I have a foam core wing and would like to use CA hinges but the CA will attack the foam.
They make an odderless CA that is foam safe. Should I use this or epoxy?
What do you think?

RickC2009

Hi Rick,
I think I would use pinned hinges with epoxy, drill through and insert round toothpicks. Don't like those ca hinges in foam.

Why not just use the bi directional strapping tape that we all use in our zagis.

Use Elmers. You'll have to rip the wing apart to get the hinges to come out. Works great, I never CA CA hinges anymore.

Mike

Better yet, use Elmer's Probond Polyurethane glue. It's foam safe, and expands like all get out, so just little on each side of the hinge works great.

I don't under stand why elmers gule would be better than oderless ca? Is it stronger? how and why?

Buy foam glue - sticks to plastic fine but ensures ease of use - epoxy has a tendency to crack and break on movable parts - just my 2 cents

Plain ol' Elmer's Glue is cheaper, that's how it's better. Elmer's ProBond PolyU is cheaper too and it expands to fill a loose slot; it even expands between the foam beads. All these glues are probably overkill strengthwise compared to the foam; it's just that PolyU glue can take care of a sloppy hinge slot better than the other glues.

I have a foam core wing with a balsa trailing edge. I am using ca hinges becasuse there EZ and I like them. I was not trying to glue the hinge directly to the foam. I just didn't want the ca to drip down and melt the foam core. So I am basically just gluing the hinge to wood.

Hideho all,

I would like to thank you all for responding to these questions here in the ARF forum so quickly and with great ideas and information.

This site would not be what it is without you, the users.

You folks make this a terrific, if not the absoult best RC site on the web.

Again,
Thank you.

Stick to the topic MIKE!!!!!!

LOL

As someone mentioned, I think there is usually some wood on the trailing edge of the foam core wing. I have an Extra 300 w/a foam core wing + balsa trailing edge and I used CA hinges even though it came with epoxy type hinges. It has worked fine for the 300-400 flights I had with the plane. I did have to replace the CA hinges on this plane once but only because I wore them out. IMO, if you have 1/4 inch or more of wood/balsa on the trailing edge, you should be fine. Remember, the foam core isn't going to hold any hinges in, it's the wood that's glued to the foam core that will. Who cares if the CA disolves a tiny little bit of foam inside.

Adrian

I know the CA hinges are Easy, but I'll never use them again. They are too stiff and make the servos work too hard in my opionin (for whatever that's worth!) I like to go out and get 8 or 10 flights in a day and don't want to worry about battery pack fatigue. I also notice that my surfaces react slower to the control stick on even the surfaces which are not so stiff.
For the little extra time it takes, I think it's worth the performance especially if you want to get 3D throws. But I am probably just using too much CA. Regardless, I'm sticking with epoxy hinges from now on.
Rick

I agree with Rick I hate CA hinges!

I agree with Rick also, except those damn CA hinges are so fast to install!! 10 minutes, and you've hinged all control surfices. I wish someone would come out with a different type of CA hinge. Maybe a CA hinge that has a strip in the middle that CA doesn't wick into would be nice. They would still be quick to install, but wouldn't be as stiff. If I were to apply something myself to a CA hing, what's the best thing? A crayon or something with wax?

Adrian

Adrian,
I like your thinking. Crayon? now that's a good idea, find something that works and I'll bet you could make some sheckels LOL
Rick

Well after doing some tests I used plain old epxoy!
Worked out great! Alot less binding than using CA and time to adjust the gad as tight as I like! I think I will use Epoxy with CA type hinges from Now on!

RickC2009