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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Motorman on August 13, 2015, 07:54:21 PM
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Trying to build lighter and wondering if I'm using too much glue. After you glue a wing, rib to spar, rib to LE and TE what do the glue joints look like? Do you just use a drop of thin CA that disappears into the joint or do you follow with a dab of medium CA and leave a fillet?
Thanks,
MM
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Myself, I just use thin ca as you described and leave it. This is how I do it and has worked well for me.
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Here's a tip, if you want to save weight, don't use CA, use titebond or some other brand of aliphatic resin.
As it dries it sheds weight, and the dried joint is slightly flexible, meaning that your plane can take a knock or two without breaking.
CA joints are strong, but brittle.
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I would love to use titebond. How do you apply tiny bits of it? Does it have to be in the joint before assembly? That would mean piece by piece assembly?
MM
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I would love to use titebond. How do you apply tiny bits of it? Does it have to be in the joint before assembly? That would mean piece by piece assembly?
It definitely needs to be in the joint when assembled, so yes, piece at a time. Use one of those syringe glue guns to apply it.
CA is not likely to be causing your weight issues. I use medium (which also has to be in the joint during assembly) for almost everything, You just want enough to saturate the joint and cover the entire joint.
Usually weight issues are caused by using too much plywood, wood too heavy, and *finishing*.
Brett
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I would love to use titebond. How do you apply tiny bits of it? Does it have to be in the joint before assembly? That would mean piece by piece assembly?
MM
MM: I use and like Titebond glue. I put plenty (probably to much) on and squash the parts together. Then, and this is the important part, I use a scrape piece of balsa (1/16"-1/8") to remove ALL the squished out excess glue. I cut a length of balsa at a 45 degree, or so, and wipe the joint all around. I leave NO fillet of glue as that is just excess weight.
On end grain, I'll double glue. That is put some glue on and let it almost dry (soak in) and then final glue assembling the parts. If I have to use instant glue, I use it only as pins. (Very small amount)
Good luck, Jerry
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I use a spigot on the end of my glue bottle, or I squeeze out a little pool of glue onto a piece of cardboard or yogurt lid and pick up dots of glue with a wire.
This works for both Titebond and for CA.
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I order small pipettes from Amazon online. I think I got 1,000 for like 8 bucks.
I put a new one on the thin and thick ca bottles at the start of every build session, and toss them after each. Makes a huge difference.
Additionally, I have a cup full of q-tips on the work bench. Any extra glue can be quickly and easily blotted up with the q-tips.
Totally worth the extra minor expense, to me.