AL KNIGHT WROTE in from his New Jersey workshop with a
great story starring his trusty 4-inch table saw.
“I was ripping a thick piece of balsa on the table saw that was
just sitting on a dust-covered table top. The wood jammed and the
saw proceeded to slide forward on the slippery dust and tried to
shorten my three middle fingers by about an inch. I grabbed a dirty
rag to stop me bleeding all over my model (who keeps sterile
dressings by the workbench?).
“I went upstairs and told my wife that I may need a bandage or
two and managed to drip blood on the living room carpet. After
some discussion in which I didn’t have any say, I found my self
being driven to the hospital emergency room by a friend.
“As we were entering the hospital a man
appeared with his leg wrapped in a bloody
rag and we opened the door for him to go in
first. Mistake! He had to only wait three
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Table-saw terror tale: your fingers might miss you if you’re gone
Also included in this column:
• Stuff everyone but Dave
already knows about: Model
Chocks, razorblade
dispensers, and kicker dripper
bottles
• Cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms
• A club makes its own local
rules about 2.4 GHz use and
field protocol
Unwrapping individually packed razorblades can be a
pain—literally. This package keeps them safe and
dispenses one at a time.
Was Dave the last to learn that dripping cyanoacrylate
accelerator beats spraying it? These bottles have a .025-inch tube
of plastic or steel.
The orange devices are Model Chocks. They’re not for engine run-up, but to keep your
model from rolling around during repairs or transportation.
hours for the doctor but we waited for four hours until the doctor
finished with him.
“When the doctor saw my wounds he said that my cuts would be
much easier to sew up as they were smoother than the fellow before
us as the chain saw he tried to cut his leg off with really ripped his
flesh up. I guess I won on that point. Anyway, after about thirty
July 2008 95
stitches and a mile of gauze I came home.
“Needless to say the table saw is now
firmly clamped down to the bench, but
whenever I look at it, that semi-circle slot in
the front of it [to allow the blade to tilt]
seems to be smiling at me and waiting. If
anyone ever strips the covering off the plane
I was working on at that time they will
wonder why the nice clean balsa has a lot of
red splotches on it.”
Al learned a few lessons but paid a big
price for the knowledge. We sometimes take
our power tools for granted because they are
pint-sized hobby versions, and we are just
making one cut anyway. Wrong attitude!
These machines deserve our utmost
attention and care if we don’t want to reenact
Al’s adventure. I wonder if his wife
ever got the carpet stains out?
This month we’ll try a new feature called
“Everybody But Dave Already Knew About
It.” The photographs show some keen items
that were news to me but have apparently
been around for years.
The orange plastic wheel supports are
called Model Chocks. They are designed to
keep your airplane from rolling off the
workbench and to keep it steady during
transportation. Little teeth are molded into
the bottom of each chock so it grabs onto
whatever blanket or rug you have in your
vehicle, and it keeps the aircraft from
sliding around. Clever!
The Sonic-Tronics people assure me that
this popular item is nothing new, but I had
never seen one. Perhaps it will be news to a
few readers also.
Next up is the yellow razorblade
dispenser. I use many of these blades, and
they usually come tightly wrapped in a
piece of cardboard. Peeling the blade out
sometimes results in bloodshed before I
even get to the building table, so I was
pleased to find this simple but brilliant
package.
A red button on top pushes one blade
out, and the rest stay safely inside, even if
you drop the box. You can even mount it on
the wall. The blades are decent “industrial”
quality—suitable for our purposes.
Enkay dispensers are apparently
common at hobby, hardware, and craftsupply
stores. Somehow I had never seen
them, but from now on there will be one on
my workbench.
Another picture shows a couple of
common cyanoacrylate-accelerator spray
bottles and a pair of dripper bottles. Many
modelers use accelerator to cure their
cyanoacrylate glue. It usually comes in a
handy “spritz” bottle.
I used it like that for years until my
friend Matt Keennon showed me a better
way. He gave me his dripper bottle to get
me to stop spraying glue fumes around
where he was working. Once I tried it, I was
hooked. Now my accelerator liquid lasts
longer and is much more accurately placed.
When I went around showing off this “new”
way of using cyanoacrylate, it seemed like
everyone else already knew about it.
These little bottles are available as
medical equipment (with a plastic tube) or
as industrial/hobby items (with a steel tube).
I think the metal tube works better, but
there is an impalement hazard that I
demonstrate regularly.
Different brands of accelerator have odors
that subjectively range from tolerable to
yucky. The dripper minimizes the smell to a
point where I can hardly tell which brand
I’m using, but, most importantly, it seems
to go a long way toward containing the
irritating cyanoacrylate fumes, which cause
allergic reactions in some people.
Al Knight is one of those people, and he
wrote in about his situation.
“I have read where some modelers have
stopped using cyanoacrylate glue due to
them getting an allergic reaction to the glue.
