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  #1  
Old 06-26-2015, 05:12 PM
aeppel_cpm aeppel_cpm is offline
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Default Clear fins. Glue first or last?

I need to attach the clear (lexan) fins for my current project, but I can't decide on the order.

Glue first. Mask around them. Or paint first (with masking strips for gluing later) and glue last.

Is there a consensus best practice?
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Old 06-26-2015, 08:24 PM
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I would glue first to ensure good filleting/attachment to the base material.
Then mask-off and paint.
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Old 06-27-2015, 06:56 PM
aeppel_cpm aeppel_cpm is offline
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That seems like good reasoning, GH. I'll go that way.

I'm a teensy be concerned about the masking adhesive on the lexan. But mainly because I haven't tried it before.
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Old 06-28-2015, 01:55 AM
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I'm confident that masking tape adhesive will do nothing to Lexan, but just to be sure, test the tape on a scrap piece of the fin material for a couple hours.
Regardless of that, remove the masking tape as soon as possible after painting.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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Old 06-28-2015, 06:01 AM
aeppel_cpm aeppel_cpm is offline
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I tried the mask tape on the lexan last night when I put down some narrow epoxy fillets.

I've seen that done in high power build threads, but not tried it myself before. I'm usually a little sloppy with epoxy. But the masked result sure looks sharp.

The tape (blue 3M) left a tiny trace on the lexan, but that looks like it will rub or wash off fine.

Onward!
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Old 06-28-2015, 08:10 AM
jetlag jetlag is offline
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Mineral spirits should remove all traces of the adhesive without clouding or otherwise damaging the lexan. Turpentine is the same thing.
Give it a try on a test piece if you want to be sure.
Allen
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Old 06-28-2015, 11:38 AM
aeppel_cpm aeppel_cpm is offline
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Thanks for the tips.
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Old 06-28-2015, 12:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aeppel_cpm
That seems like good reasoning, GH.


Wow, that's a sentence I never thought I'd see on YORF!

But in this case I completely agree.
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Old 06-28-2015, 12:40 PM
aeppel_cpm aeppel_cpm is offline
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I had a great deal of fun writing it.

Now that I'm a couple more steps on with my build, I came across a reason to NOT glue first. At least in this instance.

Some of the fins are TTW with nearby pod holding lugs. Putting on the decals is going to be interesting.
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  #10  
Old 06-28-2015, 01:01 PM
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Thanks a lot, Steve.
Usually my rocketry posts provide logical advice/solutions when I'm able to supply them.

I'm not in the PSEUDO 'free for all' section much anymore for reasons I choose to not elaborate upon.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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