Hello all,

I just finished drilling the holes for my 3/16th hingepoints and was wondering what is used for glueing them in. I have seen epoxy, probond, pacer hinge glue, and a couple other things used. I was just wondering what would give me the best bond. Thanks!!

I have always used Epoxy(30 min) on pattern and giantscale planes without any failures.

The easiest way to do this is go to the pharmacy and buy some 10cc syringes(without needles.) Mix the epoxy or probond or whaterver you are using. Suck the glue intot he syringe using the plunger.

Just stick the nipple of the syring in each hole and use enough glue to have it come out, then pull back a smidgen. place the hinge point. Dothis to all the holes on the surface before you attach, and you control the amount of glue used as well as where the glue goes!!!!!

Ed

Regular yellow glue(wood glue). I have used it and I guess erroneously was warned not to use epoxy. Looks like it works. I have also used the syringe method. Works great!

Let me start something here,which work better the ca hinges or the points? I was going to use the robarts on my next plane but can't decide which hinges to use thanx

CTDave,
The hinge points will last longer, but CA hinges are easier to install (if you use a GP electric hinge cutter). The bending back and forth can eventually break the CA hinges in two. I have never had this happen, but I'm told it does happen (try a search on CA Hinges). None of my planes are old enough, nor do I fly 3-D, which flexes the hinges to more extreme angles. I have used the pinned Du-Bro and Great Planes hinges as well, which I liked, too. I have a couple projects in the works in which I plan to use the hinge points.

I used Gorilla Glue Polyurethane Glue. The great thing about using a polyurethane based glue is that it expands. The glue expands and fills is all that space around the ridges of the hinge point. Plus it's lighter than epoxy and much easier to dig out of the pin joint.

CA hinges are great too. I'll probably stick with those from now on, but I only fly 40-60 sized airplanes. Anything quarter scale or more and you need to be using pinned hinges. 40-60 sized, CA hinges are perfect. If you install them properly, they'll outlast the airplane.

Reid

I'm afraid I lost an elevator from my Giles 202 due to CA hinges actually breaking (not pulling out, which normally happens in a failure). Luckily the whole elevator side came off, and I was able to land it on the other elevator half (I had two elevator servos).

I now use Robart hinges!

One thing I would add .. dip the middle of the hinge point in Vaseline to stop the epoxy from sticking the hinge together when assembling. It works great!

-David C.

thanx,I think I will try the points on my next project Heck I might even fill the slots on this one and try them on this one haha thanx again ctdave

David mentioned a great point about some Vaseline jelly in the joint area. I usually brush a little Vaseline jelly on the hinge joint then hit it with hobby heat gun to melt it .This lets the Vaseline penetrate inside, and with a little exercising the hinge while the Vaseline is cooling off the joint becomes immune to epoxy and also is permanently lubricated. To install the hinges I get a toothpick and put some epoxy inside the hinge hole while going around to make sure the walls are covered with epoxy then put some epoxy on the bottom of the hinge leg and push it in. The excess epoxy that comes out ( a good sign that you have enough) is wiped off. I have never used anything else but 30 min epoxy but I was thinking may be trying poly glue see how it work.

I did a few tests with poly glue on hinge points and was not happy. I was very careful not to use too much glue, but it still epanded to the point of fouling the hinge requiring quite a bit of work to clean up the hinge knuckle. But! The hinge was glued in so well that when I did a pull test, I literally ripped thhe hinge in half before the hinge pulled out of the balsa. I'm going to stick with epoxy. It's easy to use and won't foul the knuckle like the poly does.

Just my .02

John