I thought of something like poison ivy or a
rash of some kind.
“Lately I have been having bouts of
what I call ‘hose nose’ in that my nose will
run non-stop like a fire hose for a day then
stop over-night. It doesn’t seem like a cold,
no fever or congestion, and it just
disappears over-night. My doctor isn’t any
help but he hasn’t had any other cases
involving CA use.
“I got to realizing that just before each
attack I had been in the shop the night
before and had been using CA quite a bit.
Naturally I have a small 6-inch electronic
case fan over one of my work benches, but I
move around the shop to other benches a lot
so the fan doesn’t help much. Have you
gotten any details on CA allergic
reactions?”
I’m no doctor, but I hear plenty of
anecdotal evidence and Al may be on the
right track.
Various cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms have been reported, including
runny nose, breathing problems, and severe
attacks that lead to hospitalization and a
complete end to cyanoacrylate use. I have a
mild sensitivity to cyanoacrylate, but
apparently this problem can build up
without many signs until a person reaches a
threshold, and then there is suddenly a
serious situation.
Some people are prone to cyanoacrylate
sensitivity and others never have a
problem. Not all doctors are familiar with
cyanoacrylate reactions, so if you find
yourself in this situation, be sure to
mention your exposure.
Remember the drip bottles? It has been
my experience that this method of curing
cyanoacrylate minimizes the fumes from
the curing process, and I find that with
proper ventilation I can build all the models
I want with no problems. In the past I had a
definite limit to how much gluing I could do
without getting a runny nose and headache.I recently mentioned that many fields still
require frequency control or transmitter
impound, even though some pilots are
using 2.4 GHz systems. Mike Jarina had
some thoughts about the subject.
He wrote:
“With the advent of the 2.4 GHz radios,
we are seeing a serious rise in the
complacent use of radios and frequency
boards. There are thousands upon
thousands of 72 and 27 MHz radios out
there and they are not going away anytime
soon. There is a need for continued radio
impounding and frequency boards.
“Too many times I have seen people
heading to the flight line without getting a
frequency pin. Upon questioning them they
tell me ‘It’s okay it is a 2.4 GHz radio.’ At
our field one must not only get their pin
but place their AMA card in the provided
slot to ensure that they are AMA members.
“The scenario we fear is that someone
is going to go to their car, put their 2.4
GHz radio away, pick up their 72 MHz
radio and turn it on without getting the pin.They will end up shooting down a fellow
modeler who is already flying on that
frequency.
“Until we build a new frequency board
we use frequency 1-10 or another unused
frequency for the 2.4 GHz radios. When we
do build the new frequency board, we areconsidering the alphabet for the 2.4 GHz
guys. Safety is no accident and it is not
going to hurt anyone to impound their
radio, no matter how much time is
involved.”
Mike is right; this is a time of transition,
and being overcautious about frequency
control is not out of line. There are now
fields that require 2.4 systems only and
prohibit 72 MHz radios because of close
proximity to another field.
As these new radios take hold, there will
be cases in which frequency control
becomes unneeded. But at a “mixed” site I
put my Spektrum transmitter into the
impound like everyone else does.
I got a note from Frank Baity, who said he
used one of my columns as a discussion
topic at his club meeting. Most clubs just
use it to mop up coffee spills, so I was
flattered.
Frank wrote:
“The diversity of interest in a club like
the West Alabama Aero Modelers is vast,
presenting safety challenges when it comes
time to fly. The mix of 3-D, foamy, fast
movers and helicopters was the topic in last
month’s meeting and the membership had a
productive discussion. Here are the safety
recommendations that came out of this
session:
“1. When flying, all pilots should be
within the pilot area and announce their
intentions, i.e. takeoff, landing, deadstick etc.
“2. A direction of flight will be
established, generally into the wind, and it
is recommended that all pilots attempt to
land and takeoff in this direction.
“3. When flying alone, 3-D flying
should be done from the runway centerline
out but when other models are in the air, 3-
D should be flown from the runway outer
edge and outward.
“4. When there are more than three
pilots flying (we have a max of five
limitation) it is recommended pilots use a
spotter to aid in situational awareness.
“5. Helicopters should not conduct
prolonged hovering on the runway unless
there are no other fixed wing models in
operation. Use the heli pad for hovering
practice.
“6. Engine running should only be
accomplished from the starting stands out
(toward the runway) and no powered taxi
back into the pit area.”
Frank’s group came up with some good
local rules that are fine-tuned to its field.
Posting these will be a reminder to
members and a courtesy to visiting pilots.
Sounds like a great bunch of modelers!
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
You can send paper mail to me at Box
7081, Van Nuys CA 91409. My E-mail
address is at the top of the column, but if
you use it, please put MA in the subject line
to set you apart from spammers and other
lower forms of life. MA
Sources:
Sonic-Tronics Inc.
