Hello all,

I was wondering what the differences were between using an Aliphatic Resin type of glue (All Elmers and the like) to fix foam on a busted park flyer (I am reffering to Graupner type foam on the Terry or Wingo etc) versus just using good old epoxy. Being new to this park flying buisiness (I will admit that I am hooked now though thanks to my Terry!) I assumed that one could use 5 min or 30 min epoxy sparringly to fix these planes. While flipping through the latest Backyard flyer, I noticed an article about repairing foam and the author seems to say something along the lines of "don't fall into the trap of fixing foam planes with 5 minute epoxy". Having garnered all of my RC plane experience in the glow world, Devcon 2 Ton epoxy is my best friend! The author recommends using thinned Aliphatic resin and household paper towels soaked in that mixture in lieu of epoxy and fiberglass cloth. Now, I know that Epoxy can be heavy, but if used sparingly, it should not present a weight problem. Did I miss the boat here or something? Or is Aliphatic resin that much lighter and or easier to work with? I need to fiberglass (or so I had hoped) the wing bolt bearers on my Terry. The wing is held on by only two bolts and they are positioned right next to each other. If I should by chance strike a wingtip on the ground or something ( I did this a lot getting used to my Terry, but I am trying like heck to avoid now because it wreaks such havoc on the fuselage!) a rather high leverage situation occurs where the wing can get cranked around the fuselage pivoting at the two bolts! It causes the two blind nuts that accept the wing bolts to be torn out of their holders. I have fixed this with 5 minute epoxy before and have had no real problem. I have come up with a brace made out of balsa that fits between the two wing bolt bearers that should hopefully keep them aligned. I am hoping to boltser this with some added reinforcement via glass cloth or paper towels. Which is better?


Thanks,

Baretta92

IMO If the aliphatic is able to completely dry it will be somewhat lighter than epoxy. Although epoxy is stronger aliphatic is stronger than any of the woods and foam we use in our planes, therefore there is no advantage to using epoxy, except that it cures somewhat quicker.

Good Q&A.

Sport-Pilot, Is there something else to say about the drying characteristics of the Aliphatic. You said "if it is able to completly dry".

Thanks,

Bill

If for expamle you were to glue plastic sheeting to foam I would not use aliphatic cause the water cannot dry through the plastic, however with wood sheeting it is no problem, though with ply I would wait a couple of days or so.

I have used Elmers Pro Bond on my Zagi with great results.

The problem of talking about glues is that there is just no accounting for the way other people see things! All of the glues mentioned here have pluses and minuses. I have used aliphatics, polyurethanes, and expoxies, all with various levels of success. How well each of them works depends on what we want them to do. Probably the best course of action is to gather scraps of the various foams, some balsa, and anything else you might want to glue and perform your own experiments. To say that one particular glue is BEST is dogmatic. Play with them all. Experience will be your best guide.

JT

Probond poly is great also the aliphatics is great and may others
I use all depending on strength needed and app the people above have said the same thing the different oils and greases
used for each purpose who knows your need now!!!

I rather like the ProBond... a very thin coat seems to go a long ways and like super strong air bubbles, weighs a bit less than the average epoxy job and seem to hold as good without the weight sneaking up on ya and gives ya plenty of time to get the parts exactly right on..... kw

how about microbaloon mixed with epoxy?