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  #1  
Old 02-26-2008, 06:51 PM
Prairie Flyer Prairie Flyer is offline
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Default Filling tube spirals

What is the best way to fill the tube spirals without adding too much weight?
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  #2  
Old 02-26-2008, 06:57 PM
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I use one of two(sometimes both) Elmers Fill 'n' Finish and Micro Fil...Scoop some out of the container, add just a tiny bit of water to make it into a pancake batter consistency, and the using a paint brush paint it in the spirals..When dry sand smooth..Or the old standby, a couple coats of primer with sanding in between coats will fill almost all but the biggest tube spirals..
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Old 02-26-2008, 06:58 PM
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I usually don't worry about it too much but I'm sure most folks here would recommend thinned Elmer's Fil-n-Finish. I've never been able to find it myself, but I've had good results with a similar Minwax product with micro-balloons.
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Old 02-26-2008, 06:58 PM
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There's a bunch of ways, but they all require considerable sanding.

Fill-n-finish, spackle, spot putty, can all be put on and sanded down. You can also fill it by priming it two, three, or four times and sanding down between coats. The primer method slicks up the rest of the tube real good while you're at it.
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Old 02-26-2008, 06:59 PM
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Actually I use Elmers 'Carpenters Wood Filler'..Same thing I have been told as Fill-n-Finish, and I use the same technique...
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Old 02-26-2008, 08:12 PM
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I use the thinned Fill N Finish method - even though it requires more sanding
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  #7  
Old 02-26-2008, 08:50 PM
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I've recently been using Elmer's Carpenters Wood Filler in a tube. You can snip off a small piece of the tip, and it makes it easy to dispense along the spiral seams in a tube. I smooth with finger, and to press it down into the seams. Sands very easily.

I also just bought Duplicolor Filler Primer, with "high solids". I've not tried yet, but I like regular Duplicolor primer, and if this has more fillers, and behaves like the regular, this could become a favorite of mine.

I found both at Walmart, but the Duplicolor was in Automotive, not in the Paint Dept.
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Old 02-26-2008, 09:44 PM
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Solomoriah Solomoriah is offline
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I'm trying out that Elmer's Carpenter's Filler on a few of my rockets built over the winter, but I can't yet comment on how it works because I haven't had a decent painting day yet...
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Old 02-27-2008, 12:09 AM
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Default Re: Carpenter's Wood Filler (and Other Products as well!)

I found with the CWF, that in the past, there have been both Exterior use and Interior.

The Exterior is better for our uses as it tends to be flexible enough when dry to be able to Flex with the body tube and not 'peel off'.

All putties usually are marked when for exterior use. Be Sure to lOOk for and select the exterior use type whenever possible.

Just a thought from many years of use. Thanks to CMASS and Nemroc '91 for that!
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Old 02-27-2008, 06:13 AM
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I just used some Hobbico Hobbylite filler to smooth out the spirals in the tubes of three rockets I've recently built, and it worked great. It was $6.99 for an 8 oz. plastic jar, which should be enough to last for a few thousand rockets at my best estimate.
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