stunthanger.com

Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Dennis Toth on August 13, 2012, 12:40:02 PM

Title: Best gap filler?
Post by: Dennis Toth on August 13, 2012, 12:40:02 PM

Guys,
Am getting to the point of seating the wing in the fuse and there are some small gaps to fill. In the past I would use some small scraps of wood and just glue it in. Is there anything stronger and easier?

Best,              DennisT

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Gene O'Keefe on August 13, 2012, 01:44:16 PM

If you do have small gaps to fill, small pieces of balsa will work. Glue them in with epoxy for strength. Be sure to use a Robart (or home made) incidence gauge to level wing with thrust line. After that I would use Super Fil as fillet material. JMHO

 Geno

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Will Hinton on August 13, 2012, 02:15:41 PM

I certainly agree - nothing works better than balsa glued in place.

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Allan Perret on August 14, 2012, 06:22:08 AM

I use strips of 1/64 ply.

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Dave_Trible on August 14, 2012, 05:19:30 PM

Just recently stumbled across a new product (new to me anyway) made by J B Weld. Called Kwik Wood.  Its a putty you mix with your fingers like chewing gum.You then work it anywhere.  It would remind you of Epoxolite-only thicker.  Ready to sand in 30 minutes.  Its tough and not too heavy for smaller jobs.  Get it at the Home Depot.

Dave

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Dennis Toth on August 16, 2012, 11:26:05 AM

Guys,
David's comment made me think, has anyone used regular "JB Weld" as a gap filler? Seems for internal areas this should be very strong and vibration resistant.

Best,         DennisT

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: PJ Rowland on August 18, 2012, 03:54:13 AM

Seams around wing to fuse are certainly places where you want decent strength - and a little flex.

In the past i've used epoxy with chopped carbon fiber. You can alter the consistency with how much carbon you add. Can be thin or quite thick and paste like.

Just make sure you wipe off any excess to avoid sanding it too much - it will sand but not as well as superfil. Depending on how much gap you have, small gaps superfil is perfect. If you have anything more than a 1/16 gap I'd try to fill it with Balsa first or the epoxy.

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: Clint Ormosen on August 18, 2012, 10:22:06 PM

Balsa makes the best filler around wing joints. I use 1/4" wide strips of the needed thickness wedged into the gap. Then dump in the epoxy. A heat gun will make the epoxy run like water to really get into the small cracks and make the joint really solid. After that use whatever fillet material you like. I use Epoxolite.

Title: Re: Best gap filler?
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on August 19, 2012, 03:25:49 PM

I get best results with 15 min. epoxy with lots of "micro balloons" mixed in.  Add a bit of acetone for smooth application.

Floyd