(215) 635-4951
www.sonictronics.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 95,96,97,98
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 95,96,97,98
AL KNIGHT WROTE in from his New Jersey workshop with a
great story starring his trusty 4-inch table saw.
“I was ripping a thick piece of balsa on the table saw that was
just sitting on a dust-covered table top. The wood jammed and the
saw proceeded to slide forward on the slippery dust and tried to
shorten my three middle fingers by about an inch. I grabbed a dirty
rag to stop me bleeding all over my model (who keeps sterile
dressings by the workbench?).
“I went upstairs and told my wife that I may need a bandage or
two and managed to drip blood on the living room carpet. After
some discussion in which I didn’t have any say, I found my self
being driven to the hospital emergency room by a friend.
“As we were entering the hospital a man
appeared with his leg wrapped in a bloody
rag and we opened the door for him to go in
first. Mistake! He had to only wait three
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Table-saw terror tale: your fingers might miss you if you’re gone
Also included in this column:
• Stuff everyone but Dave
already knows about: Model
Chocks, razorblade
dispensers, and kicker dripper
bottles
• Cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms
• A club makes its own local
rules about 2.4 GHz use and
field protocol
Unwrapping individually packed razorblades can be a
pain—literally. This package keeps them safe and
dispenses one at a time.
Was Dave the last to learn that dripping cyanoacrylate
accelerator beats spraying it? These bottles have a .025-inch tube
of plastic or steel.
The orange devices are Model Chocks. They’re not for engine run-up, but to keep your
model from rolling around during repairs or transportation.
hours for the doctor but we waited for four hours until the doctor
finished with him.
“When the doctor saw my wounds he said that my cuts would be
much easier to sew up as they were smoother than the fellow before
us as the chain saw he tried to cut his leg off with really ripped his
flesh up. I guess I won on that point. Anyway, after about thirty
July 2008 95
stitches and a mile of gauze I came home.
“Needless to say the table saw is now
firmly clamped down to the bench, but
whenever I look at it, that semi-circle slot in
the front of it [to allow the blade to tilt]
seems to be smiling at me and waiting. If
anyone ever strips the covering off the plane
I was working on at that time they will
wonder why the nice clean balsa has a lot of
red splotches on it.”
Al learned a few lessons but paid a big
price for the knowledge. We sometimes take
our power tools for granted because they are
pint-sized hobby versions, and we are just
making one cut anyway. Wrong attitude!
These machines deserve our utmost
attention and care if we don’t want to reenact
Al’s adventure. I wonder if his wife
ever got the carpet stains out?
This month we’ll try a new feature called
“Everybody But Dave Already Knew About
It.” The photographs show some keen items
that were news to me but have apparently
been around for years.
The orange plastic wheel supports are
called Model Chocks. They are designed to
keep your airplane from rolling off the
workbench and to keep it steady during
transportation. Little teeth are molded into
the bottom of each chock so it grabs onto
whatever blanket or rug you have in your
vehicle, and it keeps the aircraft from
sliding around. Clever!
The Sonic-Tronics people assure me that
this popular item is nothing new, but I had
never seen one. Perhaps it will be news to a
few readers also.
Next up is the yellow razorblade
dispenser. I use many of these blades, and
they usually come tightly wrapped in a
piece of cardboard. Peeling the blade out
sometimes results in bloodshed before I
even get to the building table, so I was
pleased to find this simple but brilliant
package.
A red button on top pushes one blade
out, and the rest stay safely inside, even if
you drop the box. You can even mount it on
the wall. The blades are decent “industrial”
quality—suitable for our purposes.
Enkay dispensers are apparently
common at hobby, hardware, and craftsupply
stores. Somehow I had never seen
them, but from now on there will be one on
my workbench.
Another picture shows a couple of
common cyanoacrylate-accelerator spray
bottles and a pair of dripper bottles. Many
modelers use accelerator to cure their
cyanoacrylate glue. It usually comes in a
handy “spritz” bottle.
I used it like that for years until my
friend Matt Keennon showed me a better
way. He gave me his dripper bottle to get
me to stop spraying glue fumes around
where he was working. Once I tried it, I was
hooked. Now my accelerator liquid lasts
longer and is much more accurately placed.
When I went around showing off this “new”
way of using cyanoacrylate, it seemed like
everyone else already knew about it.
These little bottles are available as
medical equipment (with a plastic tube) or
as industrial/hobby items (with a steel tube).
I think the metal tube works better, but
there is an impalement hazard that I
demonstrate regularly.
Different brands of accelerator have odors
that subjectively range from tolerable to
yucky. The dripper minimizes the smell to a
point where I can hardly tell which brand
I’m using, but, most importantly, it seems
to go a long way toward containing the
irritating cyanoacrylate fumes, which cause
allergic reactions in some people.
Al Knight is one of those people, and he
wrote in about his situation.
“I have read where some modelers have
stopped using cyanoacrylate glue due to
them getting an allergic reaction to the glue.
