Worldraft

Hi you all

Well I'm curious to find out what is the most popular style of ply.
Replies are allowed because I'd like to know more if you have more to say.

Jean

Helijack

You have lots of size choices, no material choices.

Myself I like to work in the 1/16-1/8 range, maybe some 3/16 and I use lite and aircraft plys.

For example I am scratching a pretty fair sized model, 8' wing span. 1/64 for the wing ribs, 1/8 aircraft for the major ribs at the root, cockpit floor is 1/8 lite ply, firewall is 3/16 aircraft ply with 1/8 lite ply supports, all bulkheads are 1/8 lite ply.

So, I cannot choose one, I apply each type for the necessary strength to weight ratio for any given platform.
Jack

KidEpoxy

We dont have much call for 3/8" in the 1/2A cox 049 world
I hit 1/16 but as said, different grades for different tasks... and sometimes a bit of doubling

jvigani

I actually use a lot of 1/64 for my electrics. Then its a toss between 1/32 and 1/8. 1/16 occasionally.

Worldraft

Thats great guys and once again what I'm looking for was what U guys use the most, in other words when building a plane if U use say 1/4 ply at 50% and say 1/8 at 25% then the other 25% is all the others then the button to be click is or are 1/4 & 1/8, or just 1/4.

Jean

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

1/64, 1/32, 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8. Sometimes 1/16 and 3/16, just depends. I have some 1/2 but havent gotten to that project yet. 3/32 and 1/8 lite ply shows up pretty often in kits. I keep a 12x48 slab of 1/8 lite ply around for general light structure work. Sorry, I guess this wasnt that helpful.
Edwin

Worldraft

Every little bit count said the old lady when she pisted in the Sea
Jean

Helijack

Ok, lets go this way,
When I go buy ply, I buy
A 12x12x1/64
2 12x48x1/8 lite ply
1 12x48x1/16 lite ply
1 12x48x1/16 aircraft ply
2 12x48x1/8 aircraft ply

Often I will laminate those, sometimes with carbon fiber or glass.
J

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Helijack,
Thats a good idea. I was talking to guy a few years back about his racing planes. He's been known to take 1/4" foam sheet and laminate sheet carbon fiber or fiberglass onto the it and use that instead of wood for formers inside. Its so light weight I couldnt begin to guess.
Edwin

funkworks

..easy. I scratch build mostly .40-.60 size models and I use 1/8'' lite ply about 95% of the time for various parts. For firewalls, I laminate two sheets of 1/8'' to make things simple and strong.

Worldraft

Well I guess that the most common Ply is the 1/8 an in second place comes the ¼ with 1/16 close after. After the holidays I'm going to ask about light and standard ply. You might say I'm a freak for surveys, but I really like to know what U guys use and what U think is the best and where it's used.
To all of U and your families have fantastic holidays and be back after the holidays, which mean watch out for the other guy & Oh don’t drink and drive.
Thanks for the wonderful company
Jean

perttime

Hey, come on: what ply you use must depend on the use.

What you need for the firewall of a 150cc aerobat is different from what you need to reinforce a parkflyer.

fledermaus

What about balsa ply? I've replaced thicker balsa sheet components in kits with equivalent thicknesses of 3-ply balsa that I made myself. For example, sheet rudders can be stiffened by using balsa ply and they will resist warping.

I don't use lite ply because it really isn't very strong. A home-made laminate of balsa and thin birch ply is lighter and stronger. And birch ply is stronger when strength is needed.

I have bought 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 birch ply, on the principle that you can make 5/32, 3/16 and 1/4 as needed from these.

Worldraft

Well your right in what your saying but this survay was to find out what ply was mostly used and I think it has been concluded that 1/8, 1/4 and some 1/16 was mostly used. Obveously they are being used but not as the most common. Thanks again guys for your input
Jean