Epoxy Voodoo.....
#1
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History: I built a Tiger 2 40 size and have been flying it with much enjoyment. I was enjoying myself a little too much and flew through a small sapling at the end the runway. Caused some minor damage to the leading edge of the wing and dislodged both pieces of wood holding in my wing bolts. Performed the repairs and the following week went up and flew the plane. Was kind to the plane at first, and then as the day wore on I performed some High G snaprolls and landed to see if the repairs to the wingbolts held up. I was fairly satisfied.
Cold weather and wind has hit and two weeks later I went to charge the plane and load it up for some Sunday flying. To my surprise I found both sets of wingbolt receptacles(?) and their reinforcing 1/4" triangle stock sitting on the ground. Obviously no flying today!
I used 60 minute locktite epoxy purchased from Lowes and was careful to mix the resin and hardener 50/50 through measurement. I sanded the surface of the fuslage and wing bolt holders to make sure to clean away the previous glue joints. I am assuming cold weather has some sort of influence on this as my plane is stored in the garage. The weather has only be in the mid 30s at night and the garage usually stays in the 50s.
Needless to say I am quite perplexed.
Check out my images.... Oh this was my first build, so the workmanship is a work in progress....
Cold weather and wind has hit and two weeks later I went to charge the plane and load it up for some Sunday flying. To my surprise I found both sets of wingbolt receptacles(?) and their reinforcing 1/4" triangle stock sitting on the ground. Obviously no flying today!
I used 60 minute locktite epoxy purchased from Lowes and was careful to mix the resin and hardener 50/50 through measurement. I sanded the surface of the fuslage and wing bolt holders to make sure to clean away the previous glue joints. I am assuming cold weather has some sort of influence on this as my plane is stored in the garage. The weather has only be in the mid 30s at night and the garage usually stays in the 50s.
Needless to say I am quite perplexed.
Check out my images.... Oh this was my first build, so the workmanship is a work in progress....
#3
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From: Birmingham, AL
Scrape and sand all epoxy off the wood and then spray on some Texize K2R. It wil pull the oil out of the wood. Rpeat until the wood is clear and then glue should hold fine.
Tom
Tom
#5
maybe not enough applied? After mixing and application, there is always some left,(at least when I mix), this alwys goes around the edges. more is better.
The warmer tempature as previously mentioned will help also.
The warmer tempature as previously mentioned will help also.
#6
Make sure that you have "wet contact" on both surfaces being epoxied. Wet? Apply a thin layer of epoxy to both surfaces. Press both surfaces together and "mush" them together and move them slightly back and forth. Pull the pieces apart and inspect both areas to be glued. You should see evidence of contact between the pieces when you pull them apart. If the entire mating surface is not contacting the other piece apply more epoxy to the "dry" areas and repeat. Once you know that the entire surface of both pieces is "wet" and mating with the other piece - clamp the pieces in place.
I will also use some "mechanical" binding with epoxy by drilling a series of 1/16" holes (or indents)on both of the mating surfaces. When you apply epoxy you will fill the holes (or indents) with epoxy. When the epoxy cures you will have created a matrix of hard epoxy that matches the holes. I have successfully used this technique when joining the horizontal stab to the fuse or the base of the rudder to the top of the fuse / horizontal stab.
I will also use some "mechanical" binding with epoxy by drilling a series of 1/16" holes (or indents)on both of the mating surfaces. When you apply epoxy you will fill the holes (or indents) with epoxy. When the epoxy cures you will have created a matrix of hard epoxy that matches the holes. I have successfully used this technique when joining the horizontal stab to the fuse or the base of the rudder to the top of the fuse / horizontal stab.



