I've noticed in building a couple of ARF's now that I am not as careful in applying CA glue to solely the designated areas, e.g. ca hinges. Instead, the glue ends up on my ultracote, monokote etc. I've used a CA/debonder, even tried acetone from nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol, but can only seem to get the big stuff off with much effort and scraping with my fingernails. Is there an easier way to remove unwanted CA glue from the once nice finish of your airplane. And once removed the area in question becomes dull and lacks the luster it once had. Any way to restore this as well.

much appreciated,
~Ernie

Sorry if I can't give you better news, but you're already doing all you can do. About the only advice I can give you is to be a little more carefull when you apply the CA while assembling the plane.

Hope this helps.

Yeah, Ca hinges do that. On my fourstar, I have started hinging and covering tail surfaces due to the stall on the wing, and so right now i am just doing it and the hardest part is from the main part to tail surface.

Do you apply a hinge to horizontal stabalizer and then to elevator or all to stab and then all to elevator?(I didn't read the directions fully)

Chad,
You have to have the control surface in place before you apply CA. You can't do "half" of it. Once you apply CA to the hinge it is done and can't be "redone". Place the surface in place where it should be (i.e. elevator on the horizontal stab) before you apply the CA to the hinges. It should have all been covered in the instructions.

ok. I don't know if you understood, I only glued the side with the horizontal stab, and then i am about to go out there and do the other side. (might just get those measurments if i find a stinkin tape measure...

Chad,
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that I understand what you are saying. You put the hinges in the horizontal stab and them glued them in without having the elevator in place. If that is what you have done then you are sunk. Those hinges are ruined. You won't be able to attach the elevator until you put new hinges in place. You're going to have to cut new hinge slots for new hinges.

RCKen got it on the nose. Best way to get CA off covering/paint/etc is to not get it there in the first place. You might want to try some of the pipettes they sell, they're plastic jobbies with an extremely small nozzle. You can put just a dab of CA exactally where you want it. Very handy, but they're pretty much one time use.

Andy

Ernie,
Get some of the very thin tip extensions for your CA bottle. They'll help you control the amount of CA you're using. It only takes a few drops placed individually to glue a CA hinge, or any CA joint for that matter.
Dennis-

To help keep control of where the ca goes, I use an old hobby knife blade in the knife handle, and while holding the two surfaces together to keep the joint tight, flex the joint about 1/2 way down (away from myself). Touch the point of the blade to the ca hinge, and put 2 - 3 drops of ca on the fat part of the blade, letting it run down the tip onto the hinge. Move to the next hinge and repeat. This keeps the ca spatter to a minimum. I also turn the bottle of glue over (point it down toward the blade) well away from work so that the tip of the bottle fills up away from the work, and if it bubbles, it has a moment to clear out before you squeeze it some and you don't get that little "pfuutt" which scatters the stuff.....

Hi!
Ca glue is easy to remove as long as you get the right stuff to remove it with.
Forget about debonder..it's just a joke... more or less.
Aceton works but only very,very slowly.
What you should use (I have for many years) is pure nitro.
Nitro removes all CA glues much more rapidly than Aceton and it doesn't affect/destroy any of the plastic covering films on the market.
As I mix my own fuel (most people do in my club) I have always some litres of nitro at home.

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

Bob Smith Industries markets a product called Un-Bond. It will take cured CA off of monocote, fingers,hairy lets, out of jeans, etc....
Most embarrassing putting Stab on LT40 and CA'ed fuse to my leg(through the jeans)[:@] Hey it said, apply a generous amount,,,,guess you can be too generous with somethings.[X(]

Ken is right. But I want some more info:

You said you didn't read the instructions, so let me ask you this... Did you, use thin or medium CA on the hinges?

PS For future reference, this is the proper way to install CA Hinges... READ IT!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...TOKEN=23572438

Also, Hobby lobby sells some extensions. They are plastic Apparatuses that will fit over the nipple on your CA bottle. Then, there is a small, but long plastic tube attached to it that allows you to put the CA only where you want it--it works like a champ!

All excellent suggestions. Thank you all! I'll remember the next time to use more care and buy some plastic extensions. Since I have already limited my options a bit I'll stick with Jaka's suggestion sine Nitro is more readily available and accessible to me. I love this forum! Someone always has another way of doing things.
Thanks a million!
~Ernie

Just remember, the way that works for you is the right way!

just a tip i was told about, if you drill a hole just a little bigger than the slot in the centre the ca will wick down and cover the hinge.using a thin nozzle as said makes it a lot easier.hope this helps.

Jaka, where do you get pure nitro?

aircub is right. I just did my first hinges and drilled a small hole in the center of the slot and worked great. Also used the small extension. No Ca but on the hinge. This forum is great. I got that tip off here

coat the area around the hinges on the covering with wax,get a towel put some acetone on it and hold it against the opposite side you are ca'ing.if some does get to the covering it wont stick to the wax.unless you do a hosejob and squirt an ounce thru............my first ca jobs...............lol.

Heres a little trick when applying CA to hinges! Put a t-pin thru the hinge and apply ca on the pin shaft and watch the ca go down the shaft with no mess. A friend of mine suggested this and it works like a charm. The only debonder that I use is from ZAP! Great Stuff...

Perry