Tnx Martin - This one is for my "sticky" bits !
Phil

Mni Tnx Red for explanation on "sticky". Just getting into the website and thinking where to put all my "sticky" bits !
Phil

Thanks Martin 👍, yes always helpful advice on here I just don't come on often enough.

Hi Bryan,
If you need help or advice this site is the place to ask.
Everyone hear is very helpful, so don't be afraid to ask.

Martin555.

Some great advice there thanks Guys

Good idea Red,
I will have to remember to do that.

Martin555.

Hi Martin,
only meant the tips like the clothes pegs one - agree with you its about balsa staying here.
You really need to post a full blurb in the how to section on servo motor esc's - electronics are enough to cause me a nervous breakdown

Hi Red,
Now that you have explained what a "sticky" is, no the subject of this thread was working with Balsa and as I have not used Balsa wood for so many years I was just sharing my thoughts and experiences, as I might help the newer members that have not used this wood before.

As more experienced modellers I think that we tend to lose sight and forget the new guys to the hobby.
There is nothing worse than trying to understand some of the more complex stuff when you can't understand the simple stuff first.

Anyway enough woffel , the servo has it own built in speed controller.
When you strip off the gears and remove the rest you are left with this (see photo)
Motor and speed controller.
The pot you can use to zero then any movement from the TX stick will dive you forward and reverse.
You can replace the pot with two equal resisters ( I think it's 2k2 not sure at the moment.
I don't know what other motors you can use it on that is to technical for me.

Also if you remove the motor you can then connect led lighting circuits to it.
You can see this on utube.

Martin555.

Glad to see you getting on Martin - looks like you are getting into Balsa building with a vengeance.
A "sticky" simply means its kept at the head of the listing and never relegated to obscurity on page 2000 odd of the forum listing............
That's where I think hints and tips should be as its not a single topic but a thread of all types of hints etc which can be added to by any member at any time. That's why I'm offended by the the term learners instead of pupils - we all learn throughout our lives sometimes at the school of hard knocks...........
Incidentally it would be nice if you could give us all a lesson on how to make speed controls from old servos - I have two just begging to be done ..........Plus two huge fellows lying around somewhere - off Ebay for a couple of quid

Thanks for the information Colin.
I was just experimenting to see what the results would be.
I have plenty of poly filler so I just thought I would try it.
The boat I am trying to make is only to prove my drawing design for DG's EeZeBuilt site.

Martin555.

Hi Martin,
Try sanding sealer, it hardens the wood and seals the grain. I would never fill balsa before sealing it.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Guys,
I spent a few hours in my little workshop today playing with this Balsa wood, and I tried an experiment.
I spread some fine poly filler on a piece of wood, let it dry and then gave it a quick rubdown with some fine sand paper.
The results were much better than I expected.
Although the wood is soft it did not dent quite so easily.
Later I will see what happens if I give it a few coats of varnish first then the filler.

Martin555.

"I have repurposed a cheap Argos steam cleaner works admirably "
Now why didn't I think of that!?🙄
Somewhere in the cellar I have what was called here a "Dampf Ente" Steam Duck!
Must dig it out and have a quack at it 😁
OK OK I was just leaving anyway!
(Slopes off to the cellar to go duck hunting😉)
Cheers, Doug 😎

"Give me a bit of plastic and I can make anything."
A man of many talents Martin👍
Even plastic surgery, respect 😉
😎

At least it wouldn't stink underwater Colin 😉
😎

That's right Doug, but if it sinks it could be an anchor.
Cheers Colin.

Hi martin it was less than £20.00, bit pf pvc piping for "steam box" and away you go lol

"sticky" ?
I am not sure what a sticky is Red.


Martin555.

Thats a much better way Martin - needs to be on the hints & tips page . (by the way is there a way of making that a "Sticky" as other sites call it)

Hi Red,
I have made clamps just by reversing a clothes peg.

Martin555.

Hi GSN,
do you have any photos of it.

martin555.

Forgot to say that the other way for chine stringers etc is to laminate thin strips glued in position (which bend easily)- waiting for each one to dry in turn - makes for a very much stronger stringer than a single tortured thick strip.
Easily held by spring type clothes pegs if you have not got enough clamps. They are not expensive so you can afford your own. If you cut off the angled nose piece they are much more useful and can clamp right next to a vertical surface if required with a cross piece etc.

