Minwax wood hardener causes swelling.

[MarsLander]

Tried this on my avbay. It has swollen so much that it is not going back in the airframe…

 

[lr64]

Tried this on my avbay. It has swollen so much that it is not going back in the airframe…

I didn't know it did that. Can you fix it by sanding? Does it make the tube much stiffer?

 

[MarsLander]

Can you fix it by sanding? Does it make the tube much stiffer?

Not sure, but I'm going to try...still a bit tacky. Should know more after 8pm...still a pain I didn't expect.

Not sure about stiffer, but certainly better for dings, scratches etc...it does give it a bit of a hard shell...

 

[lr64]

Maybe it will shrink again when it dries?

 

[kuririn]

Are you sure it's due to swelling of the coupler?
You put a coat of something on a coupler.
Plus it's a little tacky.
Not surprising that it won't go back in.
Wait till it's completely dry and sand it smooth.

 

[MarsLander]

Can you fix it by sanding? Does it make the tube much stiffer?

Are you sure it's due to swelling of the coupler?
You put a coat of something on a coupler.
Plus it's a little tacky.
Not surprising that it won't go back in.
Wait till it's completely dry and sand it smooth.

Well, panic mode off. When I started, it was 1/2 the tube thickness too large!

Yes, it was swelling of the coupler. Wasn't tacky, it had 5 hours to dry before I tried it.

Yes, it was also a bit of overspray from painting the airframe at the same time. Duh!

After a bunch of sanding of both parts, nice 60 grit Emory, niiiiiice smooth fit. I actually like it.

I always CA'd couplers...thought I would try the wood hardener as an 'speriment. Rookie panic. Should have tried on something inconsequential. I wasn't expecting the swelling and didn't relish the thought of having to rebuild/redrill a new avbay.

I swore I would never touch this stuff again after seeing how big it got. Now? Meh, I might use it again, the avbay has a nice structure to it and is impervious to a fingernail. Not stiffer, but tougher.

Price of an education! #AlwaysLearning!

 

[dhbarr]

Wood hardener always raises the fuzzies for me, but when I sand 'em off it's a lot smoother than stock.

 

[lr64]

Maybe you could put on the wood hardener and stuff the coupler in right away.

 

[K'Tesh]

It's my understanding that there are two different types of Minwax Wood Hardener... Which one did you use (send photos).

 

[MarsLander]

It's my understanding that there are two different types of Minwax Wood Hardener... Which one did you use (send photos).