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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: dale gleason on April 04, 2010, 06:44:58 PM
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I've done a lot of fillets with epoxylite, it's strong and hard to sand, some micro balloons added helps some. But I've got some of this blue superfil and would like to use it if it's as strong as epoxylite, and maybe easier to sand....and lighter. Anyone have experience in this area?
Thank you,
dale gleason
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I know others have more experience with it than me but I think it's easier to use. Although I had good luck with Epoxy lite, Superfil was a better buy and easy to use with no problem sanding.
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Night and Day. SuperFil, hands down. It's easy to work with. easy to level. easy to sand and more compatible with finishes. Lower rate of bubble in paint over the fillets, too.
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I'm with Randy 100% - SuperFil is far better -- much more user friendly and I like the blue color when shaping
the fillet.
Geno
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Who sells the Superfill ?
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Agreed - Superfil is the best. Another difference - To work epoxylite you can use water. With Superfil - drug store alcohol. To get a nice radius spray on the isopropyl then shape. Mix 2 parts blue to one part white. My favorite tool is the end of a metal Exacto knive. Keep the filet moist with alcohol and drag across, progressively applying more pressure. Scrape the excess off with a single edge razor. Still tough to sand but easier than Epoxlite and dope seems to stick to it better. "Wicks" aircraft who advertise here may carry it as it is a full-scale aircraft product. 8)
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I've used both and always found Epoxilite difficult to sand and sometimes problematic if the material has been around the shop for awhile. Heating the components and making sure they are stirred well is important. Superfil works really well and the point about making sure it is well mixed before blending the two together is a must. The only problem i have with Superfil is the somewhat dryness of the mixed components. Add Aeropoxy Lite to the list of products to use for fillets. Strength is between the two previous products and the working texture of the mix is just right. Here is one that it is absolutely imperative that the two components are thoroughly mxed prior to measuring and mixing. The reddish brown component is especially good at seperating and really nneeds a good mix prior to use. Available from Aircraft Spruce and other sources.
Alan Resinger
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Dale-
I use it on most everything I build. It is an epoxy type material and far stronger than the wood it's stuck to. Works real easy, light weight and reasonable price. I get mine just down the road at Tex Air Parts. If you want to test it I have the stuff here. Just make up a balsa test piece and go at it.
Don
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I don't understand why people still struggle with epoxy for fillets. Leather is ever so much easier to use, and it comes in several sizes.
Floyd
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm wating the strength of epoxy in the fillets, the wing is actually "potted" in the fuselage with the fillets. It sounds like I'm being told the superfil is as strong as the epoxylite. Thanks, Don, I picked up a quart or so of this stuff at Meacham a while back.
Floyd, I'llt ry the leather fillets on the OTS Sparky you designed that I'm building for next year's VSC.
Thanks again,
dale g
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I don't understand why people still struggle with epoxy for fillets. Leather is ever so much easier to use, and it comes in several sizes.
Floyd
Because it provides very little strength. You end up have to epoxy the wing in anyway and then add the leather fillets just for appearance. Epoxy fillets are very strong and look great with a little practice.
Besides, leather is for holsters and saddles, not model airplanes. ;D
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There are 2 sides to the strength issue. On the one hand, if the wing is properly fitted into the fuselage and epoxied in place. the additional epoxy for the fillet is little more then added weight and misery. In this case, balsa or leather fillets are perfect. Now if you didn't get such a great fit, the additional epoxy MIGHT gain you something, but not much. The strength of these adhesives are in their bonding ability not the resin itself. In order to add aditional strength glass, or carbon fiber or some other fiberous filler must be added which makes sanding that much more miserable. I suggest that if your fit is wonting, add some glass to the INSIDE of the joint for strength and then use a light easy sanding filler or balsa for fillets.
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>>Who sells the Superfill ?<<
It's made by PolyFiber.
http://www.polyfiber.com/epoxy/
I agree that getting a good fit is important. I usually run some glass or something along the wing/fuse joint on the inside just as SOP. I like Superfil because is goes on easy, is easy to get the fillet looking very good before it cures, it's easy to sand compared to other fillet products and accepts finishing materials very well. Just one less headache to worry about.
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Maybe I'll give the Superfil a try for my small fillets, I still use balsa for larger fillets. I also use light glass inside regardless of fit, but that said, I never had a joint fialure before I started doing that.
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I'm still not making myself clear, I guess. My question is.....which is structuraly the stronger of the two? I've always used epoxylite, no worries there, mate, except if superfil is about the same strength, it is somewhat lighter so I might give it a go.
I was a little concerned yesterday as the stuff wasn't curing, but the destructions said it should be at least 72F, so I placed the machine in a warmer environment and it cured nicely. Sands much easier than epoxilite.
I've decided to do the wing fillets as in the past, with epoxolite, and the fillets on the tailfeathers shall be superfil. Time will tell.
Again, thanks,
dale g