Thanks for the tutorial, Don.
LeRoy Cordes
AMA 16974
Chicago, IL
On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:28:56 -0500 Don Slusarczyk <don5490_at_sbcglobal.net>
writes:
> Here is my method.
>
> I take my form, I use brass tubing for motorsticks and aluminum rod
> for
> booms, and lay it in front of me. I cut a piece of tissue about 2"
> longer than the balsa blank and about 4-5 times wider than the
> blank. I
> then lay the one edge of the tissue on top of the rod about at
> midpoint.
> I then take a fine soft brush (like used for apply water to
> microfilm)
> and stick the tip in my mouth to get it wet with a little saliva. I
> then
> dab it along the tissue to stick it to the form. I never have good
> luck
> using water for this part. In any case, I then carefully lift it up
> and
> turn it over and then do one complete roll then about an additional
> 1 /4
> -1/2 roll of the dry tissue around the form. Make sure it is tightly
>
> wrapped. It is very much like making a tissue tube, but instead of
> gluing it to the rod, I use a brush with a little bit if saliva and
> it
> will hold it long enough to let you do this first roll. I then place
> a
> weight on the rod as if you let it go it will try to unroll itself.
> I
> then take my blank to be rolled and run it under the faucet with
> fairly
> hot water. I run the sheet back and forth a few times. Then I hold
> it up
> by one end in my left hand, and using my index and middle finger (of
> the
> right hand) on either side of the sheet, 'squeeze' the excess water
> off
> with a pulling down motion The squeeze is made by placing the sheet
> of
> wood between your two fingers like if you were making a 'V' with
> your
> two fingers, and you clamp the wood between them. By pulling down
> you
> put the wood in tension, and the excess water will get squeezed out
> from
> your two fingers. (Like and old fashioned washing machine with the
> ringer rollers). When you do this you will find that there will be
> small
> balsa 'flakes'/dust mixed in with this water. I rewet the sheet with
>
> water and repeat this two or three times. Generally by the third
> time
> the excess water is clean. I have thought that these extra loose
> balsa
> fibers were the reason for sticking to the tissue. as I felt they
> would
> act like a weak 'paste' between the sheet and the tissue, but that
> is my
> voodoo reason behind it. Then I take the sheet and butt the edge of
> the
> blank into the area where the tissue and rod meet. I then roll it
>
> quickly. If you leave the sheet sit for more than a few minutes it
> dries
> out pretty quick as you have squeezed off all excess water so pay
> attention it is still wet before you roll. Once the sheet is rolled
> on
> the rod, I keep rolling until the tissue is used. This is usually 1
> to 2
> more rolls past the end of the wood blank. I the place masking tape
> in
> the middle, then each end, then in between again, so in 5 places. I
>
> bake at 200F for about 20-25 minutes, then take then out and let
> them
> sit until they are cool to the touch. I then unwrap. I always unwrap
>
> after they just cooled off. I do not let them sit overnight or for
> days
> as I had the masking tape adhesive leech through the tissue to the
> wood,
> and the balsa stuck in only the places the tape was applied.
>
> That is they way I have rolled booms and bodies for 15-20 years.
> Individual results may vary.
>
> PS: one other thing I forgot to mention, as I used brass rods a lot
> they
> tend to tarnish. Before I use them, I always sand with 400 or 600
> grit
> sandpaper to shine them up and then clean off with acetone.
>
> Don Slusarczyk
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
LeRoy Cordes
AMA 16974
Chicago, IL
Received on Thu Feb 09 2006 - 09:50:45 CET
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