Ye Olde Rocket Forum - View Single Post - Hardening and sealing a balsa nose cone

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman

Don't use "school glue" it's too thin and watered down, you will get warping on the fins.

The glue I'm using is Elmer's, but it is also labeled "school glue" and "no runs." Seems thick enough to me. It's not runny, so I started using it to "top coat" my standard wood glue fillets. Definitely not runny.

I haven't used it to coat the fins yet. First coat on the nose cone was kind of, "meh." I just applied the glue right out of the bottle and rubbed it in and smoothed it with my fingers. Second coat also not very impressive. Third coat is almost dry now, and it's starting to skin over the balsa giving it a plasticky feel. I see where this is going.

BTW, I lightly sand between coats.