Since excess CA left on the hinges and hinge lines causes a lot of drag and premature failure of the hinges..... I ran across a pretty good way to clean them up. Deflect the movable surface all the way and put a few drops of CA solvent on the hinge. Take an old toothbrush and scrub away any glue that is right on the hinge. You will be surprised at how much freeer the hinges operate and how much more throw is available when they are not binding.

Ernie

Looks very good Ernie I will try your method.

Thanks

Lee

I'd be real careful doing that. It's possible that the solvent will get into the hinge and soften the bond. Next thing you know, you lose an elevator in the air.
Dennis-

People who still pin their hinges don't much worry about that.

Well they should (worry).. Pinning hinges is not compensation for poor gluing. [>:]

Nor did Ernie mention anything about pinning the hinges to compensate for loosening the joints.
Dennis-

I agree with you DB. I was replying to Frede2. Of course I may have misunderstood him as well and I apologize to all.

Heard of a good technique somewhere.
Take a regular old crayon, you know, Binney & Smith type and
rub a line on both side of the hinge at the flex line.
Insert in one surface and stick a T pin through the line
insert the mating surface and deflect and drip thin CA to the joint
The crayon wax prevents the CA from wicking into the hinge
flex point and keeps the hinge free to flex.
Pretty neat tip-Thanks who ever thought of it

>>I'd be real careful doing that. It's possible that the solvent will get into the hinge and soften the bond. Next thing you know, you lose an elevator in the air.
Dennis-


I understand your concern Dennis. In practice though it is almost impossible to loosen up fully cured CA with solvent. It does work marginally enough though to simply get the excess off of the hinge line with a toothbrush.

Also, the greater of the gremlins is sharp pieces of CA left on the hinge line that can cut and cause premature CA hinge failure.

Obviously pinned hinges do not have this problem and Amen to that!

Ernie

I say do whatever works for you. I really like the crayon on the hinge line trick. I'll have to try that.

Thought I'd add my $0.02 worth (although prolly worth a lot less).

DO NOT USE THE TOOTHBRUSH AFTERWARDS!!

Any other useful implements for rc come out of Arkansas? We know the toothbrush was invented there, otherwise they'd call it a TEETHbrush!

LOL LOL LOL LOL

I say do whatever works for you. I really like the crayon on the hinge line trick. I'll have to try that.

No good. The CA hinge is layered and the CA will flow under the wax. It will keep it off the surface though.

Correct, Jerry....the CA wicks easily under the wax. If I get too
much CA on the hinge....I quickly wick it up with the edge of a
matchbook cover, or a 3X5 card. If you have CA "standing" on
the hinge that has not wicked into the balsa...wick it up before
it hardens....or the hinge will be too stiff, and will fail. []

Dave.