Author Topic: ??? How (Read 2016 times)

Bootlegger · « **on:** November 30, 2012, 01:37:25 PM »

Do you dry your molded balsa? I am lookin for the quickest and safest way, and the thought of usin a mirowave oven popped into mind, however I ain't gonna use my wife's micro wave!!!

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night...

Howard Rush · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2012, 01:53:33 PM »

You might have to dry it somewhere other than Louisiana. It's too humid there.

I just set the molded parts aside. Being an older person, I forget where I put them. By the time I find them, they're dry.

I guess those weren't too useful. I do have one useful bit of information, but it's just another way to do it wrong. Don't vacuum bag the wet balsa. I figured the water would boil off or something, but the balsa just stayed wet.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2012, 02:44:49 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger on November 30, 2012, 01:37:25 PM

Do you dry your molded balsa? I am lookin for the quickest and safest way, and the thought of usin a mirowave oven popped into mind, however I ain't gonna use my wife's micro wave!!!

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night...

I set mine out in the sun.
Here in AZ it dries real fast that way. Your results may vary! I'd be cautious about putting much artificial heat on foam forms etc.

Randy Cuberly

Bootlegger · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2012, 06:45:46 PM »

Howard I too tend to "hide" stuff from myself also, and you are so right we do suffer from high humidity.

Randy I think that I'll be real careful about puttin' foam in the micro wave also, sure don't need that excitement!!!

Thanks guy's...

BillLee · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2012, 07:34:20 PM »

What are you molding over? I.e., what is the plug made of?

What are you using to wrap the balsa sheet over the plug?

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2012, 07:51:29 PM »

Quote from: Randy Cuberly on November 30, 2012, 02:44:49 PM

Here in AZ it dries real fast that way. Your results may vary! I'd be cautious about putting much artificial heat on foam forms etc.

Isn't the Arid-zona sun hotter than most artificial heat?

Gil, a food dryer would probably be ideal if it's too humid to dry things out. Before we got our store-bought one we had a homemade one that was basically a heater and a fan in a box -- if you could find plans for such a gizmo you could make a long and skinny one, and use it for drying extra-long beef sticks when you're not drying out fuselage wood.

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2012, 08:32:12 PM »

Quote from: Bootlegger on November 30, 2012, 06:45:46 PM

Howard I too tend to "hide" stuff from myself also, and you are so right we do suffer from high humidity.

Randy I think that I'll be real careful about puttin' foam in the micro wave also, sure don't need that excitement!!!

Thanks guy's...

I heard a story a while back about this "Bootlegger dude." Heard he miss-placed one of those Stiletto APC props and later found it...well! let's not say how he found it, but...OUCH!

Bob Whitely · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2012, 10:29:34 PM »

Just put it in your second bathroom with a heater turned up to high
overnight. Works good for kickin' resin and epoxy paint too! RJ

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2012, 07:23:22 AM »

...or use an electric heat pad or blanket. Te blanket works well for setting off epoxy in a vac bag too.

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2012, 10:08:24 AM »

I put wet balsa in the clothes dryer, set at "delicate-spin". It works pretty good, but long pieces tend to get shortened and not then suitable for wing spars.

Floyd

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2012, 12:51:42 PM »

Quote from: Tim Wescott on November 30, 2012, 07:51:29 PM

Isn't the Arid-zona sun hotter than most artificial heat?

UUHhhhhh well maybe...but it's a DRIER Heat...

Randy Cuberly

Bootlegger · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2012, 05:43:42 PM »

Bill Lee, I'm gonna use styrofoam for the bock if I can, plan to wrap it either with torn sheet's or ace bandages.
You got some suggestions, please let me know..

BillLee · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2012, 06:00:02 PM »

Torn sheets or Ace bandages will work just fine, and with a foam plug, you won't have any problems getting the balsa to dry. Just wrap it up and set it in the window in the sun. Leave a day or so and it will be fine. BTDT.

Bill

Larry Wong · « **Reply #13 on:** December 02, 2012, 08:26:41 PM »

Well I wrap mine in a Ace bandage and leave them in a gas oven ( off) over night, the pilot is just enough to keep it warm and dry.