RE: wood props

RE: wood props
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RE: wood props - 4/9/2007 5:09:30 AM

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Those sound like the old (very old) Top Flite pylon props from about 30-35 years ago.

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 12:59:28 AM

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Hey All. Great thread. I have just finished carving/shaping/hacking/sealing a few props myself (none have been run yet). I was using a CF APC 7.4 x 8 as a model (tip shape, high point, etc.). When I threw the CF prop on the Prather gauge, it measured between 6.75 and 7.75 between stations 3 and 7. Does that sound typical? Has anyone else actually measured a CF 7.4 x 8?
>Thom

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 1:06:47 AM

daven

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That sounds a little light for pitch at station 7 with the CF 8 pitch prop. I try to use props in the 8 - 8 1/4 pitch range at that station. Unfortunately, there is some variation in the CF props and it does pay to do your homework in checking them not only on the ground, but in the air.

Mark and save that prop for those bad days that motors don't like to turn up.

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 11:25:46 AM

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Too bad Bruce Coffey doesn't post on the forums. That guy can make a wood prop, all hand carved (from a exsisting blank of course)... I sometimes miss those days of making your own prop. But towards the end of those days, the bags of blanks we would buy were lacking in quality. Buying a bag of 6 props... only one of the six would have that nice grain we all looked for. Then when the very few started with the machine made wood prop stuff, most of us threw our hands up.

Fun times though...
RB

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 2:38:52 PM

iamtom

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Randy,
Those days are not gone and forgotten. Why do you say that? Both Lyle and Darrol have blanks for sale and suggesting that it's not worth the effort is just wrong. These few who are actually working at going faster than the CF plastic prop should be commended for their efforts not told to forget it because a COUPLE of guys have the ability to machine their own blanks. The best anyone can do is machine a blank not a finished prop. There is a lot to be learned by working this way. I've been told the original CF prop was copied from a wood prop from Chip Hyde via reverse engineering.
Again Blanks are available and it is worth it. Wood held the record for many years. Now there's a new motor to deal with. Let's get to work.
Tom

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 5:36:40 PM

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I will never forget those days. BUT.. what I was saying was the quality of blanks was poor, back when I was making props. Maybe that has changed? I'm not tearing anyone down for wanting to carve props. And I never said it wasn't worth the effort. By all means, if someone wants to carve wood props...go for it. There are definitly things to be learned by shaping and sanding props. Carving props help me learn about the engine and how it responds to all the different settings.. I even said I miss those days....

And just because someone straps up a CF prop, doesn't mean that they are any less deserving of praise. Any one who thinks that is an idiot.

For the record I was against the CF prop, I even contacted my area Dist VP to voice my opinions. Why? Because I was very good at making props, and I felt threatened towards losing my edge. However our contest board voted in the CF... so my comments above are me just being honest about the quality of wood...

Randy

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 10:34:48 PM

garys

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I tend to agree with Randy as far as finding good wood blanks. I've got a ton of wood blanks that I wouldn't waist my time with or risk running on an engine for fear it would blow up due to the grain running accross the blade right outside the hub. A couple years ago I found some Rev-Ups on Ebay. I thought I did pretty good in that half of them were usable. Actually, I guess they were all usable, the other half worked great at mixing resin.

Tom, why don't you and Grunk sell blanks of your props?

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 11:19:19 PM

iamtom

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Gary
Making a prop from a blank is much more doable than from scratch. You think finding a good blank from a bag is difficult try finding one in a tree.
Tom

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RE: wood props - 4/10/2007 11:38:31 PM

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Gary brings up the rev-up props. That is one thing that always puzzled me, concerning "availability".. The "word" was that the rev-ups made better props, right. But they were unavailable, couldn't buy them. You had to wait for someone to unload there old quickee stash on ebay. Meanwhile, some of the guys you raced against had a stock pile of rev-ups... thusly given you the feeling that you being beat at a game that you can't even compete in. I used to buy lots of blanks from Lyle, Darrol, and Shadel... spent a good share of money just to find those killer grained props…and that paid off many times.

