balsa pushrods
 

What is the best string or twine to use for wraping threaded rods on square balsa pushrods. I would appreciate hearing tips. Thanks LEL

RE: balsa pushrods
 

Basic sewing thread (many many times) and hit with CA.

Kurt

RE: balsa pushrods
 

+1
Have done it many times. Works great.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

As long as CA will stick to it, any string will become the strongest part of the pushrod. I use kite string because my daughter has about a mile of it.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

Back in the day I used unwaxed dental floss on 1/2 a stuff. Kite string on larger.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

I also use plain ol' sewing thread. Always have, always will

RE: balsa pushrods
 

I like a product called "Button Hole Thread". It's just a little thicker than regular thread.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

I too use floss, its always available. I use 30 min. epoxy brushed over it.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

Sewing thread and CA. I'm seeing several things here that may be better but I have a spool in my drawer I have been using for decades. I don't often use balsa sticks for controls but I have in the past. I found carbon fiber arrow shafts a lot better and they don't warp over time or require bracing.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

Yeah thread works, but you can use a 1" wide strip of Monokote or Ultracote and just wrap and iron around and around about 3 or 4 wraps of covering. Works about like heat shrink tubing. Easy, quick, and cheap.

The important thing is to select firm straight grained balsa (or dowel rod) and to toughen up the hole where the metal pushrod goes through the wood with some CA.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

The last kit I built had you build up hollow balsa pushrods from strips. They actually seem quite straight and stiff that way, especially for their weight.

RE: balsa pushrods
 

I use regular sewing thred with thin CA to secure the rods to the push rod. I would recomend using at least 1/4 dowels for the pushrods as I have had a balsa pushrod break under a flight load and ruin a plane. Also the balsa sticks will flex and could cause you trim problems. Good Luck, Dave

RE: balsa pushrods
 

A big thank you to all the guys who responded to my question about balsa pushrods. The outdoor sewing thread seems to work very well and took the CA quite nicely. I also have used kite string and non-waxed dental floss. The unwaxed floss is getting hard to find.