Minwax Wood Hardener Cardstock Test

[mbauer]

Hello,

Just coated a cardstock test section of a PSI tube I use in my air pressure launch-able rockets.

Bought a couple of cans of Minwax Wood hardener to see if it would work to strengthen the cardstock.

It did!

Worked very well to bond the paper fibers together to make a harder/stiffer paper.

Used Aleenes Turbo Tacky Glue on the glue connection joint, the Minwax did not effect the glue joint or any of the printed ink on the cardstock.

An added benefit was when the paper was placed under running tap water, the water ran off (beaded up) and did not penetrate the paper at all!

Might be useful for the cardstock rockets made here!

Mike

[stefanj]

It is interesting stuff. Today I used it on a Semroc Centurion F, on the fins (as a sealer and hardener) on the nosecone (ditto), and on the ends of the motor mount ring and body tube.

It tends to make fibers swell, so the nose cone shoulder had to be sanded down . . . which takes a lot of effort. OTOH just a few coats of filler are necessary; the stuff doesn't soak in.

I'd be curious how the hardener effects an assembled cardstock model or sub-assembly.

[dlazarus6660]

Good find!

Will it work on printed(ink) paper?

Will it make the ink run or smear like water will?

[stefanj]

The Minwax stuff will make ball-point ink run. I've used it on body tubes that have had alignment markings and they blur out.

The stuff darkens and makes slightly translucent paper, so don't count on using it on "cosmetic" skins.

I'm about to dope up some "skins" with it; recycled junk mail paper. I'll report back on whether the printed ink runs.

[stefanj]

The answer is no. The printed ink on the paper did not run.

[mbauer]

Interesting about the ball point pen ink running. Was it a gel type pen?

Mike