ORIGINAL: CloudSkipper
Hi again,
I noticed that I've got one less CA hinge than required (maybe I misplaced it, dunno). So I've ordered a pack of Great Planes brand CA hinges. They should arrive in a couple of days.
The new ones are the exact same size/shape, but
they do NOT have the rectangular hole in them.
I've started prepping, but I have not yet CA'd any hinges in place, so I wanted to ask, given a choice,
would you rather use CA hinges with or without the rectangular hole?
As
da Rock said, the rectangular hole does serve a purpose, but of course you do then have less hinge holding the surface attached. I suppose too that there would be a difference in freedom of flexing?? There are subtle pros and cons I guess.
I've re-attached the pic of the CA hinges that I have currently for reference...
Thanks for any thoughts on this
As you have mentioned, the slot has a purpose. How important that is would be open to debate.
After you've accumulated some experience it will be clearer to you how minor most of the details are that have to do with gluing. I've found that as long as I get at least 2 drops of CA on one side and one on the other, every style of CA hinge I've used becomes one with the wood. What I've found depends on my judgement of "2 drops" etc, and won't work for everyone. And it might depend on which brands of CA I've used in the past. But bottom line, is that most techniques match up to the user/developer, but can work for others. And I've found that every quality CA hinge has worked excellently well. Those with the slot and those without.
About the only detail I've found to matter with CA hinges is that the ones that look like slick plastic are to be avoided. Every other type I've seen has a textured look on both sides and has glued perfectly and has lasted as long as I've had the model without failing.
Here's a picture of a model of mine that probably stesses the hinges the most of any I fly often. It was built in the fall of 2005. No hint of failures. But you can bet, it and when there is the opportunity to autopsy it, I'll check how the hinges held. It's the best way to build that experience that helps making these decisions down the road.