homemade prop balancer!
02-26-2009 | 07:08 PM
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From: bellingham,
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homemade prop balancer!
Here are some pictures of my magnetic prop balancer!
I just upgraded it with much more powerful magnets.
Note the dowel spacer at the bottom. it has a screw on one end which allows me to spread the arms.
The spinner touches the magnet on one side and the spacer adjusts so there is a 1/8" gap on the other end.
Very little friction...
Works great it shows this prop has one heavy blade..
I found these magnets inside a computer hard drive. Trashing some old PCs at work. These two magnets control the read write heads.
Doesnt look pretty but cost about $4 for the manual prop balancer which is meant to use between your thumbs but I found there was to much friction...
Steve
I just upgraded it with much more powerful magnets.
Note the dowel spacer at the bottom. it has a screw on one end which allows me to spread the arms.
The spinner touches the magnet on one side and the spacer adjusts so there is a 1/8" gap on the other end.
Very little friction...
Works great it shows this prop has one heavy blade..
I found these magnets inside a computer hard drive. Trashing some old PCs at work. These two magnets control the read write heads.
Doesnt look pretty but cost about $4 for the manual prop balancer which is meant to use between your thumbs but I found there was to much friction...
Steve
02-26-2009 | 09:26 PM
#2
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
That's a cool idea, looks good to me. I used to use those discs or CDs that they sent me in the mail. I would cut them in half and mount them in slots I cut into some balsa sheets. Works pretty good too. I just set the finger balancer in the center holes. Not as nice as yours but it worked. I really like free.
02-26-2009 | 09:45 PM
#3
RE: homemade prop balancer!
You can get good results with a "T" pin held at a 10º angle into the prop-shaft hole with the point at the spot that the prop balances fore-and-aft (and eventually side-to-side when you're done) or a 2" finishing nail driven halfway into the side of your workbench at the same angle. It ain't rocket science. 
02-26-2009 | 11:12 PM
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
ORIGINAL: Popriv
Here are some pictures of my magnetic prop balancer!
I just upgraded it with much more powerful magnets.
Note the dowel spacer at the bottom. it has a screw on one end which allows me to spread the arms.
The spinner touches the magnet on one side and the spacer adjusts so there is a 1/8" gap on the other end.
Very little friction...
Works great it shows this prop has one heavy blade..
I found these magnets inside a computer hard drive. Trashing some old PCs at work. These two magnets control the read write heads.
Doesnt look pretty but cost about $4 for the manual prop balancer which is meant to use between your thumbs but I found there was to much friction...
Steve
Here are some pictures of my magnetic prop balancer!
I just upgraded it with much more powerful magnets.
Note the dowel spacer at the bottom. it has a screw on one end which allows me to spread the arms.
The spinner touches the magnet on one side and the spacer adjusts so there is a 1/8" gap on the other end.
Very little friction...
Works great it shows this prop has one heavy blade..
I found these magnets inside a computer hard drive. Trashing some old PCs at work. These two magnets control the read write heads.
Doesnt look pretty but cost about $4 for the manual prop balancer which is meant to use between your thumbs but I found there was to much friction...
Steve
02-27-2009 | 09:13 AM
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From: bellingham,
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
[/quote]
This is an improvement over the Top Flite Balancer
[/quote]
Cheaper?
I've never used the top flight balancer so I'm not sure how it works.
Just something to play with....
I painted one tip white to get the prop to balance.
Steve
02-27-2009 | 09:19 AM
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From: bellingham,
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
I was a little surprised that magnets alone support it.
originally I had one side supported by a little notch...That worked too but when I found these magnets I wanted to try this...
Steve
02-27-2009 | 10:58 AM
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From: bellingham,
MA
RE: homemade prop balancer!
I have a bunch of old hard drives, I may make some balancers and donate them to my club to include in their monthly raffles. We all buy tickets at the end of the meeting and winners choose from an assortment of small prizes. I dont know who is donating the stuff...
Other than the magnets and the hand spinner there's nothing to building this.
These magnets are very strong, I'm sure they would hold any size prop. just a question of how high you make the side supports.
Then again, my wife would probably want me to finish that railing on the stairs thats been unfinished since fall....
pop
Other than the magnets and the hand spinner there's nothing to building this.
These magnets are very strong, I'm sure they would hold any size prop. just a question of how high you make the side supports.
Then again, my wife would probably want me to finish that railing on the stairs thats been unfinished since fall....
pop
02-27-2009 | 12:12 PM
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From: Strongsville,
OH
RE: homemade prop balancer!
Very cool! But I have a question. What do you do when the prop is not balanced, but the imbalance is not one of the prop blades. In other words, the prop will settle with the blades at 3 and 9 o'clock, but there is a definite heavy side on the hub? There isn't much to work with on the hub?
02-27-2009 | 01:24 PM
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From: bellingham,
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
ORIGINAL: bigal126
Very cool! But I have a question. What do you do when the prop is not balanced, but the imbalance is not one of the prop blades. In other words, the prop will settle with the blades at 3 and 9 o'clock, but there is a definite heavy side on the hub? There isn't much to work with on the hub?
