slotting Quantum or phlexible tubing

rocketsonly · Aug 8, 2004

Hey all. I know it's possible to slot phenolic tubing with a circular saw (a chop saw?) or router; but is it possible to slot Quantum or phlexible tubing with the same methods? Has anyone tried?
Thanks.

Missileman · Aug 9, 2004

I have slotted Quantum tubing with a router with no problems.

stevecarr · Aug 11, 2004

I made a jig ala Norm Abrams and used my Roto Zip.

lalligood · Aug 11, 2004

Originally posted by rocketsonly
Hey all. I know it's possible to slot phenolic tubing with a circular saw (a chop saw?) or router; but is it possible to slot Quantum or phlexible tubing with the same methods? Has anyone tried?
Thanks.

I wouldn't do this with QT for a variety of reasons, but (phlexible) phenolic tubing cuts/slots pretty sweet with a cut-off wheel on a Dremel!

rocketsonly · Aug 11, 2004

I wouldn't do this with QT for a variety of reasons, but (phlexible) phenolic tubing cuts/slots pretty sweet with a cut-off wheel on a Dremel!

Which reasons?
Thanks.

lalligood · Aug 12, 2004

Originally posted by rocketsonly
Which reasons?
Thanks.

1) Heat. QT fails under stress from heat--that's why you're not supposed to use it for flights > .85 mach & for MMT tubing because it overloads or weakens the material, respectively. Spinning a cutting wheel at 15-30K rpms is going to generate quite a bit of unwanted heat...

2) Plastics tend to not cut very well with a Dremel. Again, heat plays a part in causing the material that you are cutting away to stick together & glom on (not fall away cleanly), creating a bit of a mess & work to go back to clean up the cut properly. (I bet there's also a "technical" term for what I'm describing too.)

There are probably more but these are good enough reasons to prove my point. A saw or router works better because they are much more efficient in removing the material being cut away while keeping heat from friction to a minimum.

HTH,