plug making material
11-14-2005, 12:17 AM
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plug making material
Has anybody used MDF (medium density fiber board) as a plug making material?
It sands quite nice but is much harder than foam. It is homogeneous and sands evenly.
I made a small plug to make a custom fuel tank and it turned out OK. I cut out cross sections out of 1 inch material and then laminated them all together to make a 2 litre kerosene fuel tank. I haven't pulled a mold off it yet.
I coated the thing in professional grade varathane and sanded it out real nice.
The varathane sands quite well without cloging the sandpaper too bad.
The only problem so far is the glue layer between the 1 inch cross sections are starting to show thru the varathane when you run your fingers across it. (3 coats of varathane)
I am new to the composite scene and am looking for info.
thanks
Jon
It sands quite nice but is much harder than foam. It is homogeneous and sands evenly.
I made a small plug to make a custom fuel tank and it turned out OK. I cut out cross sections out of 1 inch material and then laminated them all together to make a 2 litre kerosene fuel tank. I haven't pulled a mold off it yet.
I coated the thing in professional grade varathane and sanded it out real nice.
The varathane sands quite well without cloging the sandpaper too bad.
The only problem so far is the glue layer between the 1 inch cross sections are starting to show thru the varathane when you run your fingers across it. (3 coats of varathane)
I am new to the composite scene and am looking for info.
thanks
Jon
01-02-2006, 12:43 AM
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RE: plug making material
ORIGINAL: Jon Dahlgren
Has anybody used MDF (medium density fiber board) as a plug making material?
It sands quite nice but is much harder than foam. It is homogeneous and sands evenly.
I made a small plug to make a custom fuel tank and it turned out OK. I cut out cross sections out of 1 inch material and then laminated them all together to make a 2 litre kerosene fuel tank. I haven't pulled a mold off it yet.
I coated the thing in professional grade varathane and sanded it out real nice.
The varathane sands quite well without cloging the sandpaper too bad.
The only problem so far is the glue layer between the 1 inch cross sections are starting to show thru the varathane when you run your fingers across it. (3 coats of varathane)
I am new to the composite scene and am looking for info.
thanks
Jon
Has anybody used MDF (medium density fiber board) as a plug making material?
It sands quite nice but is much harder than foam. It is homogeneous and sands evenly.
I made a small plug to make a custom fuel tank and it turned out OK. I cut out cross sections out of 1 inch material and then laminated them all together to make a 2 litre kerosene fuel tank. I haven't pulled a mold off it yet.
I coated the thing in professional grade varathane and sanded it out real nice.
The varathane sands quite well without cloging the sandpaper too bad.
The only problem so far is the glue layer between the 1 inch cross sections are starting to show thru the varathane when you run your fingers across it. (3 coats of varathane)
I am new to the composite scene and am looking for info.
thanks
Jon
I just made a scale retractable tail for a P-51 and I used 4 pieces of aluminum that I machined and a piece of hard wood that I also machined and glued them together for the final plug, its awesome. This I'll be using sand casting to make the actual part..
Roger
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01-02-2006, 09:14 AM
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RE: plug making material
I have actually used the green foam to form the part and then take drywall compound and fill it in. Sands easily then take west systems epoxy and brush it on and sand smooth you can now prime it and get a gloss finish. When making a plug for a pattern airplane I actually build it out of balsa and brush epoxy thined over 1/2 glass cloth to make it rigid. Then prime it with about a full cup of primer sanding it to get it smooth reprime sand again then paint it with single stage PPG paint for the finish.
01-03-2006, 09:18 PM
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RE: plug making material
ORIGINAL: lfalsetto
I have actually used the green foam to form the part and then take drywall compound and fill it in.
I have actually used the green foam to form the part and then take drywall compound and fill it in.
Happy flying,
Jimmy
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01-03-2006, 10:41 PM
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RE: plug making material
Jimmy,
I was thinking of using the pink insulation foam on my next project but I was concerned that it might melt when expoxy was applied to it. Is this a problem? What type of expoxy do you use? Thanks for your help.
Lynn
I was thinking of using the pink insulation foam on my next project but I was concerned that it might melt when expoxy was applied to it. Is this a problem? What type of expoxy do you use? Thanks for your help.
Lynn
01-03-2006, 11:14 PM
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RE: plug making material
ORIGINAL: RCER23
Jimmy,
I was thinking of using the pink insulation foam on my next project but I was concerned that it might melt when expoxy was applied to it. Is this a problem? What type of expoxy do you use? Thanks for your help.
Lynn
Jimmy,
I was thinking of using the pink insulation foam on my next project but I was concerned that it might melt when expoxy was applied to it. Is this a problem? What type of expoxy do you use? Thanks for your help.
Lynn
Roger
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01-03-2006, 11:20 PM
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RE: plug making material
Lynn,
I use MGS for my projects but I'm not particular about what I use to make molds. You can use any kind of laminating resin (epoxy) on the foam without fear of damaging it. Polyester products will destroy the foam.
Happy flying,
Jimmy
I use MGS for my projects but I'm not particular about what I use to make molds. You can use any kind of laminating resin (epoxy) on the foam without fear of damaging it. Polyester products will destroy the foam.
Happy flying,
Jimmy
