CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Has anyone ca'd the horizontal stab on an ARF vice using epoxy. I have built, maybe 30 ARF's and never thought about it before now. I have a nice fitting stab with about 3/8" of mounting surface on each side (Flip 3D) and I'm thinking about positioning it and using thin CA instead of epoxy. anyone done it and had any problems. thanks

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

I have not tried CA but would defintely suggest epoxy over it. This CA is prone to snapping and eventually cracking losing its bond to the surface especially on a high stress area such as the tail group.

just a thought


good luck


matt

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Epoxy !

tommy s

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Over in the CapX thread, they said the instructions call for CA for the stab. Always used epoxy myself.

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

DP Ultimate 120 instructions also say to use CA for the horizontal stab.

Greg

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Epoxy is stronger if the joint has large gaps. CA is stronger if the joint is tight.

For good tight joints, I flow in thin CA followed immediately with thick CA to control run out and fillet the joint. The advantage is that you do all of the gluing without disturbing your alignment. With epoxy you have to remove the stab, put epoxy inside the joint and then put the stab back in. Epoxy is harder to clean up too.

Jim

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

I always epoxy!

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Tight joints with NO gaps get ca. Looser joints get epoxy. Been dooing it for a few years now. Plywood joints in the firewall and aft end get epoxy.

Been known to laminate ply layers for a firewall together with ca and had good results.

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

Steve,
When the fit is good and the wood surface area is sufficient, for smaller airplanes the CA is fine. I have never had one come loose. I align the stab and then tack it in place with thin. Then I angle the fuse and run the thin so it wicks well into the joint. If there are a few small gaps I will run a neat bead of medium or thick along each side. Just like Star Wars, do not under estimate the powers of the Dark Side, er, CA.

On the Flip, CA will work just fine.

Regards,
Mark

RE: CA vice Epoxy for Horizontal Stabilizer
 

I have been using CA for the past 2 years as well. No problems. I have even been using thick ca to glue the wings of my profiles on with.

Full power blenders and snaps are no problem.


Todd