leading edge
 

what is the easiest was to sand the leading edge to shape it I have a greatplanes sanding tool but the leading edge is to wide I building a uproad 40 is there something I can make to sand leading edges thanks michael

RE: leading edge
 

You can do several things. If it is completly square and you need it round you could start off by using a hand plane or a carving knife and trim it down closer to the right shape. You can make your own sanding block just by cutting a block of wood to the right width and then you can staple a peice of sand paper around the block. When the sandpaper is all used up you can rip it off and staple on a new peice.

RE: leading edge
 

I usually knock off the bulk with a corse sanding bar or razor plane and then use a sheet of sandpaper like you're shining shoes

RE: leading edge
 

Wing LE? What MinnFlyer said.

Aileron, elevator & rudder - I scribe a line parallel to the LE on both to and bottom. The line identifies where I want the shape to end - maybe 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 inch depending on thickness of surface. I use a 22" Great Planes sanding block with 80 grit paper. If I'm after a rounded LE then I bevel the top and bottom of the LE - about half way to the center of the LE and half way to the lines. I then use the sanding bar to gradually round over the sections until it meets profile that I want. If I'm after a pointed LE then I bevel the top and bottom all the way to the center of the LE and the "end lines".

hth - good luck.

RE: leading edge
 

I don't use the le tool. waist of money...

I draw a centerline on the le and then slowley with thin amounts razor plane off to get it close, then I gently sand with a small block with 50 grit glued to the block. Then I sand with 100 grit with a 3 foot bar. Gets a very straight leading edge. Finish up as minnflier says with some fine, 220 ish paper like yer polishing. When in the final stages u can hit it with some 400-600 to get it really smooth...

Unwanted scratches can be lifted with a little water. It will swell the scratch. Let air dry then sand it. Gone...

RE: leading edge
 

You can easily build one to fit your desired shape like the 3 on the right. The red one on the left is adjustable and "was" made by Great Plains but it doesn't show on Towers site now. Might be they quit making them.

RE: leading edge
 

mikegordon thats what i am talking about I thought about cutting a pice of round pvc pipe and cut it in half and use my heat gun to shape it to what I want and glue sand paper to it it would be easy to make and I guess I could re use it

RE: leading edge
 

I haven't built the UR in years but I still have that cool little LE shape template they have on the plans, I made one out of light ply because I built so many of that plane. I just used a palm or finishing sander, electric. Then I started using a small plane to remove the bulk wood, then the electric then using the template tool I hand sanded to the finished shape. Takes about an hour to get it just right.

RE: leading edge
 

+1 more for the "shoe shine" technique mentioned by Minn