Building Tips and technical articles. > Building techniques
Fiberglass Cloth Trick
Colin McRae:
I am currently building a Brodak Yak-9 kit. The wing is mounted on the profile fuselage.
Since the wing is attached t the fuselage only on the top side on this particular model, some have suggested to add a fiberglass cloth strip with epoxy along the fillet area joint for some added strength. I am using some 3/16" balsa triangle stock to form the filet area.
My question is if there is a trick to minimize fraying of the fiberglass cloth during application. I do plan to cut the cloth with a pinking shear which should help. But are there any other recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
bill bischoff:
I spray the cloth with a light mist of hair spray and let it dry before cutting. This helps it hold its shape without distorting, and allows better cutting. Of course, super-sharp scissors are a given.
Motorman:
I would not use pinking shears if wanting to minimize fraying. The less you handle the cloth the better. Cut it and let it sit where it falls until you pick it up to apply it.
Colin McRae:
--- Quote from: bill bischoff on July 27, 2024, 02:14:41 PM ---I spray the cloth with a light mist of hair spray and let it dry before cutting. This helps it hold its shape without distorting, and allows better cutting. Of course, super-sharp scissors are a given.
--- End quote ---
Interesting idea. I assume hair spray doesn't affect the epoxy bond.
Thx
Dan McEntee:
The old Hot Stuff "How To" videos had a neat trick for this. Spray the cloth with a light coat of 3M 77 spray adhesive. That's what they used in the video, but I imagine for this any spray adhesive would do. Then lay the glass cloth on a sheet of wax paper and smooth it out. Now when you cut the strips that you need, use good sharp scissors and it won't fray. When you have everything ready to lay down the cloth, just peel the wax paper backing off. I'll bet you could brush down a coat of epoxy , lay the cloth on the surface and then smooth it out before pulling the wax paper off, and continue with the epoxy.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
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