:

Sorry - I've restored the pix and I'll leave 'em up for a few more days.

Thanks for the heads-up!

--
Morris Dovey
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

 On 7/29/2010 3:35 PM, Morris Dovey wrote:


I put the photos back up for a while, and am about to delete them. I've
posted a photo taken after the panel had been completely covered and the
edge of the stainless had been turned and glued - see the bottom of the
web page at

    http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/SC_Madison/

This panel is destined for the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York,
and the stainless foil application seems to have worked out fairly well.
We'll know for sure in 50 - 100 years if I got it right...

--
Morris Dovey
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

 Where did you get the stainless steel foil?

Have a great evening!  :)

 On 2/10/2011 12:15 AM, frazelle09 wrote:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE0&PARTPG=INLMK3&PMITEM26-1512

--
Morris Dovey
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
PGP Key ID EBB1E70E