Where does that go?
How do you like working the Blue Tube? how does it behave, i.e. like a paper tube with furry results or more like wood or plastic with clean cutting results? mind you i do know speed and feed have a lot to do with this, but with hand tools like your fostner bits and hand sawing. i have some Blue Tube and have yet to do anything with it as I do not want to muck it up strait a way.
Scott
Scott ,
The band goes toward the forward edge of the warhead section.
As per BlueTube.....I love working with the stuff ,and been doing so for some time now.If you ever worked with Phenolic tube ,it`s very much works and machines the same ,but less tear out and much less brittle and no tearing or fiber separation.
When using power tools (saws and routers) sharp carbide blades and bits work best and when cutting or drilling holes ,using a backer piece (such as a coupler or similar) and high quality drill bits (HHS Brad point and Forstner)produce nice clean tear free holes.Using cheap bits produce what you would expect ,you know the saying ,garbage in ,garbage out.
BUT...BlueTube is not hard on cutting surfaces and does not dull their edges in any aggressive manner.
As you have seen so far ,all my cutting has been done with a ZONA hobby saw (except of course for the holes) just to show it may be done in an efficient manner with great results.Normally ,I would have done all this on my tablesaw ,miter saw and router table.......but not everybody has access to these tools ,so this build shows it can be done.
With router bits and power tools and to some extent with the handsaw ,you will still raise a burr ,but these sand off easily with 120 grit sandpaper.
Sanding BT is like sanding anything else ,and does so easily with good quality sandpaper ,120 working to 220 and 320 if need be ,but not really needed.
Fear not the BlueTube ,it`s a great product ,finishes nicely and is very strong and does not produce any noxtious ,itchy dust like fiberglass..........BUT....I do like working with FG also.....love it actually.
HTH
Paul t