Can I use something else like a small screw driver or something like that. I've never balanced one before, am I just looking for one side to be heavy?

Just use the tip of a sharpened wood pencil. But the little Dubro balancer has been real nice to me. You only have to buy it once yet can use it many many times.

im using this one
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK247&P=7

Yeah, the screw driver method will probably get it close enough. After you're into the hobby awhile, you'll find yourself buying nifty little gadgets like a prop balancer just because it makes it a little easier, and does a little better job. I typically don't balance props 12" and smaller, but then I use APC and MAS props that are usually balanced fairly well. For props larger than 12", I am more likely to take the time to balance them.

It all depends on how much of a perfectionist you are and what is it worth to you

I use this one by placing it on the top flat surface of my vise, and it will roll to the side that is heavy. Just open the vice enough to where the balancer just sits in between the two halves without touching.

I bought the cheap balancer that you hold between your thumbs.
I found it didnt work that well.

I converted this to a magnetic balancer.

instead of between the thumbs.

I made a stand just wider than the balancer. one side rests on a support and the other side is supported my a magnet I mounted on the stand. Kinda like what they sell but no extra cost. This worked very well as it would spin and spin with the heavy side always pointing down when it stopped.

I have some props to balance so I'm going to pull it out and make a few improvements to it as I have found some stronger magnets inside of some old Hard drives I dissasembled..

I'm cheap and enjoy making these kind of things from scratch...


steve

so... it is not necessary to balance props smaller than that? I have an OS .40 LA and I was told bye the club members that it was "mandatory" to balance the prop; it uses a 10 X 6... but I actually found a website that said the same thing, that it was not necessary with small props... do you think an unbalanced prop can damage this engine?

I've been flying my 40 size planes and my tiger60 for the past 2 years and have never worried about balanceing them. witch the biggest I got was a 13-6. Now I have an engine that I'm going to use wood props around the 17-6 size, and they will need to be balanced.

It never hurts to check the balance. The glow engines we use are not perfectly balanced, and we get lots of vibration just from the engine. IMO, as long as the smaller props are fairly well balanced (as most APC and MAS props are), then fine tuning the balance won't get you a noticeable reduction in vibration. The larger props have a greater weight and a much larger moment, and balancing them can be much more important. I use 12" limit as a rule of thumb because most of my .40-.60 size planes only use up to about a 12" prop, and I've never worried too much about checking balance for them. With my larger planes, using 16" props and larger, I always check the prop balance. Oh, and with helicopter blades, regardless of size, I always balance them!

Can you put up some pics? I enjoy making the homemade tools and stuff.

Will post pics tonight!

Like others said, it may not be needed with my smaller 11" props but fun to build another mousetrap!

My current setup, the magnet isnt strong enough and if I spin it to hard it would fall.
Also want to improve the other end support for less friction.
But it does work as it will now spin for quite a few revolutions...

I also want to paint the tips white for better visabilaty.
Steve