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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Ron Merrill on July 30, 2006, 12:34:54 PM
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j1 I know this is probably a old question but, i was talking with a fellow at the hobby shop and he said one way to cut down on weight was to use white glue and thin with water. Will this work? '' '' He said after glue dries and you cove with silkspan the piece will be strong and safe. Sounds iffy to me. Thanks Ron.
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Hi Ron
Just to chime in and add to Ty's offering, Harry Higley's book, "there are no secrets" which I am sure most will agree is a good benchmark for authoritative reference contains a section on adhesives. What to use and what not to use. I refer to it occasionally to make sure. I checked it just now and could find no listing for "white" glue", however epoxy, alphatic resin and CA are there as well as acetone cements and contact cements. I might add that in some instances "pro-bond" - gorilla glue could be used however I would suggest that some of the more advanced builders like Robert [forum founder] Bill Little and Randy [always trying something new] Powell be consulted.
Regards
Marv
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Elmer's white glue works fine on some things. You can thin it with water. The real trick is to dab water on the joint and then put the glue on. When the water evaporates the joint gets tighter. White glue is not fuel proof or all that sand-able.
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I do about 90% of my glue joints with Elmers White Glue, not the school glue. I usually spot with CA and then hit everything with the Elmers. The Gorilla Glue(poly-urethane) is great for laminating the fuselages that were laser cut out of quarter inch balsa. Makes for very, very stiff profile fuselages. I use very little epoxy anymore. DOC Holliday
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I have used thinned down Titebond like dope putting silkspan on and used it as a first coat over the whole airplane. I can't say about the weight. It is sandable if you don't put pressure on. It gives a very hard surface and smooths down pretty good. You can do it in the kitchen where you cannot do dope. Later, dope goes on just fine.
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I have just started using Pica Glu-It®. Looks like Elmer's, smells like Elmer's, balls up on my fingertips like Elmer's, BUT:
Sets up quickly and is quite sandable. I use it on all edge-to-edge joints now. The only known source is Randy Smith - www.aeroproduct.net
I spoke with Randy today, and he's now out of the Glue-it; says the stuff hasn't been made for a year or so. Rats! I really like this glue.
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I did a little test. ??? I measured out 2oz. white glue ann teaspoon of water and mixed. Glued a piece of 1/4 x 1/4 to a 1/166th sheet weighted it down for 24 hrs. Spread the mix on both surfaces with a Q-tip. When checked '' it almost fell apart. ::) Was my mix or application or me at fault. Ron
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I use CYA, epoxy & Elmers white glue to build my stunters.
I use the Elmers full strength.
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For light building, Ambroinds, Duco, Sigment and such are the lightest. They evaporate the carrier and only the acetate (or what ever the company dissolved to make it) is left. You do need to "double glue" Ambroids and such for strength. I put a coat on one of the pieces, put them together and pull them right back apart. this leaves a film that soacks into the "joint". As soon as it has set, I apply the glue again, and assemble the parts. I have a 43 year old Smoothie that was built this way and when I recently "reworked" it, the glue joints were still solid.
White glue like Elmer's Glue All is next in the weight line since Pica's Gluit is no longer available.
Epoxy and CYA are the heaviest glues we use normally.
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Hey thanks for all the input. I will stay with full strength glue and tack with CA. thanks Ron. y1
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This is an update to my earlier plug for PICA Glu-It.
I emailed Dave Platt, the founder of PICA, regarding an alternative source, or even the manufacturer of, Glu-It. His response was a rather terse, "It's not available any more. I prefer Titebond."
As there were no modifiers (II or III), I presume he refers to the original formula Titebond.
If anyone else knows of a source, I'd really appreciate knowing who offers it. I've spent literally hours searching the www.