water and ammonia
12-22-2004, 11:30 PM
#1
Thread Starter
water and ammonia
This is more of a general building question than a kit question.
I have noticed when I use ammonia and water to make balsa wood
more flexible, the CA glue has some kind of a funny reaction and absolutly
will not stick. It turns white and sort of gummy and skins over.
I've tried diffrent brands, it all does this. Too much ammonia?
Mike
I have noticed when I use ammonia and water to make balsa wood
more flexible, the CA glue has some kind of a funny reaction and absolutly
will not stick. It turns white and sort of gummy and skins over.
I've tried diffrent brands, it all does this. Too much ammonia?
Mike
12-22-2004, 11:58 PM
#2
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RE: water and ammonia
I've not had that problem.
Perhaps the wood is simply too wet. You should spray the ammonia solution on the side that you want to expand. That is usually on the outside of the plane. Wait about 15 to 20 minutes while the ammonia breaks down the fibers. Sometimes I will rap the wood around a plans tube and hit it with the heat gun. That works great.
Funny story :
One day I had been sheeting my T28. I had ammonia all over me. ( I tend to wipe my hands on my clothes). I went to get a pack of smokes. I ran into a friend. As we stood out in the Houston heat talking, I couldn't believe the absolute stench of urine surrounding us. It was ME !!! The ammonia !!!! hehe
Perhaps the wood is simply too wet. You should spray the ammonia solution on the side that you want to expand. That is usually on the outside of the plane. Wait about 15 to 20 minutes while the ammonia breaks down the fibers. Sometimes I will rap the wood around a plans tube and hit it with the heat gun. That works great.
Funny story :
One day I had been sheeting my T28. I had ammonia all over me. ( I tend to wipe my hands on my clothes). I went to get a pack of smokes. I ran into a friend. As we stood out in the Houston heat talking, I couldn't believe the absolute stench of urine surrounding us. It was ME !!! The ammonia !!!! hehe
12-23-2004, 12:35 AM
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RE: water and ammonia
I couldn't believe the absolute stench of urine surrounding us. It was ME !!! The ammonia !!!! hehe
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sounds like a depends moment to me![>:] Sorry just couldn't let it pass, to good of a set-up!
12-23-2004, 02:38 AM
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RE: water and ammonia
ORIGINAL: kingwoodbarney
I've not had that problem.
Perhaps the wood is simply too wet. You should spray the ammonia solution on the side that you want to expand. That is usually on the outside of the plane. Wait about 15 to 20 minutes while the ammonia breaks down the fibers. Sometimes I will rap the wood around a plans tube and hit it with the heat gun. That works great
I've not had that problem.
Perhaps the wood is simply too wet. You should spray the ammonia solution on the side that you want to expand. That is usually on the outside of the plane. Wait about 15 to 20 minutes while the ammonia breaks down the fibers. Sometimes I will rap the wood around a plans tube and hit it with the heat gun. That works great
Cheers!
Jim
12-23-2004, 09:07 AM
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RE: water and ammonia
There is a body of opinion that ammonia is of no use with balsa because, unlike harder woods, it has no lignin to be softened by the ammonia.
12-23-2004, 10:03 AM
#6
Thread Starter
RE: water and ammonia
Ok, its too wet when I try to glue it. I can see that. What I usually do is
wet a shop rag with water/ammonia and just wet the outside of it, but in
this particular situation, the instructions said "soak it", so I did.
I finally gave up on the CA and used titebond for this step.
Mike
wet a shop rag with water/ammonia and just wet the outside of it, but in
this particular situation, the instructions said "soak it", so I did.
I finally gave up on the CA and used titebond for this step.
Mike
