Hi all,

returning ot the hobby after 15 years, forgot most of what I had learned. I'm building a Sig four star 40 and am trying to remember how to shape balsa leading edges. I read that you could put sandpaper inside a split piece of PVC pipe but how does one split the pipe in the first place?


Thanks to all for any & all help,

Steve

I have found the best tool for shaping the leading edge is a balsa razor plane. You only need a light sanding to smooth any ridges. If you need to use the sandpaper and pvc pipe method, a band saw, circular table saw or even a hack saw will do the job of splitting the pipe. you don't need a very long piece. A bout 6-8 inches long should be enough.

One of the slickest tools I've found lately is the power plane from Tower Hobbies. Not real cheap but not really expensive either. It's half the price of the one from Micro Mark. You can take a deep bite or a very shallow one. It's adjustable in very small increments. I wish I'd bought one sooner. Shaping a leading edge, trailing edge, wingtip or fuselage part is effortless now. Other than that they also have aluminum sanding bars that are shaped for leadng edges.