I thought of something like poison ivy or a
rash of some kind.
“Lately I have been having bouts of
what I call ‘hose nose’ in that my nose will
run non-stop like a fire hose for a day then
stop over-night. It doesn’t seem like a cold,
no fever or congestion, and it just
disappears over-night. My doctor isn’t any
help but he hasn’t had any other cases
involving CA use.
“I got to realizing that just before each
attack I had been in the shop the night
before and had been using CA quite a bit.
Naturally I have a small 6-inch electronic
case fan over one of my work benches, but I
move around the shop to other benches a lot
so the fan doesn’t help much. Have you
gotten any details on CA allergic
reactions?”
I’m no doctor, but I hear plenty of
anecdotal evidence and Al may be on the
right track.
Various cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms have been reported, including
runny nose, breathing problems, and severe
attacks that lead to hospitalization and a
complete end to cyanoacrylate use. I have a
mild sensitivity to cyanoacrylate, but
apparently this problem can build up
without many signs until a person reaches a
threshold, and then there is suddenly a
serious situation.
Some people are prone to cyanoacrylate
sensitivity and others never have a
problem. Not all doctors are familiar with
cyanoacrylate reactions, so if you find
yourself in this situation, be sure to
mention your exposure.
Remember the drip bottles? It has been
my experience that this method of curing
cyanoacrylate minimizes the fumes from
the curing process, and I find that with
proper ventilation I can build all the models
I want with no problems. In the past I had a
definite limit to how much gluing I could do
without getting a runny nose and headache.I recently mentioned that many fields still
require frequency control or transmitter
impound, even though some pilots are
using 2.4 GHz systems. Mike Jarina had
some thoughts about the subject.
He wrote:
“With the advent of the 2.4 GHz radios,
we are seeing a serious rise in the
complacent use of radios and frequency
boards. There are thousands upon
thousands of 72 and 27 MHz radios out
there and they are not going away anytime
soon. There is a need for continued radio
impounding and frequency boards.
“Too many times I have seen people
heading to the flight line without getting a
frequency pin. Upon questioning them they
tell me ‘It’s okay it is a 2.4 GHz radio.’ At
our field one must not only get their pin
but place their AMA card in the provided
slot to ensure that they are AMA members.
“The scenario we fear is that someone
is going to go to their car, put their 2.4
GHz radio away, pick up their 72 MHz
radio and turn it on without getting the pin.They will end up shooting down a fellow
modeler who is already flying on that
frequency.
“Until we build a new frequency board
we use frequency 1-10 or another unused
frequency for the 2.4 GHz radios. When we
do build the new frequency board, we areconsidering the alphabet for the 2.4 GHz
guys. Safety is no accident and it is not
going to hurt anyone to impound their
radio, no matter how much time is
involved.”
Mike is right; this is a time of transition,
and being overcautious about frequency
control is not out of line. There are now
fields that require 2.4 systems only and
prohibit 72 MHz radios because of close
proximity to another field.
As these new radios take hold, there will
be cases in which frequency control
becomes unneeded. But at a “mixed” site I
put my Spektrum transmitter into the
impound like everyone else does.
I got a note from Frank Baity, who said he
used one of my columns as a discussion
topic at his club meeting. Most clubs just
use it to mop up coffee spills, so I was
flattered.
Frank wrote:
“The diversity of interest in a club like
the West Alabama Aero Modelers is vast,
presenting safety challenges when it comes
time to fly. The mix of 3-D, foamy, fast
movers and helicopters was the topic in last
month’s meeting and the membership had a
productive discussion. Here are the safety
recommendations that came out of this
session:
“1. When flying, all pilots should be
within the pilot area and announce their
intentions, i.e. takeoff, landing, deadstick etc.
“2. A direction of flight will be
established, generally into the wind, and it
is recommended that all pilots attempt to
land and takeoff in this direction.
“3. When flying alone, 3-D flying
should be done from the runway centerline
out but when other models are in the air, 3-
D should be flown from the runway outer
edge and outward.
“4. When there are more than three
pilots flying (we have a max of five
limitation) it is recommended pilots use a
spotter to aid in situational awareness.
“5. Helicopters should not conduct
prolonged hovering on the runway unless
there are no other fixed wing models in
operation. Use the heli pad for hovering
practice.
“6. Engine running should only be
accomplished from the starting stands out
(toward the runway) and no powered taxi
back into the pit area.”
Frank’s group came up with some good
local rules that are fine-tuned to its field.
Posting these will be a reminder to
members and a courtesy to visiting pilots.
Sounds like a great bunch of modelers!
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
You can send paper mail to me at Box
7081, Van Nuys CA 91409. My E-mail
address is at the top of the column, but if
you use it, please put MA in the subject line
to set you apart from spammers and other
lower forms of life. MA
Sources:
Sonic-Tronics Inc.
