Hey guys,
I have to tell ya, the way I do things I do not like the Laser Cut balsa fins that come with kits these days. I guess you'd have to understand my methods to understand, but I would rather just have a sheet of balsa and a fin pattern like in the olden days (Old School?). And I will try to explain; Agree, or Disagree?
One of the very first things I do is take the balsa, unless it's unuasally rough or has saw marks in it, and don't bother to sand. I take it and start coating it with TiteBond II Thinned down with water. Being a cabinet maker, I know it adds strength as well as weight. My theory is if your adding weight, it should also add strength. Anyways, the laser cut fins are too loose to do a good job at what I do to the balsa. I thin the glue about 20 to 30 percent, depending on how thick it is. Put on 3 or 4 coats to both sides. Dries pretty quickly and it soaks into the pours so it really adds strength, plus it is flexible. Now when its all dry, if the pieces are not flat and all even with the sheet, it makes it really hard to sand without breaking threw, or adding more than required coats. I take my ROS (random orbital sander) to the sheet at low speed and it makes it as smooth as a baby's behind. If I need to add a few coats then so be it. But before the fins are even removed from the sheet, all but the edges are ready for primer.
I don't know about the rest of you, but this is a whole lot easier than trying to fill the pours and get them smooth rather than after they are mounted like the instructions say.
So... I'd rather have the pattern and an uncut sheet of balsa. Or what ever material is used if it needs filled and smoothed out.
Opinions, concerns, comments...
I'm I crazy? Different? Is there a better way?
Since I've been using glue instead of wood putty or sanding sealer I've NEVER had a fin break or split, even if the recovery system failed. Take it I have not launched HUGE rockets, but I don't think I will ever change the way I do things because it works for me and results are excellent.
So let me have it, good or bad, I can take it.
John, aka Woody
I have to tell ya, the way I do things I do not like the Laser Cut balsa fins that come with kits these days. I guess you'd have to understand my methods to understand, but I would rather just have a sheet of balsa and a fin pattern like in the olden days (Old School?). And I will try to explain; Agree, or Disagree?
One of the very first things I do is take the balsa, unless it's unuasally rough or has saw marks in it, and don't bother to sand. I take it and start coating it with TiteBond II Thinned down with water. Being a cabinet maker, I know it adds strength as well as weight. My theory is if your adding weight, it should also add strength. Anyways, the laser cut fins are too loose to do a good job at what I do to the balsa. I thin the glue about 20 to 30 percent, depending on how thick it is. Put on 3 or 4 coats to both sides. Dries pretty quickly and it soaks into the pours so it really adds strength, plus it is flexible. Now when its all dry, if the pieces are not flat and all even with the sheet, it makes it really hard to sand without breaking threw, or adding more than required coats. I take my ROS (random orbital sander) to the sheet at low speed and it makes it as smooth as a baby's behind. If I need to add a few coats then so be it. But before the fins are even removed from the sheet, all but the edges are ready for primer.
I don't know about the rest of you, but this is a whole lot easier than trying to fill the pours and get them smooth rather than after they are mounted like the instructions say.
So... I'd rather have the pattern and an uncut sheet of balsa. Or what ever material is used if it needs filled and smoothed out.
Opinions, concerns, comments...
I'm I crazy? Different? Is there a better way?
Since I've been using glue instead of wood putty or sanding sealer I've NEVER had a fin break or split, even if the recovery system failed. Take it I have not launched HUGE rockets, but I don't think I will ever change the way I do things because it works for me and results are excellent.
So let me have it, good or bad, I can take it.
John, aka Woody