Frequently Asked Questions
Bob Aberle
Stripping balsa from sheet stock
Bob Aberle
Q571: I noted in many of your construction articles that you cut strips of balsa from sheet stock rather than buy the wood that is the correct size. Why do you do this and how do you do it?
A571: Selecting the grade or weight of balsa sticks is critical to the construction of any model. Often, balsa sticks are too soft for a particular application. Hobby shops tend to stock lightweight, "contest-grade" balsa. They do this to keep the model weight down.
Many building applications call for hard balsa, such as that used for wing spars. I've found that national craft stores such as A.C. Moore and Michaels carry heavier-grade balsa, but in sheet sizes. That is how I began stripping my own sticks from sheet stock. It is uncomplicated, but I'm going to share a trick with you that will make the process easier.
I use a cutting surface such as the Hobbico Builder's Cutting Mat. This prevents cutting or scoring your building assembly board. I use a standard X-Acto knife with a No. 11 blade. I buy these blades in 100-quantity packages so I can change them often, because they quickly become dull.
A steel or aluminum ruler helps me make straight cuts. I use a Sears Craftsman 24-inch ruler. The length of the ruler depends on the length of balsa that you need to cut. Sometimes having rulers in several lengths can prove helpful. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at Sears, Ace Hardware, and Harbor Freight, among other sources.
Now for my trick! One problem you may encounter is the ruler shifting position when you are cutting the balsa. A ruler that slips can ruin your balsa sheet and could result in a cut finger.
To cope with this problem, I affix pieces of 150-grit sandpaper in several spots along the bottom of my ruler. Rubber cement works well for this application. The sandpaper against the balsa sheet prevents the ruler from slipping. Try it and you will see how easy the job is.
Some rulers come with a cork backing, but that does not work as well as sandpaper.
When cutting balsa sticks, try to hold the X-Acto knife so that the blade is approximately at a right angle (perpendicular) to the balsa sheet.
A nice thing about cutting your own balsa is that you can get any size stick you need, including odd sizes.
Good Source for O-Rings
Q572: Where is a good source for O-rings?
A572: I had been going to the plumbing section of Home Depot or Lowe's Home Improvement, but I came upon an assortment of 382 O-rings at my local Harbor Freight store. The price was $8.
You can purchase this assortment at Harbor Freight stores or order it online from the company's website. I've listed the site in the "Sources" section at the end of this column.
There are many applications for O-rings in our hobby including using them on electric motor propeller savers.
Krud Kutter is an excellent, water-soluble rust remover and inhibitor. The Enya .40 CX glow engine at the left was restored to a like-new finish in less than a half hour.
Krud Kutter to Clean Engines Follow-Up to 0559:
After reading Q559 concerning the use of Dawn Power Dissolver to clean model engines, reader Eric Bell wrote in with yet another good suggestion.
Eric uses a product called Krud Kutter. It is available at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and other sources for $5 per 8-ounce bottle of concentrate.
This water-based product is a rust remover as well as an inhibitor. It is nontoxic and biodegradable.
Eric dilutes the concentrate 50/50 with water. Applying it for roughly 20 minutes will quickly clean a rusted, old model engine. If the rust is extensive, then use the full-strength concentrate. Thanks, Eric!
Parkjets.com 0573: I regularly receive emails from a company identified as Parkjets.com. The company offers a number of model plans for free download.
Do you know if this same company
Frequently Asked Questions
Bob Aberle
sells kits as well as provide free plans?
A573: I also receive regular emails from Parkjets.com and wondered the same thing, so I contacted the company to find out about its business.
I was told that Parkjets.com doesn't sell anything. The company gathers RC park flyer-type plans of small, electric-powered RC park flyers styled after military, sport, and commuter jets. These plans are placed in a section of the company's website designated as the "Free Plans Page."
Parkjets.com provides photos, videos, and specifications for each, to make it easier to decide what you want to build. The information allows you to navigate through 100 free plans that can easily be downloaded.
Parkjets.com has ties with 6mmFlyRC.com, another company that offers laser-cut kits based on some of these airplanes. The partner company also sells things such as clear canopies, decals, and pilot busts for the various airplanes.
Space limitations don't allow me to get into all of the details, but I suggest visiting both websites listed in the "Sources" section and seeing what is available.
SOURCES: Ace Hardware (866) 290-5334 www.acehardware.com
Harbor Freight (800) 423-2567 www.harborfreight.com
Home Depot (800) 466-3337 www.homedepot.com
Parkjets.com www.parkjets.com
6mmFlyRC.com (480) 558-6918 www.6mmflyrc.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
