Just like the title says. Im putting together the minnow and used some plastic hinges instead of the fiber ones. But I did get CA in just about every hinge. It still moves ok but it squeaks. It could move a lot nicer if that bit of ca wasnt there. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Erik

Any solvent that you use could potentially weaken the CA holding the hinge in place. I'd just try to lubricate the hinges with a little vaseline.

A very very little drop of debonder then pin the hinges to be extra sure ...

Not a problem, put a few drops of acetone right on the pin and work it in. Follow it with enough acetone to flush out some of the loosened CA. Then add a few drops of penetrating oil.

The Acetone won't be able to travel very far at all into the slot holding the hinge, and even if it does, once it evaporates, the CA will re-harden.

Thanks guys. I picked up the wing today and tried to move the aileron and it was real tight. [&o] Ill try it out

Mike, the next time I get that to work will be the first time. Then again, I have never gotten just A little CA on my hinge. When I do something it's forever. I always end up cutting out the hinge and putting in another one close.
That's why I have learned to squirt a bit of oil on my hinge center before I glue. I really don't squirt, I have A little cup and squirt some oil in the cup and fold the hinge then soak the hing link or center in the oil then glue.
So far so good. I even got away on my last build that way with Gorilla Glue and Hinge Pins. Just goes to show, sometimes luck is better then skill!!

Well guys looking at the hinges on my wing I dont like the gap left between the surfaces. What are my chances of getting the suckers loose and starting over again?

Also do you think a 30min epoxy would be easier on me as far as not getting the crap all in the hinges and getting the fit I want?

Acetone and plastic isn't a good combination. The acetone will attack plastic and weaken it. If you already used it, check your hinges every flight. If I'm not mistaken many plastics will become brittle over time and start to break down. You must keep a close eye on the hinges for awhile.

If you haven't used acetone yet, try to pop out the CA around the hinge with an exacto being careful not to cut the plastic. It will take awhile then use vasiline and keep working the hinges.

If you have a gap, just seal it with clear covering or clear packing tape. I use vasoline on the hinge to prevent the adhesive from setting in and causing problems. This should work for CA or Epoxy. I've always used 30 minute epoxy for hinges unless I use CA hinges designed for CA specifically.

You may cause more problems trying to cut out the hinges and redoing them. It really depends on how bad it is. Do you have pics?

LLD

Well I just got mad and cut the hinges. The gap was bad. Heres some pics. What should I do now? [:@]

what do you think about these type of hinges?
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK117&P=7

El, those are great hinge pins and have there place, I use them A lot. If you had problems with the type you just used then the pins may not be for you either. Planes have to be set up in advance for hinge pins too and there can be some problems with foam cores so you may want to give pins some thought and study.
With the Dubro type like you used you may want to buy some hinge glue instead of CA. Just read the back of the bottle and it tells you how to use it. Putting A bit of oil or greese along the brass hinge pin helps keep any over flow from sticking. The hinge glue can be wiped with just water. If you just cut A small channel into the leading or trailing edge these hinges can be installed with almost no gap.

Thanks Gray. I think Ill hit up the hardware store and hobby shop today. Greasin up the hinge prob would have helped me out a lot. Thanks for the tips guys.

any more tips? Bout to use the Ca debonder to get the old hinges out. We'll see how it goes

If you are going to use pivot point hinges, I would just trim the old hinges and put some matching white covering over top.Don't worry about removing them nobody will know the difference. Then drill your hole next to the old hing about 1/4 inch to the inside (fuse side).

These types of hinges are tricky. They must be kept straight and in perfect line. I would dry fit them a couple of times to make certain they are in alignment and not binding. You may also need to trim out some balsa so they fit into the joint a bit to reduce the gap. Failing to do this and a couple of dry tests to get it right and you will be less than happy with the results. You will also need to use 100 grit sandpaper to roughen up the hinge barbs. You don't want to be agressive with the sandpaper. Just twist the hinge in it a couple times to rough it up so the epoxy will bond to it better.

Use 30 minute epoxy. Allows for good working time. Use vasoline and not oil. The Vasoline will stay where you put it. I also mix in some milled fiberglass. I apply the epoxy mix to a tooth pic and coat the hinge hole well. Then I apply epoxy to the hinge and insert.

Critical...Don't be in a hurry. Only do one side at a time, meaning all the hinges on one wing first, then come back and glue the Aileron side on the same wing. Only mix enough epoxy to do one wing at a time since you haven't done this before and take your time to get it right. Make certain you have dry fit the parts to get the alignment and fit to your liking...I use masking tape to hold the aileron to the wing in place while it dries.

Hope this helps...

LLD

Yowzer! You need to listen to soothing misic while building or somehing.


At this point I would say remove all traces of hinges. Use epoxy thickened with balsa dust to fill the wounds. You have seriously compromised the structure of the wood with those excavations! Find some Nylon hinges and USE EPOXY to attach them. CA is best for Mylar/fiber hinges but NOT Nylon or plastic. After all, it comes in a plastic bottle and doesn't stick to that. ;-)

Thanks for the tips. I have officially ruined the right wing. Its going to be the test bed for getting it right the next time. Time to order a new wing set. Oh well its only money right...[:@]

Oh and in case you were wondering how I ruined the wing. I used the great planes slot maker to make some new slots. It worked great except for the fact I couldnt get a straight line in the aileron leading edge. So when I fit the aileron it was to high on one end. Im about to pay someone to put these damn hinges in. I can tear a car apart but dont dare let me near a hinge and glue. Aaarrgggg!!

Practice on scrap balsa...No need to glue it in, just try to get it right from a dry type run...

I'll bet the first time you worked on your car, it was just as frusterating at times...I've worked on many cars...

LLD

Vasoline is another good item to use, so is greese or any number of other slick items. The key is to just not go nuts with the stuff and keep it on/in the hinged area only. Pacer Hinge glue is perhaps the better item for the flat hinges. Epoxy is OK for hinge pins and if the holes are wobbled out some then expanding Gorrila glue can also be used. If the holes are nice and snug then again, I like the Pacer. Acetone will not melt A Dubro hinge or any hinge made with that type of plastic.
Now the picture and the 1000 word thing. They make slot and hole guides just for installing hinges. I'm showing you three types. The little white thing on the right is another cool little tool, you just slide it down your TE or LE and it makes A shallow groove, I have gotten mine out of old kits but I think I have seen them on the rack at my LHS.
For hinge pins you need to cut A slot so the hinge of the wood will be flat with no gaps. I have also used A burr on both the LE and TE to round the wood so the pin goes flat.
Hing pins are the easiest to use [MHO} but can't always be used. On this 4* I have flat hinges in the ailerons and pins on the elevators and rudder. Why you ask?? Because I'm teaching A student how to build and hinging is part of building!

I appreciate all the tips fellas. And thanks for taking the time to email me as well. I think I may have got a rhythm now. The dremel works wonders for making a fine dent in the control surface to make them flush. The one aileron has about 10 hinges in it now. We'll see what happens when it counts. And I think Im going to use the robart pins. They were on the minnow I did a lil damage to and are very tight.

And from now on, use 30-minute epoxy to put hinges in with. CA should only be used on CA Hinges.

BTW, for all of you guys who use pinned hinges, I found a new product that is really good for this. It's a paste, not a liquid so it stays where you put it and any excess can easily be wiped off.

I did a spot about it in this review: (Scroll down to the Assembly section)

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1009

when i do ca hinges i always wet a towel with acetone and put it on the opposite side i am putting the glue in from it helps to keep excess glue off the gaps,if you do get any on the covering you have a soaked rag handy.