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Tutorial
Glue Tutorial
By David
Niedzielski and Stephen Niedzielski.
Have you ever wondered what the best glue is for tissuing airplanes?
Do you want to know the reason why to use carpenter glue on balsa
joints? In this short tutorial we will give you these answers and
more as you read this short tutorial.
There are several popular glue methods:
"Ambroid" cement available at most hobby shops and K-mart is
readily thinned and cleaned with acetone. It works well for gluing
wood to wood and is somewhat flexible. Joints can be softened for
repairs at a later date. Sands well during finishing if not globbed
on. This is a waterproof glue.
Yellow woodworker's or aliphatic glue, available from most
craft and K-mart type stores. We thin this with 25-40% water. It holds
well for gluing wood and tissue. This is quite flexible depending
on how much you thin it. It can be easily cut through with a sharp
razor knife and sands well. This glue is water resistant but not waterproof
and requires doping the surface to improve water resistance or for
outdoor flying.
Instant glue also known as cyanoacrylate glue, comes in different
viscosities or reacting speeds, typically fast or thin, medium and
thick or slow. Another helpful tool is an accelerator which improves
reaction. Applying this type of glue can be done via a small diameter
tube or nipple on the end of a bottle allowing a small drop to be
placed where you want it or by placing several drops on some plastic
and dipping the end of the wood to be butt joined into the glue followed
by putting the piece into it's location. The thin type of glue works
best with the tube, however the dipping method is better for the thicker
types. This glue is heavier but very strong, the joint is stiff, it
does not sand easily, but it is waterproof. It does not work for applying
tissue. The accelerator can be used by spraying it where you have
just finished applying the glue or by putting the glue on one piece
and spraying the other surface to be jointed. Make sure you are ready
as the joint sets very quickly.
Glue sticks. For tissuing planes we recommend the purplish
glue sticks you can find just about anywhere. We like the UHU
brand. Just spread it evenly along the wood and lay the dampened
tissue on carefully and pull taut. Another option involves using thinned
white glue. We paint this on the wood and then lay the dampened tissue
in place. This method requires water proofing the tissue if there
is a risk of the tissue getting wet. Clear Krylon spray paint is our
choice.
Dope. And yet another technique is to paint several coats of
dope on the frame. After it dries, damp tissue is laid in place and
then dope is brushed on along the wood structure through the tissue.
After the tissue dries seal it with several coats of dope.
On a final note: Always remember to read the manufacturer's warning
label and follow their instructions. |
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