What to fillet fins with?

[rich56]

trying to get a nice seam between the plastic fuselage and balsa fins on my Honest John. Did about 4 coats in the corner with Titebond II and could use more for a good fillet. Is there a better alternative?

 

[solid_fuel]

most any epoxy if bonding plastic to wood is better than wood glue

 

[richP]

As far as wood glues go,
TITEBOND NO-RUN, NO-DRIP WOOD GLUE

 

[Wallace]

Yup, doubt you're gonna end up with any kind of reasonable bond with wood glue to plastic. Epoxy's about the only thing I know of that would work for fillets..

 

[Red7Fifty]

30 min Z-Poxy, dip fingertip in 91% isopropyl alcohol, and smooth out the bead, and let cure. Do two joints at a time with the rocket laying on it's side. Comes out really nice.

 

[Bruce Joblonicky]

Yup, doubt you're gonna end up with any kind of reasonable bond with wood glue to plastic. Epoxy's about the only thing I know of that would work for fillets..

Really happy with my results using J&B Weld KwikWood epoxy putty. Made fin/body fillets between wood fins and plastic tailcone on my Estes V2.

 

[rich56]

Fins were glued with super glue first, then four coats of tite bond II. I’ll try the epoxy/isopropyl/finger shmear last coat for the filets. Thanks

 

[kyle]

30 min Z-Poxy, dip fingertip in 91% isopropyl alcohol, and smooth out the bead, and let cure. Do two joints at a time with the rocket laying on it's side. Comes out really nice.

Lazy/non-OCD person's version of that:

Any epoxy over 5 minute you're comfortable with or have on hand, (never, ever, ever use your bare finger to touch epoxy. I'm not a Safety Sally, but that stuff builds up. You might be fine now, but eventually you'll develop a sensitivity.)

Use a GLOVED finger, or pvc pipe, or popsicle stick, or whatever you have on hand with a radius you find pleasing to pull the fillets. Dip the object with the pleasing radius into whatever alcohol you have on hand before pulling the fillets to get a cleaner pull and aid in clean up. "91% isopropyl" isn't a requirement unless you want it to be. Just don't use the beverage you're currently consuming from and you'll be fine. Tape off the edges for slop.

 

[woferry]

Curious, what do people think about a clear silicone caulk as a fillet material?

If I ever finish my night-launch rocket, it's also meant to look nice during the day, and has stained wood fins and a painted airframe (cardboard, it's a Mini-Magg kit). So I'd like the wood and airframe to meet without a visible fillet. Was thinking about clear silicone, but not sure whether that's a good idea or not.

 

[neil_w]

Titebond Quick and Thick dries very clear, FWIW.

 

[Wallace]

Curious, what do people think about a clear silicone caulk as a fillet material?

If I ever finish my night-launch rocket, it's also meant to look nice during the day, and has stained wood fins and a painted airframe (cardboard, it's a Mini-Magg kit). So I'd like the wood and airframe to meet without a visible fillet. Was thinking about clear silicone, but not sure whether that's a good idea or not.

Aside from the fact that I despise silicone, be it caulk or gasket maker/dressing, "clear" silicone is never even close to clear. If you want caulk that is truly clear and actually bonds to almost anything look for a product called Lexel.