(215) 635-4951
www.sonictronics.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 95,96,97,98
AL KNIGHT WROTE in from his New Jersey workshop with a
great story starring his trusty 4-inch table saw.
“I was ripping a thick piece of balsa on the table saw that was
just sitting on a dust-covered table top. The wood jammed and the
saw proceeded to slide forward on the slippery dust and tried to
shorten my three middle fingers by about an inch. I grabbed a dirty
rag to stop me bleeding all over my model (who keeps sterile
dressings by the workbench?).
“I went upstairs and told my wife that I may need a bandage or
two and managed to drip blood on the living room carpet. After
some discussion in which I didn’t have any say, I found my self
being driven to the hospital emergency room by a friend.
“As we were entering the hospital a man
appeared with his leg wrapped in a bloody
rag and we opened the door for him to go in
first. Mistake! He had to only wait three
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Table-saw terror tale: your fingers might miss you if you’re gone
Also included in this column:
• Stuff everyone but Dave
already knows about: Model
Chocks, razorblade
dispensers, and kicker dripper
bottles
• Cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms
• A club makes its own local
rules about 2.4 GHz use and
field protocol
Unwrapping individually packed razorblades can be a
pain—literally. This package keeps them safe and
dispenses one at a time.
Was Dave the last to learn that dripping cyanoacrylate
accelerator beats spraying it? These bottles have a .025-inch tube
of plastic or steel.
The orange devices are Model Chocks. They’re not for engine run-up, but to keep your
model from rolling around during repairs or transportation.
hours for the doctor but we waited for four hours until the doctor
finished with him.
“When the doctor saw my wounds he said that my cuts would be
much easier to sew up as they were smoother than the fellow before
us as the chain saw he tried to cut his leg off with really ripped his
flesh up. I guess I won on that point. Anyway, after about thirty
July 2008 95
stitches and a mile of gauze I came home.
“Needless to say the table saw is now
firmly clamped down to the bench, but
whenever I look at it, that semi-circle slot in
the front of it [to allow the blade to tilt]
seems to be smiling at me and waiting. If
anyone ever strips the covering off the plane
I was working on at that time they will
wonder why the nice clean balsa has a lot of
red splotches on it.”
Al learned a few lessons but paid a big
price for the knowledge. We sometimes take
our power tools for granted because they are
pint-sized hobby versions, and we are just
making one cut anyway. Wrong attitude!
These machines deserve our utmost
attention and care if we don’t want to reenact
Al’s adventure. I wonder if his wife
ever got the carpet stains out?
This month we’ll try a new feature called
“Everybody But Dave Already Knew About
It.” The photographs show some keen items
that were news to me but have apparently
been around for years.
The orange plastic wheel supports are
called Model Chocks. They are designed to
keep your airplane from rolling off the
workbench and to keep it steady during
transportation. Little teeth are molded into
the bottom of each chock so it grabs onto
whatever blanket or rug you have in your
vehicle, and it keeps the aircraft from
sliding around. Clever!
The Sonic-Tronics people assure me that
this popular item is nothing new, but I had
never seen one. Perhaps it will be news to a
few readers also.
Next up is the yellow razorblade
dispenser. I use many of these blades, and
they usually come tightly wrapped in a
piece of cardboard. Peeling the blade out
sometimes results in bloodshed before I
even get to the building table, so I was
pleased to find this simple but brilliant
package.
A red button on top pushes one blade
out, and the rest stay safely inside, even if
you drop the box. You can even mount it on
the wall. The blades are decent “industrial”
quality—suitable for our purposes.
Enkay dispensers are apparently
common at hobby, hardware, and craftsupply
stores. Somehow I had never seen
them, but from now on there will be one on
my workbench.
Another picture shows a couple of
common cyanoacrylate-accelerator spray
bottles and a pair of dripper bottles. Many
modelers use accelerator to cure their
cyanoacrylate glue. It usually comes in a
handy “spritz” bottle.
I used it like that for years until my
friend Matt Keennon showed me a better
way. He gave me his dripper bottle to get
me to stop spraying glue fumes around
where he was working. Once I tried it, I was
hooked. Now my accelerator liquid lasts
longer and is much more accurately placed.
When I went around showing off this “new”
way of using cyanoacrylate, it seemed like
everyone else already knew about it.
These little bottles are available as
medical equipment (with a plastic tube) or
as industrial/hobby items (with a steel tube).
I think the metal tube works better, but
there is an impalement hazard that I
demonstrate regularly.
Different brands of accelerator have odors
that subjectively range from tolerable to
yucky. The dripper minimizes the smell to a
point where I can hardly tell which brand
I’m using, but, most importantly, it seems
to go a long way toward containing the
irritating cyanoacrylate fumes, which cause
allergic reactions in some people.
Al Knight is one of those people, and he
wrote in about his situation.
“I have read where some modelers have
stopped using cyanoacrylate glue due to
them getting an allergic reaction to the glue.
