ARF hinge question, how to pin them?
 

I have read many people talk about pinning their hinges. Is this just a matter of drilling a hole and putting a toothpick on each side leading and trailing and then epoxying them or ca'ing them?

RE: ARF hinge question, how to pin them?
 

Yes that's the way I do them (We have mostly ARF's in our Hanger)

I measure the thickness of the element to be pinned and carefuly drill the holes from the underside making sure that I have drilled through the actual hinge (I use an old style of hand drill for this - one of the ones that uses a geared crank to turn the drill) but make sure that I do not drill all the way through the top covering - This way the plane still looks OK without the ugly pin showing.

I use Epoxy (instead of CA) to hold the pins so that the excess epoxy seals the opening where the pin is inserted.

RE: ARF hinge question, how to pin them?
 

That sounds good to me. I havent ever had to do this yet but I might start. I just bought a Cap 580 and will probably to that.

RE: ARF hinge question, how to pin them?
 

I do it the same way. I cut my toothpicks a little short so they won't protrude from either side. I use ca on mine, it really wicks in the hinge thru the toothpick. I then use a hole punch to punch out some covering and cover the holes up.

RE: ARF hinge question, how to pin them?
 

It will keep the hinge in place if the glue fails not if the hinge tears
you can also use a piece of push rod guide tube chuck your drill bit in a pin vise cut the tube to leave only the depth you want to drill exposed put a piece of blue painters tape over the hinge area mark and drill to the stop glue the pin in and if you want take a paper hole punch and make a covering material patch patch to hide it