Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / April 2004

The local gassers don't know what they are talking about.  If glued joints
are too weak, how do they get their planes to stay together?  EVERY glue
that is commonly used in our hobby is vastly stronger than the wood.

Trim the edges of the sheet so that they are straight, lay the edges
together and tape them together on one side with masking tape.  Now you can
flex the edges apart to apply a bead of glue and them pay the sheets flat to
dry (make sure to wipe off any excess glue).

--
Paul McIntosh
http://www.rc-bearings.com

Thts locxal gas fliers for you.

Full of opinions and no clue about anything.

Glue two sheets of balsa togther with CA

Take them up the field and invite the gassers with the biggest mouths
and beer guts to pull them, apart.

Look where it fails. It won't be along the glue line.

Having examined many wrecks I can assure you this will be so.

Its not such a firegone conclusion if you glue to the end grain tho :-)

For real fun, laminate thinner pieces into a balsa ply sandwich.

Never let the facts get in the way of biasesd opinion. Since you
obviously know far more then the a.sholes in your club, why ever did you
ask them in the first place?

Try a diffrent club.

   You need to find a different group of local "pros" because they are
simply wrong.
   The simple method for edge gluing balsa sheets is to first make sure
that the two mated edges are absolutely straight by running over them with a
long sanding block.
   Then lay the pieces flat on your bench and snugly fit the two mating
edges together.
   Then hold them in that position with a single piece of 3/4" masking tape
run lengthwise down the entire seem and then flip the pieces over so that
the tape is on the bottom.
   Then you have two choices:
   1. Either pick up the pieces and let the masking tape act like a hinge
so that the seem opens up (the balsa sheets will be at about a 45 degree
angle to each other) and then put in an even but SMALL amount of aliphatic
glue down the entire seem. Then lay the sheets back on the table with some
waxed paper covering the glue joint and then put some weights (books?) on
the sheets to keep them straight while it dries. Or...
   2. With the sheets laying flat and the seem up (the masking tape is
still underneath), carefully run an even but SMALL amount of thin superglue
down the entire seem and you'll have an instant bond.
   Either way will give you a joint stronger than the balsa itself, but I
prefer method #1 because not only is it cheaper, but you will end up with a
flatter piece of sheet since the weights will hold them flat while it dries.

MJC

Your local gas folks are a joke. A lenghthwise bond is as strong, or
stronger than the wood itself.
How to:
Lay two sheets side by side, and match up the join line so they fit
together.
Then put tape on one side of the join, bend open, and apply a bead of wood
glue in the now open join.
Run jour finger over it to spread evenly, and lay down flat on the bench,
tape down.
Now remove surplus glue, pot a paper strip over it, and weigh down with a
batten, or the next sheets.
Next morning your sheets are ready.
Good luck,
Pé

On 4/23/2004 1:18 AM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these
great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

They don't know what they are talking about.  The glue joint is stronger
than the balsa.

Use a straight edge and make sure the edges are straight.  Then tape one
side and CAREFULLY cut the tape at the seam.  Flip the pieces over and
tape the other side.  Flex the pieces and apply your glue.  When dry,
remove the tape.  The cut tape minimizes/eliminates the glue build up at
the seam and the resulting sanding.  I have found the blue painter's
masking tape and/or regular scotch tape to work very well and not pull
the balsa or leave residue when removed.

I agree with the sanding and taping methods described, up to a point.  After
the pieces are taped, put the tape side down and run thin CA along the seam.
In 10 seconds, you'll have a rib blank.  No need for aliphatic glues or
overnight weighting/ waiting.

Dr.1 Driver
"There's a Hun in the sun!"

Have you made up a half-dozen or so paper 'ribs' and tried to lay them
out to maximize the yield from a single balsa sheet ?

For example, and pardon me if I'm preaching to the choir, if you look
at http://www.greatplanes.com/manuals/gpma0119-manual.pdf
on page 8 you'll see the die crush . . . er . . . die cut patterns for
that model.

You should be able to minimize waste if you can figure out a
reasonable layout pattern.

Cheers,
Fred McClellan
The House Of Balsa Dust
home.mindspring.com/~the-plumber
AMA L180201
IMAA LM 090
NASA 6512
LHA 2
WB 233

They should stick with rubber power until they get their cranial
rectumitis cured.
Cheers,
Fred McClellan
The House Of Balsa Dust
home.mindspring.com/~the-plumber
AMA L180201
IMAA LM 090
NASA 6512
LHA 2
WB 233