Final Finish Sanding

[Andy Greene]

How many of you that put time into a final finish that looks better than average have a model that lacks the needed PITA final finish sanding ?
Mainly due to the non standard round body tube and lots of little corners and stuff that makes sanding all the more fun
I get my 2.6 MC Bomark out more and more with the intent of finishing this last pain staking process- final finish. and time and time again I put it back away when I look at the Hrs left sanding to start painting. So who else has one of these models taunting them ?

 

[TopRamen]

How many of you that put time into a final finish that looks better than average have a model that lacks the needed PITA final finish sanding ?
Mainly due to the non standard round body tube and lots of little corners and stuff that makes sanding all the more fun
I get my 2.6 MC Bomark out more and more with the intent of finishing this last pain staking process- final finish. and time and time again I put it back away when I look at the Hrs left sanding to start painting. So who else has one of these models taunting them ?

View attachment 300836

Depends on the rocket I guess, and my mood at the time. I've learned to let myself off the hook when it comes to final finish, and sometimes fly them in primer to see if they deserve a final finish.

That one looks ready to fly as is!
I have a CIM-10 BOMARC build coming up someday too!

You are going to glass that right? That's already twice the weight of lighweight glass in Bondo putty alone, so it would be a shame to have to sand 10 ounces of primer onto it too.
Even Carbon fiber cloth is becoming affordable finally on Amazon.

 

[TopRamen]

I've recently started learning and practicing wet sanding on the carbon fiber while making knife scales and handles, and imagine the wet sanding techniques would work fine on rocket stuff. I'm probably slow to the game in this regard, as I know a lot of folks wet sand.
I think I will prefer it as a method eventually, since it captures all of the particles and sends them down the drain. I don't want to contaminate my septic and back yard with hazardous waste, so I need to make a solvent tank style water reciprocator like we had in the motor pool for washing parts. I wanted a vacuum system or a really nice full face respirator, but I can't afford those, and there would still be airborne contaminates floating around. I have an extra stainless steel double sink that I'm going to put in my Bathroom as part of my remodeling project. I can make one of those sinks the reciprocal sink. I have a pump from a pool that can run it.
I'll drill the back of the sink fixture for an extra hose that you would use for the sprayer that you can pull out and point at things, and make an eye wash station too. I'm up to 7 pair of goggles now and a face shield, but man, sanding things can be the worst!

 

[Nathan]

...I think I will prefer it as a method eventually, since it captures all of the particles and sends them down the drain. I don't want to contaminate my septic and back yard with hazardous waste...

Almost all of the toxic volatile organic compounds evaporate as the paint dries (polluting the atmosphere). I doubt that the tiny amount of dried paint from wet sanding would have any effect on the septic system. But yeah sanding can be really bad for your lungs. Wet sanding paint is definitely safer than dry sanding. I wear a full face respirator when spraying and a particle mask when dry sanding.

 

[hornet driver]

Andy, you said my Dragonfly had inspired you to get back on the Bomarc. Don't let me down!! After all it won't sand itself. The Dragonfly was overwhelming me with sanding until I started doing it in sections. I'd sand an area about a foot long and move on to the next. Also don't put a time frame on it. When it's done it's done!!--H

 

[CORZERO]

I think I will prefer it as a method eventually, since it captures all of the particles and sends them down the drain. I don't want to contaminate my septic and back yard with hazardous waste

I think you need to re-adjust you tinfoil hat, dude.

 

[CORZERO]

Wet sanding paint is definitely safer than dry sanding. I wear a full face respirator when spraying and a particle mask when dry sanding.

You're crazy too, dude. We don't paint cars for a living. You will get hit by a bus before your lungs kill you from breathing some toxic stuff.

Relax.

 

[SaturnV]

Leave it naked dude. It provided that there are 1,000 of these rockets. Who cares how it is painted
For me it is important to fly well and have onboard camera Without Onboard camera what - watch 1500 ft smoke and then nothing Moreover, if a crash suffered less pain if not painted

 

[SaturnV]

Look naked but well flying:
[video=youtube;23cyEfsiZi4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23cyEfsiZi4[/video]
Look well painted but lost or crashed
[video=youtube;PAp_4woiWhE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAp_4woiWhE[/video]
[video=youtube;5o6b8NbCxDY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o6b8NbCxDY[/video]
Good idea is to paint fins yellow, red or orange for easy reference with binoculars
Lest you think I'm hiding something from you (such SpaceX causes of burning Falcon 9) here's a naked and crashed


[video=youtube;F1xA6OiFriE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1xA6OiFriE[/video]

 

[CORZERO]

For the record:

No amount of any hobby rocketry related sanding, painting, clearing, cementing, epoxy-ing will ever do any harm to a modeler in relative terms. To all whom read this, please understand that you are at NO risk for negative hobby rocketry related health issues. It's almost like those who make a point of such related issues do so for the sake of talking. This is misinformation. Disregard all comments related to health and hobby rocketry. The issue is so pointless it makes my spleen hurt. And I don't even know what a spleen is.

Dr. J

 

[markkoelsch]

You're crazy too, dude. We don't paint cars for a living. You will get hit by a bus before your lungs kill you from breathing some toxic stuff.

