wanting to balance some props---weather won't let me fly so I may as well do something constructive. What kind of paint do you use?

when I painted the tips of my BCX (yes it is a heli) for better visibility, I used acrylic paints, held up for quite a few flights before the paint prety much flew off the tips, I would also look into using like tape, maybe fishing lure tape, that stuff seems sparkley

Hi!
There is only two types of paint that can stand the punishment of metanol and nitro and that is 2-part automotive acrylics (like Sikkens , PPG, Glasurit) and 2-part boat laquer (Like International ).

Epoxies seem to hold up well plus, if you are in balance with the wet paint, it is still in balance after the epoxy cures. I have often balanced props by placing a bit more epoxy paint on the light side. I have found that white seems to give the best visibility with yellow a close second.

If you're doing wood props and just looking to balance them and not color you can use Minwax clear polyeurethane. I paint two to three coats on my engine boxes and it holds up to anything. I've even cleaned them with carb cleaner with no problems.

Don't forget dope. Aerogloss will hold up to most anything.

I dip my prop tips in Rust-O-leum oil based wt.it holds up well and fuel doesn't seem to do any harm to it,as well as sticking to the plastic composit of master airscrew props.
I dip the tips and give them a shake into a box to remove the exess so the paint doesn't drip once the tips are dry I will check balance if one side is a bit heavy I redip the light side pretty simple doesnt take to long.
I use a pencil to make a reference line so the tips are even as well.

thanks BigTim

I do the Rustoleum. Lasts a good while, up to a year, and I fly from grass.

is prop balancing a necessity? ne home made way to do it ?

Prop balancing reduces vibration and helps with wear reduction some. but painting tips and removing the sharp mold flashing is a safety MUST DO. A 40 size prop say 10/6 at WOT moves at the same speed as a .45 cal. bullet. OUCH EVEN!

Hey Bingofield my props don't last a year--sometimes not more than a day.

At one time, I was buying APC props in six pack bags..

We fly on grass, actually, a grass runway for full-scale. We cut the grass as often as we can, but it's still, well, more like straw than grass. It grows fast after a rainfall, so often, we get these long chutes of this straw like stuff that is almost as hard as wood, and is about a foot long. At times trainers can't take off. My pattern bird will pretty much chop thorugh that stuff, but it leaves the props green with stains, and takes paint right off. That mix of green from the grass and the red from the fuel (S&W 15% has a red die in the oil) makes for a pretty awful looking plane after a few flights.

So, I don't paint the props.

CGr.

I have a finger tip balancer, and suspended it between a pair of magnets glued to a couple of pieces of scap wood. Since the finger balancer ends are pointy, and the magnets are very hard, there is almost no drag, and you get a very reasonable balance from it. Forget trying to drill a dimple in the magnet, way too hard. (Tried it).

I just use yellow nailpolish. It chips with groundstrikes, and if you're rough with the chickenstick, but otherwise, works well. I touch up chips a couple times a year, and all is good.

J

Hummmm! I must be doing something wrong--my props don't last a year. Hummm!!! wonder if it has something to do with bad landings, hitting objects, tipping over and running into the retainer fence.

I use any high quality clear to spray the back of the light blade, I do not like painting the tips or sanding any away on my props, but I also use much bigger props than most, I think my smallest motor swings a 22 x 10 and my biggest I run a 34 x 12 on. On the giant carbon props I put a piece of Velcro (fuzzy side ) on the prop hub of the light side and drop ca on it till it balances, then the big 6in spinner covers it up.