Hi Guys,

Just a quick question ive noticed on alot of threads saying when using CA Hinges on ARTF's to pin them ??............. i guess u put a pin throu the middle on both sides ??? is thier any special type of pin and i gather u cut it off after its in the hinges ???? will somthing like small screws work instead of pins ??????

Thx in advance for anyinfo, its just ive just used CA on all my planes and after reading all the threads about some comming off i think i want to try to make them a bit more secure...

'Pins' generally refers to round toothipcs. I usually predrill a hole of apropriate size and use polyurethane glue on the moistened pic (I never use CA hinges. I generally use pinned hinges or sewn, gapless hinges which, of course, don't need pinning), though most people use CA to secure the pins.

The thread I started about the ultra stick 120 I said was going to use the t-pins pushed into the balsa and then cut them off to make sure the hinges stay, last year I lost my ultra stick 60 cause I screwed up getting enough ca soaked into the hinge and coming in for landing at the far end the rudder came off and plane smacked power pole and the stick fell into hundreds of pieces, so I got my stick 120 and I am starting today on it.

1st, if CA hinges are installed PROPERLY they work just as well as other type hinges and are as durable. The key to installing CA hinges properly to drill a small hole in the center of the slot for the hinge. This allows the CA to penetrate the hinge and wood properly.

What many people do to "pin" hinges is to insert the hinge in the slot, then put a toothpick through the wood, the hinge and out the other side (a pilot hole made with a large T pin usually works very well ), THEN apply the CA to the hinge. The CA bonds the hinge, toothpick and surrounding wood into one unit. The part of the toothpick sticking out is cut off flush after the CA has cured.

In case you are not sure, use ONLY THIN CA for CA hinges.

There is a technique involved with positioning the CA hinges using pins. The pins
are pushed right through the middle of the hinges, so when you stick them in
the slots they go exactly half-way into each side. After everything is positioned
you remove the pins and apply the CA.

I had a couple early failures with the CA hinges from using too much CA. If you
use too much CA, it will fill the fibers of the hinge, and it will lose it's flexibility
and break. Now I only use two drops on each side, that is plenty.

FBD.