Relax.

Half of what you have posted today is ripping people. I think you need to realize that you are acting poorly, and should learn some manners.

 

[markkoelsch]

For the record:

No amount of any hobby rocketry related sanding, painting, clearing, cementing, epoxy-ing will ever do any harm to a modeler in relative terms. To all whom read this, please understand that you are at NO risk for negative hobby rocketry related health issues. It's almost like those who make a point of such related issues do so for the sake of talking. This is misinformation. Disregard all comments related to health and hobby rocketry. The issue is so pointless it makes my spleen hurt. And I don't even know what a spleen is.

Dr. J

You ever hear of an epoxy allergy? Seriously not a good thing that has driven some people out of the hobby.

You seem to be very opinionated with no facts to back up your position.

Dr of what?

 

[Nathan]

For the record:

No amount of any hobby rocketry related sanding, painting, clearing, cementing, epoxy-ing will ever do any harm to a modeler in relative terms. To all whom read this, please understand that you are at NO risk for negative hobby rocketry related health issues. It's almost like those who make a point of such related issues do so for the sake of talking. This is misinformation. Disregard all comments related to health and hobby rocketry. The issue is so pointless it makes my spleen hurt. And I don't even know what a spleen is.

Dr. J

If you want to spray paint without a mask, go right ahead.

Excerpt from the MSDS for the lacquer that I use:

Repeated exposure to vapors above recommended exposure limits may cause irritation
of the respiratory system and permanent brain and nervous system damage. Intentional misuse by
deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal. This product contains
toluene. Toluene inhalation in animals (greater than 1500 ppm) and intentional inhalation of toluene-
containing products by humans (e.g. glue) has caused adverse fetal development effects. It has been
reported in occupational studies that inhalation exposures to toluene are associated with reproductive
effects including spontaneous abortion. However, the methodology and reliability of the results for the
studies are questionable. Several other occupational studies indicated that toluene exposure has been
associated with impaired color vision. There is some evidence that repeated exposure to organic solvent
vapors in combination with constant loud noise can cause greater hearing loss than expected from
exposure to noise alone.
The effects of long-term, low level exposures to this product have not been determined. Safe handling of
this material on a long-term basis should emphasize the prevention of all contact with this material to
avoid any effects from repetitive acute exposures.

 

[TopRamen]

You ever hear of an epoxy allergy? Seriously not a good thing that has driven some people out of the hobby.

You seem to be very opinionated with no facts to back up your position.

Dr of what?

As someone who is sensitive to Epoxy, I take it seriously when it comes to safety too.
I used to be a gunsmith, and would always use epoxies on gun stocks for any repair or custom work like action bedding, and my hands were the first thing to go.
I also used to hand rub Birchwood Casey Brand Tru-oil finish in with bare hands sometimes. I don't think I had even ever heard of "Nitrile", as I would typically just use vinyl gloves.
I did that for six years.
Now, that I am wise to the fact that these things are potentially bad for my health, I take the proper precautions, or I would not even be able to do them without having a reaction.
I still use epoxy everyday, and even CA, but I have some adverse health related issues from the times I was complacent in my young/dumb years.

 

[hornet driver]

-----!

 

[SaturnV]

As someone who is sensitive to Epoxy, I take it seriously when it comes to safety too.

I am sensitive to my wife but if I put a mask and gloves will be worse

 

[dixontj93060]

I don't know where Dr. J (not Jerone BTW, that's obvious) went to school, but these sensitivities (allergic reactions) and hazards are well documented. Yes different people react differently. Regarding epoxy, although I'm not anally careful, I do wear protection but still, after extended laminating sessions, break out in with a minor case of hives on my inner arms and back of knees along with experiencing joint pain for a day plus. My wife, after contracting Lyme's Disease 3+ years ago is sensitive to volatiles so I am moving away from these and using brush on solutions for primer/fill and finish steps on all my new builds. Now, if I give Dr. J the benefit of the doubt and assume his comment was only related to the amount of pigment and solids washed into a septic from wet sanding, well then yes, I believe we would be hard pressed to do enough of that to affect our individual septic systems and leach fields.

 

[Andy Greene]

---View attachment 300986--!

I couldnt agree more - wow, step away for a day and , well yeah.
Back on track here fellas , Im pretty sure more than one of you mis read the initial content.
Im gonna go snort some Bomark dust and sand for a while :kill:

 

[TopRamen]

Another helpful and productive thread.:wink:

No, I don't use lots of fillers and sanding because I am arthritic, but this also results in lighter weight builds.
There's your frank answer with no B.S.!!!

$%^&'s out of hand around here again for some reason.

 

[dford]

We used to have to wear at a minimum gloves, safety glasses and respirator. The full bunny suit and full face respirators were optional to trim parts.
I wore the minimum. Sometimes no respirator because I held a vacuum next to where I sand/trimmed parts.
Layups. Mandatory sleeves, gloves, apron and safety glasses. Some people would bunny up on that but still had to wear everything else also.

I wasn't sensitive to composites. I hardly ever broke out. Some people, like my buddy I talked to yesterday had resin rash up and down his arms.
Everyone walks a little differently, in the end when its the end, its the end.