Balancing Props
 

I just bought my first plane which is supposed to be in this week and a prop to go with it. I was looking on the internet at props and then I scrolled down and saw all props need to be balanced before using. Is this true and will I have to buy a prop balancing device to balance it?
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Flyn' High, Real High

RE: Balancing Props
 

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Don't worry about it. Unless you're flying extreme speed planes, balancing is rarely necessary. I have been flying for most of my life, and to date, I have balanced 2 props (They didn't need it, but I got a prop balancer for Xmas and I was bored, so I played with it... the prop balancer that is :D )

RE: Balancing Props
 

Thanks alot! I knew what u were talking about. hahaha
I was just wondering. I was like damn. I have to buy more stuff.
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Flyn' High, Real High

RE: Balancing Props
 

I have a prop balancer. And I have used it a few times, but only for the props that I have bought since I got it. My existing stash of props were balanced my favorite way: Call up club president on a Saturday. Take all my props and new engine over to his house. Have him break in the new engine (since I was still relatively new at it), and between running sessions, he balanced all my props.

What I am saying is this: You can spend a lot of money on this hobby. Eventually you will get all of what I like to call my "nice to haves." The things that are nice to have, but things that you do not need to have to enjoy the hobby. Like prop balancer, quick field charger, electric starter, etc. On another thread, you mentioned talking to your instructor about the radio you were thinking about. I bet if you called him/her up, they would be more than happy to balance your prop, etc.

But as MinnFlyer stated, you do not need to balance props that often. Listen to what MinnFlyer tells you. He is a wealth of information. Just wait until he starts answering your questions with his famous drawings :D Then you know you have made it:)

RE: Balancing Props
 

Hahaha..cool Deal

RE: Balancing Props
 

THE most I have ever had a prop out was when I purchased a used 26x10 propeller.
To balance it, I added paint at the tip then wiped it off.
What was left in the pores of the wood, balanced the prop.
Basically it was not needed.

RE: Balancing Props
 

Want pictures? Ok, here's how I usually answer the "How do you balance a prop" question:

http://204.96.183.34/prop.gif

RE: Balancing Props
 

hahahahahahahaha.......That way of balanceing is cheaper then buying a device to balance it, but would probably take alittle longer.

RE: Balancing Props
 

You have your instructor balance your props? If a student of mine wanted to learn how, I would show them... So they could do it themselves-

I balance all props just to keep vibration, noise, and engine wear down... Only takes a minute- I use a magic marker on the light tip til it balances and off I go-

Not mandatory, but I enjoy it and I have that magnetic prop balancer from Tower and it is super precise---

Take care-