Making Fillets with Aeropoxy Lite

[Dennis Leonhardi]

OK, I'm all ears - how do you do it?  The intention is to cover with auto (lacquer) primer, then butyrate dope (Brodak).  Thanks!

Dennis
 

[Brian Massey]

I've used the Aeropoxy Lite in the past, and found it hard to sand and get smooth. My suggestion; Throw the Aeropoxy Lite in the trash, and replace it with Super Fil from Aircraft Spruce! It is sooooooo much easier to sand and work, and has given me the best fillets I've ever done.

Brian

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Interesting Brian - I ordered Aeropoxy Lite from Brodak and just received it.  It's labeled Super Fil! I believe several have reported using Aeropoxy Lite with excellent results, stay tuned ...

Dennis
 

[Wynn Robins]

aeropoxy lite is a PITA - you have to get the mix EXACTLY right or no go -  some people use it to good effect...

Superfil blue epoxy is the way to go - SOOOOO much easier to use, mix and sand.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Well I gotta say you guys are making it interesting ...  What part of the following don't I understand?

http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetail.php?ProductID=8765

Sure looks to me like Brodak calls his material Aeropoxy Lite Super Fil ...

As a matter of fact, Windy Urtnowski puts out a video on using Aeropoxy Lite - and he seems pretty capable of coming up with a good finish.

http://www.windyurtnowski.com/store/index.htm



Dennis

[Wynn Robins]

OK _ Brodak has now changed to Superfil - so you are using the same product we mentioned - the old Aeropoxy light is brown- mixes to a colour like peanut butter - is hard to get the mix right and is a PITA .


now you are using Superfil - you will find it particularly easy to use.  mix,apply,  smooth out with a radiused tool ( marble on a stick works great) then lightly sand and paint......you should have no issues.

but with Aeropoxy light - that is another story!!!

[Bill Allen]

AMA 353: I use Super-Fil all the time ..It mixes 2 blue to 1 off white epoxy material.  To be sure I have the ratios right I WEIGH them! Once weighed mix the two parts (blue and off white) at least  five minutes. Off to the side I cut the bottom of a paper coffee cup to about 1/2" in depth to hold alcohol. This small container I use to wet my forefinger to shape the Super-Fil  material you have forced into the joint. You will be amazed at how you can shape this to a condition that almost needs NO sanding!!!!!!!!  I heartily suggest you take a couple pieces of balsa, CA them at 90 degrees and do a test piece. I use several application tools to initially get the mixed epoxy to the joint...stick/marble, popsickle stick, etc. but the real trick is using your finger  wetted in alcohol. BTW..using the alcohol slows down the mix cure time which takes the pressure off.  Any further questions don't hesitate to call me..(815)-758-0741..(DeKalb, Il.)  Happy to help you.                     Bill Allen

[Brian Massey]

Well I gotta say you guys are making it interesting ...  What part of the following don't I understand?

http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetail.php?ProductID=8765

Sure looks to me like Brodak calls his material Aeropoxy Lite Super Fil ...

As a matter of fact, Windy Urtnowski puts out a video on using Aeropoxy Lite - and he seems pretty capable of coming up with a good finish.

http://www.windyurtnowski.com/store/index.htm

Well Well; seems Brodak got the picture. Super Fil is far superior to "aeropoxy Lite". As mentioned in another post, the original Aeropoxy was brown, and Super Fil is blue. Since Brodak changed the actual product, they really should drop the "Aeropoxy" label, that will be confusing to those expecting the brown stuff, and a turn off to those that want Super Fil. You are far better off with the Super Fil.

Brian



Dennis

[PJ Rowland]

I started this thread a few months ago :

Can you be in love with a product

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=20384.0

It was started as a result of my experiences with SuperFil. Several other notables use it and have reported similar experiences with respect to how good / easy it is to use.

Check it out for some great information - I wont use anything else for Fillets.

[john e. holliday]

Now I know where to get the stuff without having to order a gallonof it.   But, as an aside, I did use the original SIG Epoxy Lite on my Primary Force per Mike's suggestion.  Used acetone on the fingers to smooth it out.  Did take a full day to cure, but it came out good for me and still looks good. 

[Derek Barry]

I used micro ballons for years, mixed with 15-30 min epoxy. After trying Superfill I never went back. It is the best stuff I have ever used.

[Larry Cunningham]

After hearing the praises for the "original" Aeropoxy Lite for years, I always wondered how it could be superior to SIG's Epoxolite, when it had to mix 2 to 1 by weight. And its sandability was supposed to be superior to Epoxolite as well; Windy was nuts over the stuff.

I never had too much trouble with Epoxolite, mixing is by equal volumes and not super critical, it has lots of strength and you definitely need to shape it on application. However a spoon and then a finger in water or alcohol accomplishes the shaping. When cured, you can wet sand it with fine (400 or so) sandpaper and it will clean up and then be FOREVER.

As for sandability, I remember Mark Bowen's experience with epoxy and microballons, which came out super easy to sand, but promptly cracked on the front of the wing on his Magnum with the "shaker" ST .60 engine. Epoxolite never did that.

Now the "old" Aeropoxy Lite will be out of vogue, and "superfil" will be in.. So I'll have to try it sometime. Our engines and electric motors don't vibrate so much nowadays, and Epoxolite may at last be obsolete.. ??

Whatever works.

L.

"It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing,
really doing nothing." - Gertrude Stein

[W.D. Roland]

Almost ready for my first try with SuperFil.

Have used plastic balsa, Bondo, Pettit(hobbypoxy) Stuff and Epoxylite and Sig Epoxylite as well as epoxy and micro balloons.

Some problems with all with hardest to work being the Epoxylites as well as giving the best results.
Stuff and plastic balsa easiest to work with for 2nd rate results.

Sounds like SuperFil is the best of all...Finally get to find out!

While using google to check spelling for Pettit(Hobby Poxy) found this.
Pettit Marine Epoxy paint. Wonder if same or close to same as the old Hobbypoxy(pettit) paints?
http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/product_pds/1707620.pdf

David

[Larry Fernandez]

[quote author=Larry Cunningham

I never had too much trouble with Epoxolite, mixing is by equal volumes and not super critical, it has lots of strength and you definitely need to shape it on application. However a spoon and then a finger in water or alcohol accomplishes the shaping. When cured, you can wet sand it with fine (400 or so) sandpaper and it will clean up and then be FOREVER.



I too use only Sig Epoxolite.
I had a wing fold at the 2000 NATs, and from the outer appearance, you could not tell the plane was damaged. the Epoxolite fillets were the only thing holding the plane together. After that experience, I wont use any other material for fillets.
Once you learn the technique, it is quite easy to put front row fillets on your planes.

My best advice is to try them all and decide for yourself.

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Thanks for the feedback guys!  I'm working on some 1/2-A sheet balsa profiles and will use those as "guinea pigs" for the new Super Fil.  From what others say, it sounds like the cat's meow for now.


Dennis