RB

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RE: wood props - 4/11/2007 11:58:30 PM

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i have a little input on this subject. first off, anybody who trys to make a prop is in the mindset of not going as fast as everyone else. they want to go faster. prop making is an art and not a black art. there has always been someone who would teach, share, and even make one side by side with you. i know, i was there. over 1000 props sold and even more GIVEN away. with the introductoin of the black prop the general population got what they wanted. another quickiee event with a different fuse and wing. some names mentioned in this thread were customers of mine. then they started making there own. more power to them. they took an idea and ran with it. i think there should be more encouragement for the ones who want to make there own. if anyone is interested and will be in ftlauderdale for the NMPRA2 we could have another prop seminar. RR

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 3:43:02 AM

iamtom

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Gary,
You might want to spend more time reading the grain of the wood used on your prop before bolting it on. Grain running across the blade is sudden death and you should know better. Randy I don't remember you flying much wood but it seems you have a lot of experience at buying blanks and maybe not so much at making them work. Keep working at it and it could make the difference. This thread is meant to be positive and constructive. If you have nothing to add that is constructive just stop. It sounds like there could be many woodies in Ft.Lauderdale.Good luck to all. Sorry if I'm getting a little sharp but because some have given up at working at it dosen't mean others are of the same mind set. Be the example not the exception.
Tom

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 4:04:26 AM

daven

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I've actually enjoyed sanding down roughly 20 props the past couple of months. I don't enjoy soaking them in CA, but the rest is not bad.

I'll bring down 5-10 of what I think are my best. Really looking forward to constructive criticism from everyone on this subject..

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 6:01:15 AM

garys

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Tom,
Re-read my post about the grain. I said..... "I've got a ton of wood blanks that I wouldn't waist my time with or risk running on an engine for fear it would blow up due to the grain running accross the blade right outside the hub.".....Yes, I know better than to even bolt those on my engines. I've never had a wood prop fail on me, even in the early days of Q40 where we regularly turned them over 25k. Part of the reason why is I'm very careful about the grain of the prop before I even decide whether I'm going to rework it or not. It's also part of the reason I'd find maybe 2 or 3 good blanks out of a dozen or more props.

I still run wood periodically, and have a handful of good blanks left, as well as several good props. The last few years I just haven't had the time to test, so it's easier to just bolt on a black prop and go race, even though I know I have some wood props that under the right conditions are faster than the APC's.

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 11:42:09 AM

iamtom

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Gary,
My mistake I misread that part. Sorry. Finding blanks at the LHS can be a challange but they are out there as the rest of the thread might suggest. If you limit yourself to what you believe to be only the perfect blanks then you will not have much luck with this effort. Wood os an imperfect medium. You can't be too picky. or you won't ever be satisfied. There are obviously some do's and don'ts. Maybe we could talk about wood grains and what is ok and what's not. Bring it on.
Tom

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 4:55:51 PM

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That's a sharp punch Tom. But that's cool... I can take it.

Happy carving boys...

RB

< Message edited by luv to race -- 4/12/2007 5:07:36 PM >

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 5:11:00 PM

daven

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I ordered some Zinger 8x7's from Tower and notice the new props are much lighter colored wood than the older ones I have. They also seem to pitch a bit less, and have a ton of shellac or whatever on them.

I also orderd a Topflight Powerpoint prop, and that thing looks like its OAK, or some other wood, other than Maple.

I don't know much about wood, but it doesn't even look like its the same kind??

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RE: wood props - 4/12/2007 7:01:44 PM

DHG

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The Flop Tites are made of beechwood or something. Not sure how the strength compares to maple. Wear safety goggles, yada yada.

Spruce bark beetles have killed millions of trees here in Colorado ... somebody ought to buy up a truckload or two and experiment with 'em.

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