A silly question from a newbie....

I just built a SlowStick and was about to band the wing on... the supplied rubber bands seem a bit weak, and they go on really tight.
So tight infact that it would seem they would harm the wing.

I also have a box of hobbico size 6 rubber bands. They too seem very tight.

What should I use?

-M

I use the ones that came with it and they work just fine. Just make sure the ones you use don't bite into the wing.

Same here, I have had no problem with the supplied ones.

When I built my first SS a couple of years ago, I had to loop two rubber bands together to make the correct length.

I used 4 of these double banded bands to hold the wing on.

Maybe the one band is too small?

Office supply stores sell big bags of rubber bands cheap.

The size that fits most trainers are the #64

They're the right length and thickness.

But the Slow Stick is not your typical trainer. I'll take a look later to see what I'm using.

This chart might help:[link=http://www.bigwigbands.com/rb_sizes.html]Size Chart[/link]

As I suspected, the rubber bands that I use for my SS are #32's. I use two of them looped together.

I don't know if it makes any difference, but I put two of these double bands parallel to the wing chord and I criss-cross the other two. Whatever you do though, use 4 of these to hold the wing on, two will not be enough.

I just bought a pound of #67s from Sig - then I lost the plane they went on 75' up a hungry tree...........

Hey, sorry that I didn't pay more attention to what a SlowStick was. Yeah, it ain't your average trainer.

But my advice still works except for the specific size rubber band. STAPLES or OFFICE DEPOT or any of them has fresh rubber bands in bags for cheap. Whatever you want to rubber band, whatever model plane, take it right through the front door and back to the rubber band rack. The STAPLES near the house has one bag of each open for inspection. Test 'em until you find the perfect fit. The bag will probably be $1 (that's one dollar) and some change. And the turnover in an office supply store almost guarantees you that the rubber bands you're buying are probably only days old. I once bought a box of rubber bands in a LHS that were mostly dead and looked older than me. And paid about twice what I'd have paid at an office supply.

The band from Staples, while good for what they are sold for, are very poor quality and not safe for model use unless you use more than the normal amount. Quite a bit less quality than those from SIG or other hobby suppliers, a different composition or material.

Rodney,
I guess STAPLES must sell different ones at different stores. The ones I got are so good that I use them a couple of times each. That is, when I'm flying the trainer. I wrap them in a paper towel after the flight. Whenever I take them out of a paper towel, I know to put them into the trashbag after that flight, eventhough they look no different from new.

They're so good that a couple of guys at the field have made special trips to pick some up. You'll get a laugh out of this..... they made the trip because the ones they got at the LHS were so lousy!!!

It's actually a very iffy deal with rubber bands. You usually can't tell how they'll work until you use them. Some are sorta whitish and others look like gum rubber. And neither type is a guaranteed buy. I've had both work good and both have come out of new bags and popped when stretched or gave up when stretched. No way to predict. I guess the mfg's simply package whatever came out of the machines without testing.

Gentlemen,

Menthol needs rubber bands for a 14 oz electric plane.

I got my bands from Staples and they are fine.

And off I go to STAPLES

Thanks all!

I mean what's the worst that can happen? I loose the wing and the plane.. and get to build a new one

If you go the route that's worked for others, you needn't worry about the wing falling off. Some of the comments made above (like wrapping the used bands in paper towels, and throwing them out later) refer to glow planes.

The #32's will work. Use as suggested and you'll be good to go.

You have EXACTLY the right attitude, my friend !!!!