Epoxies and glues in general

What do you all like for currently available goop? I confess I sorta miss HobbyPoxy. What is the best that you have tried and all (you can include applications for each, etc. if you want to bother)?

John

When I first started this stuff, I did everything (and I mean everything) with Elmer's carpenter's glue. I "didn't have the money" for CA and Epoxy. In fact, when I first started using epoxy (I can't remember what I needed it for, but I did feel the need), I decided the large bottles at the LHS (Hangar 9) were "too expensive" at about CAD $15 for 4oz each of epoxy and hardner, so I bought the "cheap" 5 minute epoxy at Canadian Tire - $6 for a small syringe. It seemed to last a while, and that kept me happy for about a year. Then I decided to spring for some LHS-brand CA, which was about $12 for 50 grams. I still have about half of it, and I've used it already to build a few planes. Last year when I was first putting together my Ukey 40, I needed some 30-minute epoxy for the wings, but couldn't find anything of the sort at Canadian Tire, so I broke down and bought some at the LHS. Later last year, I also sprung for some Hangar 9 12-minute epoxy (probably to fix the Ukey).

What I've learned is this:

1. One glue won't do it all, especially carpenter's glue.
2. CA is amazing stuff - I can't believe I built my first two planes (a Skyray and a Flite Streak) entirely without it.
3. The "expensive" adhesives, such as CA and various epoxies, are actually less expensive overall, because you use so little, they last a long time. They also save so much time, it makes modeling a joy (okay, even more of a joy).
4. Don't try to "go cheap" on epoxy - get the good stuff targeted at modelers. If you try getting other kinds at the hardware store, you'll likely spend more in the long run.
5. An exception is something like JB Weld or JB Kwik - I've seen them at Canadian Tire for noticably less than the LHS.

My rant...

Tim

I havn't run out of Hobby Poxy yet. I did have some epoxy that was for finishing fishing rods, i.e. flexable, that I liked very much. I guess that's why I still have Hobby Poxy to use.

For general gluing I use PICA Gluit aliphatic glue (although it seems to be getting difficult to get), for heavy duty 'glue part A to part B'situations like bellcrank mounts I use Devcon 2-Ton Epoxy (that's what it's called) and for laminating and fuel proofing engine and tank areas I use West System epoxy. I also use the West product, mixed with microballoons for fillets.

Best, Hoovie

LAST EDITED ON Jul-06-03 AT 03:25 AM (CDT)
 
Missing the old HobbyPoxies, I have done unscientific destructive testing (intentionally pulling apart glued scrap maple, plywood, basswood, spruce and balsa parts) with about a dozen current epoxies including several of the leading "hobby" brands. The best I have found so far is Loctite Extra Time (2 hours working time, 24 hours to cure). It seems to be noticeably stronger than other slow cure epoxies, the wood always breaks before it does. The slow cure epoxies are stronger than the quicker cure types, and stronger than JB Weld. Titebond II seems to be the strongest white glue, though it dries an ugly yellow. I haven't tried PICA Gluit (can't find it), although Old Rusty Lines swears by it for his Yankee Nippers, so it must be great stuff.

Looks like a very nice Berryman design Super Twister. Am I correct? Also a very nice looking young lady holding it.
Bigiron

LAST EDITED ON Jul-06-03 AT 06:29 PM (CDT)
 
BigIron, thank you. She's the future JJ soulmate, twenty-some-odd years ago. Just-finished Super Twister weighed 15 ounces with ST C35; high-compression head from Bernie Vernau (his "Motivator" was one of the early monobooms). Pen bladder. Shortly after these photos were taken the future soulmate accidentally stepped on and trampled the starboard wing (oh, I can still feel the pain). Bird was rebuilt, but with a bad warp. It never flew and so still survives today, perched up on the workshop shelf where it oversees all current ongoing projects...

Con grats, and hope you didn't divorce her for stepping on your plane before you were even married. I have flown several of those Super Twisters. I still have two kits of them. One by Chip-Away-Models, and the other by Neilson-Lawrence(sp).
If you want to make it a better turning plane, add three or four inches of span right in the middle. Carl did that to several of his (as did I) before he designed the Phantasy which was the successor to the Super Twister. Carl Berryman was
, and still is, a real good friend of mine. I am starting to build a Phantasy, and it will have a Fox 36XBB on it as did Carl's.
Bigiron

:) BigIron, thanks for the Super Twister tip. I've heard that the kit model didn't turn as well with the smaller wings. I may build another one this winter (or maybe I'll get the Phantasy plans from Bare and do that one instead). I believe I saw Mr. Berryman fly when I was a young boy, maybe it was at the Nats or at one of the Glue Dobber contests I begged my Dad to cart me off to. (Hey, maybe I saw you, too!). He was a pretty impressive flyer, and I fell in luv with the ST. Please post a photo of your bird when it's done--