I thought of something like poison ivy or a
rash of some kind.
“Lately I have been having bouts of
what I call ‘hose nose’ in that my nose will
run non-stop like a fire hose for a day then
stop over-night. It doesn’t seem like a cold,
no fever or congestion, and it just
disappears over-night. My doctor isn’t any
help but he hasn’t had any other cases
involving CA use.
“I got to realizing that just before each
attack I had been in the shop the night
before and had been using CA quite a bit.
Naturally I have a small 6-inch electronic
case fan over one of my work benches, but I
move around the shop to other benches a lot
so the fan doesn’t help much. Have you
gotten any details on CA allergic
reactions?”
I’m no doctor, but I hear plenty of
anecdotal evidence and Al may be on the
right track.
Various cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms have been reported, including
runny nose, breathing problems, and severe
attacks that lead to hospitalization and a
complete end to cyanoacrylate use. I have a
mild sensitivity to cyanoacrylate, but
apparently this problem can build up
without many signs until a person reaches a
threshold, and then there is suddenly a
serious situation.
Some people are prone to cyanoacrylate
sensitivity and others never have a
problem. Not all doctors are familiar with
cyanoacrylate reactions, so if you find
yourself in this situation, be sure to
mention your exposure.
Remember the drip bottles? It has been
my experience that this method of curing
cyanoacrylate minimizes the fumes from
the curing process, and I find that with
proper ventilation I can build all the models
I want with no problems. In the past I had a
definite limit to how much gluing I could do
without getting a runny nose and headache.I recently mentioned that many fields still
require frequency control or transmitter
impound, even though some pilots are
using 2.4 GHz systems. Mike Jarina had
some thoughts about the subject.
He wrote:
“With the advent of the 2.4 GHz radios,
we are seeing a serious rise in the
complacent use of radios and frequency
boards. There are thousands upon
thousands of 72 and 27 MHz radios out
there and they are not going away anytime
soon. There is a need for continued radio
impounding and frequency boards.
“Too many times I have seen people
heading to the flight line without getting a
frequency pin. Upon questioning them they
tell me ‘It’s okay it is a 2.4 GHz radio.’ At
our field one must not only get their pin
but place their AMA card in the provided
slot to ensure that they are AMA members.
“The scenario we fear is that someone
is going to go to their car, put their 2.4
GHz radio away, pick up their 72 MHz
radio and turn it on without getting the pin.They will end up shooting down a fellow
modeler who is already flying on that
frequency.
“Until we build a new frequency board
we use frequency 1-10 or another unused
frequency for the 2.4 GHz radios. When we
do build the new frequency board, we areconsidering the alphabet for the 2.4 GHz
guys. Safety is no accident and it is not
going to hurt anyone to impound their
radio, no matter how much time is
involved.”
Mike is right; this is a time of transition,
and being overcautious about frequency
control is not out of line. There are now
fields that require 2.4 systems only and
prohibit 72 MHz radios because of close
proximity to another field.
As these new radios take hold, there will
be cases in which frequency control
becomes unneeded. But at a “mixed” site I
put my Spektrum transmitter into the
impound like everyone else does.
I got a note from Frank Baity, who said he
used one of my columns as a discussion
topic at his club meeting. Most clubs just
use it to mop up coffee spills, so I was
flattered.
Frank wrote:
“The diversity of interest in a club like
the West Alabama Aero Modelers is vast,
presenting safety challenges when it comes
time to fly. The mix of 3-D, foamy, fast
movers and helicopters was the topic in last
month’s meeting and the membership had a
productive discussion. Here are the safety
recommendations that came out of this
session:
“1. When flying, all pilots should be
within the pilot area and announce their
intentions, i.e. takeoff, landing, deadstick etc.
“2. A direction of flight will be
established, generally into the wind, and it
is recommended that all pilots attempt to
land and takeoff in this direction.
“3. When flying alone, 3-D flying
should be done from the runway centerline
out but when other models are in the air, 3-
D should be flown from the runway outer
edge and outward.
“4. When there are more than three
pilots flying (we have a max of five
limitation) it is recommended pilots use a
spotter to aid in situational awareness.
“5. Helicopters should not conduct
prolonged hovering on the runway unless
there are no other fixed wing models in
operation. Use the heli pad for hovering
practice.
“6. Engine running should only be
accomplished from the starting stands out
(toward the runway) and no powered taxi
back into the pit area.”
Frank’s group came up with some good
local rules that are fine-tuned to its field.
Posting these will be a reminder to
members and a courtesy to visiting pilots.
Sounds like a great bunch of modelers!
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
You can send paper mail to me at Box
7081, Van Nuys CA 91409. My E-mail
address is at the top of the column, but if
you use it, please put MA in the subject line
to set you apart from spammers and other
lower forms of life. MA
Sources:
Sonic-Tronics Inc.
