Wayne Miller

Hi,

What happened to the quality of the rubber bands used for RC?

I started flying in the late 60's and used rubber bands as wing hold downs. I always put my bands in a mixture of raw oatmeal (porridge) and corn starch after flying to absorb the fuel residue. I stopped regular flying in 82 and this is when I had bought my last batch from Indy RC.

Since I was getting back into the hobby last year, I wanted to be safe and bought new rubber bands. I found these new bands wrinkle, stretch and break after only a few flights.

Therefore, I had to go back to my original bands. Even though they are "old" they were stored in the porridge/corn starch mixture and are still more reliable then the new bands. They resist breaking, stretching, and wrinkling and last many, many flights.

I have found that replacing the new bands every flight does not improve their reliability, sometimes they even break when being installed for the first time. I don't feel safe using them.

Can anyone tell me what the old reliable bands were made of, and perhaps where new ones with the same material can be purchased?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne Miller

Tall Paul

Yeah, the junk available today is disgraceful!
I use a lot of small gum-bands, bought in bulk at Staples.. These self-destruct just after the first stretch, even if stretched only once!
One of the amusements at the field is listening to the bands snap while the plane is just sitting there. (We're easily amused!)

Wayne Miller

Hi Tall Paul,

Thanks for the back up.

I've read a lot of posts where people say "Just use new bands and throw the old ones away." I guess they never experienced the "quality" bands we used to get.

Hopefully someone will be able to point us in the right direction for quality bands.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne

voyager_663rd

although I used the #64's (like you did) from staples, etc I found that they were only good for a flight or two. Went back to the LHS for their bands. Worked as expected. 6-8 with no (or not very much) fatigue.

I only use them that many times on SPAD's tho.

Live Wire

They might be hard to find but SIGs still sell quality rubber bands I use #64 & 67s put them in talc after use and use again. Looks like other bands are for paper boy's.

[8D]

Wayne Miller

Hi,

I just saw an add for AeroTrend bands at Great Hobbies, the description states they are fuel proof. Has anyone tried these?

Thanks,

Wayne

Scar

My Feedback: (3)

I bought some two years ago from Richmond RC. Haven't thrown one away or broken it yet. Use them on a Senorita trainer, for instruction, and on my Herr P-51, and an electric X250. The box has the Canada maple leaf on it, I believe.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

Wayne Miller

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the input, perhaps we have found good bands!

Fly4Fun,

Wayne

LSP972

My Feedback: (13)

As noted above, Sig still sells the "good ones". I just got a pound box of #67s from them.

Of course, I paid the whopping sum of $11. That will elicit screams of dismay from our more economical-minded brethren, but these bands last.

The thin, squirrely crap one finds in bulk bags at office supply stores are, well... crap.

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

Just like everything else in this country, we demand them to be cheaper, so we get junk. [:'(] The quality of just about everything has fallen. Look at toys. Remember when toonka trucks were built to last for decades? Now your lucky if you kid doesn't destroy them in a week.

rayb

My Feedback: (13)

Another testimonial for Sig rubber bands. They are high quality.
Ray