I've heard second or third hand, that Aqua Net hair spray works well as a balsa treatment prior to the application of iron-on covering.

I understand that it works similar to Balsa-Rite.

Does anyone have experience with this?

BillBo

I don't know about that application but I know Aqua Net works
real well in a potato cannon, honestly! But seriously, I'd like to know the answer to the covering issue also, as I have a large
covering job coming up soon.

BlackBart

Has anyone tried this yet?

Here's my take on this....

The theory behind using hairspray is to glue-down any balsa dust. Problem is, you're gluing it down with a water-soluable spray that is intended to hold hair down for about 6 hours (before humidity washes it away).

Wipe your wing with a tack cloth before covering and you won't need it. If you still feel the need to glue down the dust, use Balsarite, dope, or something else that's a little more permanent.

Works really really good in my cannon. Don't smoke if you are spraying it. Can you say FIREBALL?

So, what do you fire your potatos at?? Planks or helis..

Where do you get the Balsarite? I have 2 cans of the fabric formula but haven't been able to get the film formula for 9 months! I'm getting ready to cover my 1/3 scale Cap and need find something to help the covering adhere to the light ply and spackle. Any opinions on thinned nitrate dope, thinned white glue or a solvent for Balsarite Fabric formula?
Thanks,
Chris

I know some guys that use hair spray to seal the wood pores prior to sheeting a wing. It is suppose to keep the wood from absorbing to much glue. Thus helping to keep the weight down. I dont know how it works as far as using it prior to applying film.

Try it out on a test piece of wood and lets us know. Experimentation is the spice of a hobbyist.

I use a 50/50 mix of regular Elmers white glue and water. Wipe on the sheeting with foam brush and go right behind it with paper towel to avoid heavy soaking of wood. Let dry overnight and sand with 400 to 600 grit sand paper, tack cloth and cover. This alows the wood to be sanded nice and smooth and helps covering bond with wood.

I use a generic latex polyurethane sanding sealer. Put 2 coats on with light sanding before and after. Seals the grain very well, does not add weight ( or so little that my scale couldn't tell the difference0 and UltraCoat seems to stick better, but not so much that you can't remove it and work with it (unlike Balsarite).

Since using it, my planes also don't seem to the covering loosening in the sun. Try it. a quart costs about $8.

If you come into my shop you will find a can of super extra hold Aqua Net hair spray, now whether or not it will work as asked I don't know, but it sure does have another function. You see I really don't like Bee's, like I really hate them to death and they don't like me and in the summer I have the door open when in the shop. Well they always seem to find that door and come in and start buzzing me, not good!!!! I wait till they land and then give them a good hit of the hair spray and now they are one grounded bee, couple more hits and they are a very dead and very stiff Bee!!!!! :devious:

BryanB's method works the best. You won't belive how smooth the wood gets after this method. Try it.

a good bee spray that works instantly and is not a pesticide is plain old rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.spray a bee with either the mist or stream and they immediatly curl up dead.you can also use the spray to remove oily residue from your plane or help free up an old engine.