(215) 635-4951
www.sonictronics.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 95,96,97,98
AL KNIGHT WROTE in from his New Jersey workshop with a
great story starring his trusty 4-inch table saw.
“I was ripping a thick piece of balsa on the table saw that was
just sitting on a dust-covered table top. The wood jammed and the
saw proceeded to slide forward on the slippery dust and tried to
shorten my three middle fingers by about an inch. I grabbed a dirty
rag to stop me bleeding all over my model (who keeps sterile
dressings by the workbench?).
“I went upstairs and told my wife that I may need a bandage or
two and managed to drip blood on the living room carpet. After
some discussion in which I didn’t have any say, I found my self
being driven to the hospital emergency room by a friend.
“As we were entering the hospital a man
appeared with his leg wrapped in a bloody
rag and we opened the door for him to go in
first. Mistake! He had to only wait three
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Table-saw terror tale: your fingers might miss you if you’re gone
Also included in this column:
• Stuff everyone but Dave
already knows about: Model
Chocks, razorblade
dispensers, and kicker dripper
bottles
• Cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms
• A club makes its own local
rules about 2.4 GHz use and
field protocol
Unwrapping individually packed razorblades can be a
pain—literally. This package keeps them safe and
dispenses one at a time.
Was Dave the last to learn that dripping cyanoacrylate
accelerator beats spraying it? These bottles have a .025-inch tube
of plastic or steel.
The orange devices are Model Chocks. They’re not for engine run-up, but to keep your
model from rolling around during repairs or transportation.
hours for the doctor but we waited for four hours until the doctor
finished with him.
“When the doctor saw my wounds he said that my cuts would be
much easier to sew up as they were smoother than the fellow before
us as the chain saw he tried to cut his leg off with really ripped his
flesh up. I guess I won on that point. Anyway, after about thirty
July 2008 95
stitches and a mile of gauze I came home.
“Needless to say the table saw is now
firmly clamped down to the bench, but
whenever I look at it, that semi-circle slot in
the front of it [to allow the blade to tilt]
seems to be smiling at me and waiting. If
anyone ever strips the covering off the plane
I was working on at that time they will
wonder why the nice clean balsa has a lot of
red splotches on it.”
Al learned a few lessons but paid a big
price for the knowledge. We sometimes take
our power tools for granted because they are
pint-sized hobby versions, and we are just
making one cut anyway. Wrong attitude!
These machines deserve our utmost
attention and care if we don’t want to reenact
Al’s adventure. I wonder if his wife
ever got the carpet stains out?
This month we’ll try a new feature called
“Everybody But Dave Already Knew About
It.” The photographs show some keen items
that were news to me but have apparently
been around for years.
The orange plastic wheel supports are
called Model Chocks. They are designed to
keep your airplane from rolling off the
workbench and to keep it steady during
transportation. Little teeth are molded into
the bottom of each chock so it grabs onto
whatever blanket or rug you have in your
vehicle, and it keeps the aircraft from
sliding around. Clever!
The Sonic-Tronics people assure me that
this popular item is nothing new, but I had
never seen one. Perhaps it will be news to a
few readers also.
Next up is the yellow razorblade
dispenser. I use many of these blades, and
they usually come tightly wrapped in a
piece of cardboard. Peeling the blade out
sometimes results in bloodshed before I
even get to the building table, so I was
pleased to find this simple but brilliant
package.
A red button on top pushes one blade
out, and the rest stay safely inside, even if
you drop the box. You can even mount it on
the wall. The blades are decent “industrial”
quality—suitable for our purposes.
Enkay dispensers are apparently
common at hobby, hardware, and craftsupply
stores. Somehow I had never seen
them, but from now on there will be one on
my workbench.
Another picture shows a couple of
common cyanoacrylate-accelerator spray
bottles and a pair of dripper bottles. Many
modelers use accelerator to cure their
cyanoacrylate glue. It usually comes in a
handy “spritz” bottle.
I used it like that for years until my
friend Matt Keennon showed me a better
way. He gave me his dripper bottle to get
me to stop spraying glue fumes around
where he was working. Once I tried it, I was
hooked. Now my accelerator liquid lasts
longer and is much more accurately placed.
When I went around showing off this “new”
way of using cyanoacrylate, it seemed like
everyone else already knew about it.
These little bottles are available as
medical equipment (with a plastic tube) or
as industrial/hobby items (with a steel tube).
I think the metal tube works better, but
there is an impalement hazard that I
demonstrate regularly.
Different brands of accelerator have odors
that subjectively range from tolerable to
yucky. The dripper minimizes the smell to a
point where I can hardly tell which brand
I’m using, but, most importantly, it seems
to go a long way toward containing the
irritating cyanoacrylate fumes, which cause
allergic reactions in some people.
Al Knight is one of those people, and he
wrote in about his situation.
“I have read where some modelers have
stopped using cyanoacrylate glue due to
them getting an allergic reaction to the glue.