Very cool! But I have a question. What do you do when the prop is not balanced, but the imbalance is not one of the prop blades. In other words, the prop will settle with the blades at 3 and 9 o'clock, but there is a definite heavy side on the hub? There isn't much to work with on the hub?
This is whats happining to me now.
1st it always stopped with the same blade down.
I painted the light end of the prop tip with white paint.
now it always stops at 3 and 9 o'clock with the white tip blade always at the 9 o'clock position...
I even turned the prop holder around and get the same results.
Part of my problem may be that I had to use a 'tapered" reamer to enlarge the hole and maybe I was off a little in my reaming?
I do think its close enought though.
Pop
02-27-2009 | 07:40 PM
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
Sand or use some clear fuel proof laquer paint. Seems to work pretty well for me. Beam height doesn't mater, all I need to know is the heavy side. I think mine is only 6 or 8 inches tall. The balancer beams!!!
Don't say a word!!
Don't say a word!!
03-04-2009 | 12:16 PM
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From: Poolesville, MD
RE: homemade prop balancer!
What an excellent way to use those magnets!
I have a bunch that I've pulled out and they are VERY strong, much more so than most commercial balancers.
Thanks for the idea.
I have a bunch that I've pulled out and they are VERY strong, much more so than most commercial balancers.
Thanks for the idea.
03-04-2009 | 01:15 PM
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From: bellingham,
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
ORIGINAL: opjose
What an excellent way to use those magnets!
I have a bunch that I've pulled out and they are VERY strong, much more so than most commercial balancers.
Thanks for the idea.
What an excellent way to use those magnets!
I have a bunch that I've pulled out and they are VERY strong, much more so than most commercial balancers.
Thanks for the idea.
I'm cleaning up the design of the stand and will make a bunch for the guys in the club if they want them?
They will have to by the finger balancer themselves.
My original magnets were very weak and if I wasn't careful spinning it the whole prop would fall.
with these magnets they wont let go without a fight...
I'll post a pic of the new design...
Steve
03-04-2009 | 02:04 PM
#15
RE: homemade prop balancer!
Question:
Are these magnets need to be in particular shape like with a hole in the middle to center the shaft?
Are they repel or attract the shaft?
Thanks
Alex
sorry, got that already.[8D]
Are these magnets need to be in particular shape like with a hole in the middle to center the shaft?
Are they repel or attract the shaft?
Thanks
Alex
sorry, got that already.[8D]
06-11-2009 | 12:58 PM
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From: Helena,
MT
RE: homemade prop balancer!
I have made the same sort of thing but here is a little trick to make it more sensitive. Put 2 magnets on one side and only one magnet on the other side. When balancing, have the prop attached to the one magnet side. This puts less pressure from the balancing shaft to the magnet in contact therefore reducing the friction surface that much more. It also will hold the free end a bit straighter because there is more force pulling on it than just one magnet but there is not any more friction. I found that before I did this that the shaft would walk a little bit on the magnet, now I get now walk. I purchased my magnets from Ace hardware, the super strong earth magnets, for about $3.99. I would have used free ones if I had them available.</p>
06-11-2009 | 01:27 PM
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
I just found a source of free magnets and was wondering if putting two together would increase the magnitism???
I havent had time to test but it sounds like two would be stronger.
Funny, I had given away my only spinners and just today found another one at the LHS so I can balance my new prop tonight...
Thanks for the tip.
Steve
I havent had time to test but it sounds like two would be stronger.
Funny, I had given away my only spinners and just today found another one at the LHS so I can balance my new prop tonight...
Thanks for the tip.
Steve
ORIGINAL: flybyjohn
I have made the same sort of thing but here is a little trick to make it more sensitive. Put 2 magnets on one side and only one magnet on the other side. When balancing, have the prop attached to the one magnet side. This puts less pressure from the balancing shaft to the magnet in contact therefore reducing the friction surface that much more. It also will hold the free end a bit straighter because there is more force pulling on it than just one magnet but there is not any more friction. I found that before I did this that the shaft would walk a little bit on the magnet, now I get now walk. I purchased my magnets from Ace hardware, the super strong earth magnets, for about $3.99. I would have used free ones if I had them available.</p>
I have made the same sort of thing but here is a little trick to make it more sensitive. Put 2 magnets on one side and only one magnet on the other side. When balancing, have the prop attached to the one magnet side. This puts less pressure from the balancing shaft to the magnet in contact therefore reducing the friction surface that much more. It also will hold the free end a bit straighter because there is more force pulling on it than just one magnet but there is not any more friction. I found that before I did this that the shaft would walk a little bit on the magnet, now I get now walk. I purchased my magnets from Ace hardware, the super strong earth magnets, for about $3.99. I would have used free ones if I had them available.</p>
06-11-2009 | 02:10 PM
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RE: homemade prop balancer!
heres an idea
get this http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXHY62&P=Vand this http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXHY63&P=V
and you should have an adjustable (for prop sizes) balancer
and its not much more expensive than the handheld one
or you could just get a piece of wire, two wheel collars and do the same thing, although that may mess up your balance
get this http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXHY62&P=Vand this http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXHY63&P=V
and you should have an adjustable (for prop sizes) balancer
and its not much more expensive than the handheld one
or you could just get a piece of wire, two wheel collars and do the same thing, although that may mess up your balance
