Can a builder use to much expoxy on his rocket hes building?

[ColumbiaNX01]

I am in the process of building my 38mm LOC Forte. I have completed the rocket except for painting. Since there is 4 fins on the outside, I put 8 fin fillets on those with 5 minute expoxy. In the inside where the fin tabs touch the motor tube I put 8 fin fillets there aswell. Also, where the fin tabs just enter the body tube on the inside of the body tube I put 8 fin fillets there to. In total I have 24 fin fillets for strength using 5 minute expoxy. On the back end of the rocket where the real centering ring is I coated it in less than a 1/4 inch of expoxy so that the back end of the rocket is sumerged in epoxy. Before I put the aft centering ring on I poured in heavyduty wood glue for about 1/4 inch behind the forward centering ring and I did the same for in front of the forward centering and as a result the forward centering is encased in glue. So I was wondering since I used a ton of expoxy on this Forte is it stronger then it needs to be or did I just build this rocket very thoroughly to take the excess stress.

 

[H_Rocket]

Can you use too much, yes.

Did you use too much, no.

Did you overdo it a bit? IMHO yes. The construction you just defined is way more than a LOC Forte needs unless you are going to be 'flying it like you don't want it back."

I don't think the extra wood glue brought any real additional strength to the picture.

However, this is a hobby, if it makes you feel good to have done it your way, that is really cool. Go out and beat the snot outta the thing. It can now take it.

Would I have done it your way...probably not.

 

[WillMarchant]

Yes, I think there is a point where you can overdo the amount of adhesive.

Part of the concern is overall weight of the rocket. This will reduce altitude, of course. It will also reduce the rocket's velocity as it reaches the end of your launch rod or rail. A slowly moving rocket in a stronger cross wind may have stability issues. The old recommendation was to exit the rail at 45 fps or faster. I believe the new recommendation is four times the wind speed.

Another concern is that most of the rocket building you do is in the aft end for the fin can. So any increased weight back there is moving your CG aft which can be a bad thing for stability. Make sure to check the final balance point of your fully prepped rocket to make sure you have the requisite stability margin. One caliber is the rule of thumb...

 

[Stymye]

In some cases, adding too much weight to the back end of the rocket results in having to add more weight to the front of the rocket.
this can add up to "double" that extra weight and a rocket can begin to get heavy real quick just to remain stable.

 

[blackjack2564]

That's the trick to the hobby....finding the sweet spot between not enough and too much. Experience and watching how other projects fly will teach you what is survivable.


I have always flown extreme and still believe in build light......fly high.