I thought of something like poison ivy or a
rash of some kind.
“Lately I have been having bouts of
what I call ‘hose nose’ in that my nose will
run non-stop like a fire hose for a day then
stop over-night. It doesn’t seem like a cold,
no fever or congestion, and it just
disappears over-night. My doctor isn’t any
help but he hasn’t had any other cases
involving CA use.
“I got to realizing that just before each
attack I had been in the shop the night
before and had been using CA quite a bit.
Naturally I have a small 6-inch electronic
case fan over one of my work benches, but I
move around the shop to other benches a lot
so the fan doesn’t help much. Have you
gotten any details on CA allergic
reactions?”
I’m no doctor, but I hear plenty of
anecdotal evidence and Al may be on the
right track.
Various cyanoacrylate allergy
symptoms have been reported, including
runny nose, breathing problems, and severe
attacks that lead to hospitalization and a
complete end to cyanoacrylate use. I have a
mild sensitivity to cyanoacrylate, but
apparently this problem can build up
without many signs until a person reaches a
threshold, and then there is suddenly a
serious situation.
Some people are prone to cyanoacrylate
sensitivity and others never have a
problem. Not all doctors are familiar with
cyanoacrylate reactions, so if you find
yourself in this situation, be sure to
mention your exposure.
Remember the drip bottles? It has been
my experience that this method of curing
cyanoacrylate minimizes the fumes from
the curing process, and I find that with
proper ventilation I can build all the models
I want with no problems. In the past I had a
definite limit to how much gluing I could do
without getting a runny nose and headache.I recently mentioned that many fields still
require frequency control or transmitter
impound, even though some pilots are
using 2.4 GHz systems. Mike Jarina had
some thoughts about the subject.
He wrote:
“With the advent of the 2.4 GHz radios,
we are seeing a serious rise in the
complacent use of radios and frequency
boards. There are thousands upon
thousands of 72 and 27 MHz radios out
there and they are not going away anytime
soon. There is a need for continued radio
impounding and frequency boards.
“Too many times I have seen people
heading to the flight line without getting a
frequency pin. Upon questioning them they
tell me ‘It’s okay it is a 2.4 GHz radio.’ At
our field one must not only get their pin
but place their AMA card in the provided
slot to ensure that they are AMA members.
“The scenario we fear is that someone
is going to go to their car, put their 2.4
GHz radio away, pick up their 72 MHz
radio and turn it on without getting the pin.They will end up shooting down a fellow
modeler who is already flying on that
frequency.
“Until we build a new frequency board
we use frequency 1-10 or another unused
frequency for the 2.4 GHz radios. When we
do build the new frequency board, we areconsidering the alphabet for the 2.4 GHz
guys. Safety is no accident and it is not
going to hurt anyone to impound their
radio, no matter how much time is
involved.”
Mike is right; this is a time of transition,
and being overcautious about frequency
control is not out of line. There are now
fields that require 2.4 systems only and
prohibit 72 MHz radios because of close
proximity to another field.
As these new radios take hold, there will
be cases in which frequency control
becomes unneeded. But at a “mixed” site I
put my Spektrum transmitter into the
impound like everyone else does.
I got a note from Frank Baity, who said he
used one of my columns as a discussion
topic at his club meeting. Most clubs just
use it to mop up coffee spills, so I was
flattered.
Frank wrote:
“The diversity of interest in a club like
the West Alabama Aero Modelers is vast,
presenting safety challenges when it comes
time to fly. The mix of 3-D, foamy, fast
movers and helicopters was the topic in last
month’s meeting and the membership had a
productive discussion. Here are the safety
recommendations that came out of this
session:
“1. When flying, all pilots should be
within the pilot area and announce their
intentions, i.e. takeoff, landing, deadstick etc.
“2. A direction of flight will be
established, generally into the wind, and it
is recommended that all pilots attempt to
land and takeoff in this direction.
“3. When flying alone, 3-D flying
should be done from the runway centerline
out but when other models are in the air, 3-
D should be flown from the runway outer
edge and outward.
“4. When there are more than three
pilots flying (we have a max of five
limitation) it is recommended pilots use a
spotter to aid in situational awareness.
“5. Helicopters should not conduct
prolonged hovering on the runway unless
there are no other fixed wing models in
operation. Use the heli pad for hovering
practice.
“6. Engine running should only be
accomplished from the starting stands out
(toward the runway) and no powered taxi
back into the pit area.”
Frank’s group came up with some good
local rules that are fine-tuned to its field.
Posting these will be a reminder to
members and a courtesy to visiting pilots.
Sounds like a great bunch of modelers!
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
You can send paper mail to me at Box
7081, Van Nuys CA 91409. My E-mail
address is at the top of the column, but if
you use it, please put MA in the subject line
to set you apart from spammers and other
lower forms of life. MA
Sources:
Sonic-Tronics Inc.
(215) 635-4951
www.sonictronics.com