Sheeting warped my stab - now what?  
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Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/25/2002 5:19:09 AM   
Jimmy Stewart


 

Posts: 15
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Nebraska City, NE, USA
Status: offline 		I built up the horizontal stab on the 4 star 120 kit I'm building, and when I glued the sheeting on I used Gluit aliphatic glue and then set it on a flat surface with weights to dry. I repeated the glue and weights for the other side and now the darn thing is warped! When I lay it on a flat surface each tip is about 1/16" above the surface. I know this isn't a lot, but I tried spraying water on it and setting weights on it, but now the sheeting has waves in it and it's still has the warp! It's getting worse! I hate to start all over and build up another horizontal stab. I'm about ready to pull out the iron and give that a try, but afraid that would make it even worse yet!

Any ideas?
       Post #: 1

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/25/2002 5:32:55 AM   
JohnVH



Posts: 14763
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: Lynden, WA, USA
Status: offline 		I would have guessed the water would have done it.

you could try the iron trick, whats the worst that could happen??

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(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 2

warped stab - 3/25/2002 7:42:44 AM   
majortom-RCU


 

Posts: 1583
Joined: 12/11/2001
From: Merrimack, NH, USA
Status: offline 		I like Gluit, but it is water-based and will warp, especially sheets as opposed to stick joints. I always spread the glue thin with my finger tip, just enough to wet the surface to be glued, keep a paper towel handy to wipe glue off your finger. I have sheeted stabs with gluit without weight. I try to do both surfaces simultaneously so whatever warping does take place will neutralize out. I wet just the sticks, not the sheets, and just enough to grip. This is not a joint that needs a lot of strength, so less is more in this case. Rub the sheet down with the heel of your hand a few times in the first ten minutes and the glue will stick and hold.

If I couldn't wet out the warp, I'd build another stab and glue it up with epoxy. It takes less time to make a good one than to fix a bad one.

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 3

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/25/2002 10:07:12 PM   
Red Bear-RCU


 

Posts: 30
Joined: 2/11/2002
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Status: offline 		I agree with MajorTom Its quicker to build another one than repair a bent one. You will be happer with a good unwarped one in the long run.

I am just finishing my 120 and had trouble with the vertical stab. The sheeting was not quite large enough. I even call to ask about this with out much help.

_____________________________

One Bear in the Air is Enough.

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 4

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/26/2002 8:57:35 AM   
Jimmy Stewart


 

Posts: 15
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Nebraska City, NE, USA
Status: offline 		Thank you guys for the responses. I've been using Gluit recently because I've developed an allergy to CA, and so far I've liked working with it, but I need to be careful when using it to sheet stuff. I used my finger like you have Major Tom, and try to limit the amount I'm using, but I think sheeting both sides at once will eliminate my problem.

So far I'm pleased with the construction on the 120, and would always regret not getting that stab straight. I'll get a few more sticks of balsa and build up another one.

Red Bear, I had to buy some more sheeting. I've been going so slow on my kit I couldn't remember if I had scavenged the sheeting for another project that has interupted this one (and there's been a few) but maybe I didn't steal the sheeting and instead the kit was short the required sheeting. I'll let you know how mine comes out. I figure at the rate I'm going, I might have it covered by July. This is the biggest kit I've ever built, and it will also be my first gasser.

Thanks again guys.

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 5

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/29/2002 9:19:50 AM   
sock66


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Plainfield, IL,
Status: offline 		I just logged on as a new user to ask the same question. I am building a PICA kit a T-28. And as I was building my stab it also warped about 1/16 in the center and was looking for ideas on how to fix it because this is my second time. first time it was worse than a 1/16. I am not looking forward to doing it a third time. I also use GLUIT!

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 6

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/29/2002 12:52:54 PM   
majortom-RCU


 

Posts: 1583
Joined: 12/11/2001
From: Merrimack, NH, USA
Status: offline 		If it's warped with a 1/16" bow in the center (and not twisted) I expect you could fly it and never notice the difference. If you don't want to build another, then you can try a few things.

1. Wet both sides of the stab and let it dry in a sandwich of some absorbent material (newspaper will do, maybe change it a few times) with weight holding it flat. Give it at least a day to dry.

2. Wet the concave side (so it will absorb moisture and expand) and while it's still damp, cover the other side and shrink the covering so it's straight (un-bowed). Don't overshrink, or you'll have the same problem backwards. When it dries, cover the side that was concave (that should now be straight). Again, don't overshrink. Let it set overnight, and if there's still a bow, heat both sides of the piece with a blower, then brace it bowed the other way and let it cool. Maybe do this a few times if necessary.

3. If none of that works, use tail braces with turnbuckles to pull the surface straight.

I have tried all of these, sometimes successfully, and conclude that it's still easier to build one straight than fix one that isn't.

If your problem is CA allergy, I have worked around that by using a respirator--$15-20 at the hardware store, with charcoal filter cartridges, a nice snug fitting face mask, adjustable elastic straps that hold it close to the face. (This does not work well for bearded faces.) I used to get major congestion and a cough that would bother me for days after using CA, but with the respirator I have been reaction-free using CA for hours at a time.

I still like Gluit, and use it whenever I am not pressed for time; but when there's a lot of gluing to be done (framing up a wing, sheeting, rib caps, etc.) I use CA, build "freehand" (off the bench) so I can turn the wing easily, sight all the lines, hold every joint snug and straight while I CA it. I use a balsa template to space the ribs and keep them vertical and square to the span. I used to use a wing jig, but I like freehand better.

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 7

warped also - 3/31/2002 5:30:11 AM   
ricfly52


 

Posts: 134
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: offline 		I sheeted wings for an Edge 540 the other day and when I cut out the ailerons, they warped. I will try one time to straighten them, but if it doesn't work, then they become paint stirring sticks and I will build new ones. I figure building new ones can't take up too much time.

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 8

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/31/2002 8:44:43 AM   
greenboot



Posts: 1173
Joined: 1/16/2002
From: St Louis, MO, USA
Status: offline 		I would try straightening it with the covering material. Just pull it extra tight on the convex side (in the spanwise direction).

I also agree with Majortom, it will fly fine the way it is.

Tom

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 9

Sheeting warped my stab - now what? - 3/31/2002 8:09:35 PM   
sock66


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Plainfield, IL,
Status: offline 		So far I have two votes for leaving it as is and since I will be fiberglassing this model when I am finished I won`t have the help of a shrink iron. I would like to thank all who have replied . All the suggestions have been great. Like I said in my first posting I am a new user of this website and I wil contiue to build this model knowing that if a problem arises I have some place to go for help. THANKS AGAIN!

(in reply to Jimmy Stewart)
       Post #: 10

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