Dad and I used to build full size Dinghys on our verandah (had a very tolerant mother and even with two dinghys in build there was still room to sit and enjoy the view) At one stage a GP 14 and an Enterprise, then a Mermaid with a Heron plus an 8' Feather duck boat.
When wanting to bend gunnel strakes etc we tried steaming in a long metal pipe (old fashioned drain) with a fire underneath - but not successfully . Then Dad hit on the idea of wrapping the wood in old sheet strips and pouring boiling water over it . That worked a treat with the Meranti we used.
So now I fill the kitchen sink with about 2" of hot water from the geyser and soak the strips in that for about 5 minutes. (Held down by crockery to hand). Quickly wipe dry and pin in place. Let dry then glue. Works with balsa and ply (aero) (no need to try liteply yet) and most model woods - some like jelutong and red cedar require a little longer soaking. We have a lot of old cleaning rags as trophies etc need cleaning from the residue left by laser cutting so I don't get into trouble. Dry rag wipes laser cut balsa edges for glueing nicely.

I have repurposed a cheap Argos steam cleaner works admirably

I haven't tried it, but even I, who am not very mechanically minded think it must be possible to devise a simple miniature steam bending device. I remember seeing in a boatbuilding yard a very long time ago, a boiler fired by the sweeping's of shavings and chippings from all round the yard (Apprentice's job) the steam going up into a long square 'pipe' into which the boat builders put the planks or whatever they were steaming. The heat of the steam was intense enough that after half hour or so, the wood was cooked enough to bend around whatever. A miniature electric or calor gas version of this must be easily designed and built.

No doubt someone will tell me that this has been done and is sold by X.

"Recycling is what modelling is all about. I try not to throw anything away if it looks like it may useful one day. "
Too right Colin,
The German ship model builders motto is
"Save anything that won't start to stink within a week!"
Cheers, 😎

Hi JB,
I get a clip around the ear quite regularly LOL!
Thanks for your advice, I must remember it.
I think I'm sort of getting the hang of it now.

Martin555.

Hi Martin, What Colin said re filling, looks like you have a good thickness to sand any imperfections out anyhow. Next time you need to bend thick balsa, soak the section to be bent in hot water for a few minutes, dry it with a cloth and clamp it carefully in place and let it dry overnight, or get the heat forming tool (wifes' hairdryer - or yours if you'll get a clip round the ear) and dry it a bit faster. It should help ease it round a bend.
I think I previously mentioned the possibility of thicker balsa cracking as it's usually not flexible enough across the grain, but if you can pick up some 1.5mm or 2mm you'll be fine for next time.
JB

Yet again I totally agree with you Colin.
The only problem now is remembering what you have got and where it is.
By the time I managed to get to my stash I have forgotten what I was looking for. LOL!!

Martin555.

Hi there Martin,
Recycling is what modelling is all about. I try not to throw anything away if it looks like it may useful one day.
Cheers Colin.

Thanks Colin,
All these little tips really help.

Martin555.

If it happens on one of my models I can usually wipe some balsa saw dust mixed with ezekote into the crack and leave for half an hour before rubbing it down or till you are ready to finish the rest of that part.
Cheers Colin.

Red,
I have discovered two things.
Firstly I think I am allergic to Balsa is I am doing nothing but sneezing and I have not even started rubbing down yet.
Secondly I don't like working with it either.

I might get used to it in time !

Martin555.

We will transfer your allegiance yet Martin - what a pleasure with no smell or noxious fumes .........

Although looking at some of your creations must admit they would be well nigh impossible in Balsa - perhaps a bit of both as you get used to it.

Hi Marky,
I am trying to make something for the EeZeBuilt site.

But I am struggling as I am extremely unfamiliar with Balsa wood.

Give me a bit of plastic and I can make anything.

Martin555.

What are you building Martin?, is it one of your own creations?,all the best with the build .cheers Marky👍

Thanks Red,
This happened over night, and the hole thing is now glued solid and will not move.

Martin555.

Hi Martin - take the pressure off - then use white glue (preferably) in the crack - wipe off surplus with a damp cloth - hold with clamps for an hour or so to dry . If you need to re- bend you will have to leave it overnight or use thickish superglue (which tends to leave a hard area which is why I don't use it on balsa except where you don't need to sand.)
Very different characteristics from plastic which is why you must be finding it strange. Not nearly as strong in some ways.

Hi Guys,
Another silly question.
Last night I glued this piece of Balsa wood and it was perfectly fine.
This morning I went to work on it and noticed this crack.
Is there a special way it can be fixed ?
Or do I have to cut it off and start again ?

Martin555.

Hi Guys,
As you know I mainly work using recycled plastic materials.
Yesterday I started using Balsa wood, I cannot remember the last time I used it.
It is strange stuff to work with.
I have taken the advice that you guys have given me on board.
And thanks again for the advice.

I may have some more questions later.

Martin555.

