What is the preferred method of gluing leading and training edges to a foam and balsa wing. I have always used epoxy, but was thinking there may be a better way.

Thanks in advance

Shawn

I really like using the Polyurethane glues. They expand as they cure and penetrate into the foam. Moisten the leading edge and the foam and tape on the leading edge with plenty of tape. It works great. A bonus is that it sands really good too. Some examples is Gorilla Glue, Elmers Ulimate glue etc.

Very similar to the question above.

What about gluing harwood bulkheads to fiberglass fuselage?

David

BVM Aeropoxy or Hysol 9462 from Locktite Corp. I like it so much I use it in places where I used regular epoxy before.

Ditto on everything Mike said. FYI, you can also use the poly glues on bulkheads, however, it's not as "clean" an installation becuase of the expanding properties of the poly glue.

Eddie Weeks has used a marine adhesive you can get at walmart for bulkheads.

Good Luck,

I bet you that marine glue is MarineTex. It is a lot stronger than epoxy, but very hard to sand.

I find Aeropoxy too expensive. There has got to be a more friendly alternative.

Try Part number 74695A71 at mcmaster carr. The gun is $20.00 and tips are a buck a piece. The glue is $10.00 a cartridge at mcmaster carr. That's about $35.00 entry fee. In a jet, I typically use 15 tips. Spread the cost over 3 jets and you're at $25.00 to $30.00 a jet for peace of mind that the bulkheads are secure. Considering that you pay $10.00 at the LHS for 5 minute epoxy twice a month for fixing all your little banger planes, the investment into the right stuff is chump change when you consider anyone of the jets I've been associated with have flown more than 20 flights in a typical weekend of flying.

Aeropoxy really is the right product to use for this application. In learning this hobby I've cut pretty much every corner than can be cut. I always end up spending twice as much cause I buy the cheap product first and then end up spending again "upgrading". That's probably where you are at. I won't shortcut anything anymore cause the result is piss poor performance. Like the time I put Hitec 5645 Digital Servos in the ailerons of my Isobar. Damn things would not center. For $80.00 more I could have put 8411's like I did on the elevator. I ended up putting 8411's in the ailerons and performance was perfect. I know have two POS hitec's that I wouldn't put in a 40 size trainer. They are crap, Even though marketed as a "Digital Servo". Might be digital, but IMO they got the 0's and 1's all screwed up.

Sean

Im using JR D411's on my F-16 and have no complaints so far, however they are no match for 8411's.

I'll probably buy some Aeropoxy to try it out. But Im not too happy with BVM right now. I recieved some landing gear spare parts and the machining was aweful, totally damaged my main gear strut. I fixed the problem somewhat but I did a ****ty job.

David

I also agree, cheap turns out to be expensive.

You don't have to use BVM Aeropoxy, use Loctite 9462. It's less expensive and as far as anyone can tell it is "EXACTLY" the same product. Even though it's 9462 we call it aeropoxy just like some people call generic soda pop "coke".

Where do you buy it Sean?

Well, I got lucky when Kevin Green put together a several thousand dollar order for us a few months back. He was able to get it for all of us at $6.00 a tube. That's the best price I ever saw.

If I really really need a tube I pay $13.00 at my LHS. If I can wait I order from Mcmaster Carr at $10.00 a tube.

The bottom line is I believe the product is worth it at any of those prices. My opinion is you simply need it and it's the cost of doing business (jet business). There's no way around if you want quality jets to fly you gotta pay quality dollars. Am I happy I spent $3000.00 this week for a pipe, gear, servo leads, servos, gear door sequencer, on board voltmeter, duralite batteries, check valves, flite metal, reciiver, fuel tanks etc for my Yellow F-15? Hell no. But I bought the best money can buy (that I know of) and when I get all this crap end of this week and taxi test my F-15 next week or two and fly it. I know that if anything happens to the airplane it's not becuase I cut any corners. I'll know that I did everythign that could be done to make it a successful jet.

I've only lost one airplane I cared about and it was last november (my isobar). The tail pipe failed in flight and it was the best tailpipe I know that money can buy (Tam's). I did everything I could to make that airplane successufl and I don't blame myself for the failure and I don't blame tam (entirely, I still think someone should have piped up and told me that the pipe could fail under the condition it was in, but that's another story and he didn't know or I'm sure he would have warned me).

Anyway, get the right product, and build it to be the best it can be. Even if that takes more time and more money. It's worth it in the end.

Sean's right on with his suggestions. Don't try to save $10 on a multi $K jet.

I bought the BVM aeropoxy kit and got in with Kevin when he bought 1 million tubes of Hysol for everybody (I like the grey 9640F better). Art's has a [link=http://www.arts-hobby.com/store/aboutitem.cfm?itemid=102&compid=1]starter kit[/link] for $40. The tips can be reused. Just pull the mixing helix out with pliers and put the tip and the helix into acetone. It will break down the epoxy and be ready for use the next time.

LOL, I had just heard about this tip a few weeks ago. I decided to try it but the way I remembered it was sticking the tip in acetone and then later pull the mixer out. Three completely busted mixers later I figured you must pull the mixer "BEFORE" you stick it in the acetone.

I tell you, someday I'm gonna write a book "the idiots guide to living as an idiot"

Regarding reusing the tips - if you have a compressed air source you don't even need to remove the mixer. I use a rubber-tipped air gun to blow out any glue (stick the end in a waded up paper towel), stick the end of the air gun in the other end (make sure it fits tight) and blow away for a couple seconds. Then just stick the tip in some acetone for next time.

Thanks to John Redman for telling me about storing them in acetone - now I use Aeropoxy/Hysol for even small jobs.

I have found that aluminum or glass cigar tubes are PERFECT for storing the tips in the acetone bath. I particularly enjoyed the process of finding just the right size tube.

FWIW, I hate running out of things while working on a project so bought about 10 tips when I ordered my starter kit from Art's. 3 months and four tubes of Hysol later, I am still using the first tip....

barry

Great tip! No pun intended. [8D]