CA substitute_Hinges
 

Those of you that have problems with CA might be interested in the experiment I recently ran on hinges.

The hinge material designed for use with CA is mylar layered between polyester. I ran an experiment and confirmed that you can install this hinge just as well using Titebond III.

To prove it for my own piece of mind I took some scrap and grooved it with my power hinger (makes for a good fitting slot) then rubbed in some Titebond on the hinge and installed it. The next day I applied a lot of force and finally managed to pull the pieces apart but examination of the hinge showed that what failed was the balsa, not the glue.

Another benefit is that the Titebond can be installed neatly. You don't have the problem of having to keep the CA off your covering. It's a heck of a lot cheaper too (:-)

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

Heckuva lot slower too. I can drop CA on my hinges and toss the new airplane in the truck. Time I get to the field (10 minutes later) I can fly it.

Thanks for the tip though. [sm=thumbup.gif]

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

I think most people are installing the CA hinges incorrectly and that's why they are having problems. The slot in the hinge material is NOT supposed to align with the gap between the fixed and mobile portion of the surface, but is supposed to run at 90 degrees to the hingeline. The slot is there to allow the CA to wick into the material and out to the balsa.
btw, white glue won't wick into the slot like the CA glue will.

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

After reading your responses I reread my post. I wasn't clear when I used the term "have problems". I was referring to those of us that have developed an allergic reaction to CA rather than the actual installation.

As to speed, I build my planes from kits so I'm a long way from being ready to fly when I'm hinging (:-).

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

Hinging is the last thing I do--be it a kit or an ARF. I usually end up building a plane 2 or 3 trimes by the time it's ready to fly. With kits, I build the entire model without covering. Then strip the servos and linkages out of it. Cover the model and install the gear again. Last thing I do is install the control surfaces and drop the CA in the hinges. Connect the clevis for the pushrod and toss it in the truck. Off to the field I go.

I am lucky. I do not suffer from the severe allergic reactions to CA that some modelers do. It's irritating, but not enough to make me stop using it.

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

I use the dubro type of plastic hinges most the time or hinge pins. Like RC I may have assembled my planes several times and have the slots cut. Hinging I do just at the covering stage. I like to pin in my hinges with tooth picks too, never had one fail.
People seem to forget that you can Get the CA in the orderless type for A bit more money. I have had problems with CA myself and found the orderless is much better on me and haven't had any problems with it.
I use several types of glues but my main one has always been CA. I never did like waiting for my Ambroids to dry when I was A kid and still don't.

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

I too use the hinge pin type and I also use the good old round tooth picks as insurance. That is I did until I built my Senior Telemaster. Re-pinning the hinges after covering was a royal pain in the behind and there are a LOT of hinges.

I'm now building the Elder40 and the supplied hinges are meant for CA and would be a breeze to install EXCEPT for the fact that I don't just have a "problem" with CA. In my case the "problem" grew into a full blown allergic reaction to even very small exposures of CA. I have heard that oderless CA is less problematic but I'm not brave enough to try it (:-).

I certainly prefer the CA type of hinges and will most likely be using them from now on but without the CA adhesive.

RE: CA substitute_Hinges
 

I still remember hinging my Sr. Tele. and I had A candy drop plus flaps. Dang lot of hinges. On that one I used plastic hinges too but not the good dubro type. Those were solid plastic without the brass pin. My reaction to CA was A constant cold that the local Drs. were treating as URI. Once I figured it all out and quit building for A week or so I could breath again, couldn't glue even A small part with CA for A while. That's why today I have so many different types of glue on my work bench. I still buy my thin CA in the large bottle and just refill my 2 oz. bottle from that. I just watch it very close today.