It's happening again folks!😮🤔
Sorry Colin😔

Re Doug one of the saddest things to me was the loss of the original Hyde Park corner repartee
Do you mean this repartee Red? JB

Saw a film on TV years ago Red, about the Kiwi top dressing pilots over there and they were water skiing the planes down canals and under bridges just for fun when they got bored, mad buggers. I still have a VHS copy of the movie somewhere.
JB

Doug one of the saddest things to me was the loss of the original Hyde Park corner repartee where people spoke their minds . Even if you did not agree with them they were allowed to be heard. This molly coddle society where minority rights take precedent over the majoritys rights is ridiculous - and as for PC that's too ridiculous for words.... My mother was head of a lot of organisations over the years and always liked to be referred to as as Madam Chairman or Chair - so whats the point of all this tripe..... Even here a child at school must be called a "learner" not a pupil - what the hell is that..........

Doug the nearest thing in the UK would be a Sloane Ranger - AKA Airhead............In our case its a young matron type - the quote shows I was a student in UK in my youth...
Kiwi - much too far away to swim and cold to boot - not allowed to fly any more - puts a damper on travel a bit - the Kiwi crop spray pilots I met in Rhodesia many years ago all put me off - they were all heading for the US when they left us. Said they were just glad to be somewhere warm and where mists and snow hardly existed.......... went for a flight with one in a Snow Commander (old Bipe with a 500hp radial up front)- knees still shake when I think about it.......They used to spray Queala bird at night - (a little Finch type which swarmed in millions and could strip 30 acres of wheat in a day) by using a red lamp on a 20ft pole at the base of the tree they were roosting in. Mad and very scary...........

Come over here mate, we'll look after you. half the north shore of Auckland is SA people and when I was renting a place in the prison officers village, across the road from our max security prison in Auckland( Paremoremo, - safest place in NZ as it's the last place crims will hang around if they ever break out!) and I was surrounded by SAs who were working at the prison, i think half the guards were ex SA police or military! All real nice people.
OZ is ok but has its problems at the moment, we're still chugging along reasonably well considering the state of some countries. main problem here is housing, costs have gone mental and young people have a massive job trying to get into a house unless they are both getting top money.
A lot of it is because the allowed thousands of Chinese to buy houses for themselves, their kids, investments and for rentals (even buying houses and cars for 1 or 2 kids while they go to uni here!) We couldn't buy a house in China though,"oh no you can't come here, but we want to buy your country" They own half the massive farm stations now and are into everything and don't obey many rules, (everything's cash if possible) Never mind, we're slowly re-training them to be Kiwis😉😊
JB

"never mind the quality feel the width"
Cohen & Kelly Bespoke Tailors!
Great British TV comedy,
from when the world still seemed more or less "normal" and folks could laugh even at themselves! This is the film version, it was also a must see half hour TV series.
😁😂 Doug
PS Kugels? Kugels here are balls, like Bowling-kugel!!

Kiwi you have no idea how lucky you are - you live in a country that's still in the first world and most things are readily available at a reasonable price. The "Kugels" in this country used to discuss dresses, jewellery, houses etc - for the last few years its been "who's your emigration lawyer doll"
Of my tribe its only myself, better half and a daughter who remain in SA - brother & sister are in UK & son in the USA while his mother lives in UK as well. My sisters kids & deceased husbands relatives reside in the land of Oz. Most of my friends who were able to have sold up and left - Perth seems to be the favourite destination.

Colin put his finger on the main problem with internet purchases - to quote someone obscure " never mind the quality feel the width" - buying over the net is a real gamble . Nothing like having a feel of things before you decide.
Was lucky enough to find a good local hobby shop in SA when first returning and spent hours sifting through the balsa stock . Bought enough to last a very long time . Unfortunately although the shop is still going its now some 1400 km away after our moves. Now the nearest supplier is a 3 hour drive away - and they charge nearly double what the original shop does.
Liteply was sourced from an internet dealer here on the basis its all pretty standard. Was lucky in that too as they gave a large quantity discount on an already good price for quality ply. Regrettably they are no longer in business.

RE Really surprised at all this "too short" only 18" stuff
We get the US 'Bud Nosen Models' and Australian plantation balsa here, and most of ours are in 3ft and 4ft x 3" and 4" widths, plus all the block and moulding shapes as well. I can get it from Art shops, hobby shops, an on line shop- JR Airsail (the ex NZ 'Airsail' company which closed and was re started as another entity, and is at a house and large shed in the country) - Airsail used to make small aircraft kits here which were sold round the world.
They also used to cut all their own balsa and sell it under the Airsail brand. I also get balsa from a large company called 'Spotlight' which I think is an Aussie company. They sell cloth, curtains and material, kitchen and art and craft stuff,-all sorts, and our local Aussie 'Bunnings' hardware warehouse has started selling it, so we are a bit spoilt for choice at the moment.
JB