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  #11  
Old 12-05-2010, 12:27 AM
metlfreak metlfreak is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffyjeep
True. I hate to sound esoteric, but craftsmanship IS a journey without end.

Ive been building model rockets for 15 years and before that my dad and I built them together, I can say every build I have tried something new it truly never ends.
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  #12  
Old 12-08-2010, 11:30 AM
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jpaw33 jpaw33 is offline
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Do you sand between each coat of sanding sealer??
John P
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  #13  
Old 12-08-2010, 11:44 AM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpaw33
Do you sand between each coat of sanding sealer??
John P


Yes. The point is to fill the cracks, not coat the surface. You're sanding away the filler that is on the surface, leaving just what is in the cracks.

It's easier to sand thin single layers than thicker double layers.

It's also easier to sand thoroughly dry layers.

Which explains why I have models with a coat of filler that have been lying around unfinished for YEARS. Or maybe I'm just lazy and hate sanding.
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  #14  
Old 12-08-2010, 11:47 AM
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jeffyjeep jeffyjeep is offline
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I agree. Always sand between coats.

There's people that HATE sanding????

Unbelievable!
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  #15  
Old 12-08-2010, 12:32 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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If you do not want to use Balsa Fillercoat prior to Sanding Sealer that is okay.
It tends to fill a little faster if you do but one can use just one or the other.
If one uses BOTH, the Fillercoat goes on FIRST, then the SEALER on top.
It makes ZERO sense to use Fillercoat to fill-in grain that does not exist due to being sealed by Sanding Sealer.
Balsa Fillercoat does more wood penetrating than the Sanding Sealer.
Fillercoat "fills" better than the Sealer, and the Sealer "seals" and hardens better than the Fillercoat.

I sand between every coat of Fillercoat or Sealer except between Coat 1 and 2 of the Fillercoat as coat one mostly just soaks into the wood and does not really "fill" anything.

Been doing it that way since 1977 and it still works well. Finding Balsa Fillercoat now is getting to be a real challenge, but it is easy to make one's own by dissolving plain talcum powder into thinned Clear Butyrate Dope from Sig, Brodak, or new-old-stock Pactra Aero Gloss.
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  #16  
Old 12-01-2018, 09:06 PM
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Tau Zero Tau Zero is offline
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Smile Balsa Filler content clarification

Quote:
Originally Posted by scigs30
I must be doing it BACKWARDS because I never use Balsa Fillercoat, just 3 to 4 coats of balsa sealer for smooth balsa fins. 3 to 4 coats of balsa sealer sounds less than 3 to 4 coats of balsa fillercoat followed by another 2 to 3 coats of balsa sealer. Someone else on another forum told me I was doing it wrong also but I think the results speak for themselves. Feel free to search my builds and I think my balsa parts come pretty good for doing it backwards.
The Vigalante has 3 coats of balsa sealer

Centuri Screaming Eagle clone 4 coats of balsa sealer

SNIP

So I'm late to the party... by only 8 years.

scigs30 (and everybody else), I just wanted to clarify. Is the balsa sealer you mentioned butyrate dope with something like talc mixed it? Please advise.

I've used label paper in recent years, but your work here is absolutely *gorgeous!*

Excellent job.


Thanks and cheers,
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  #17  
Old 12-01-2018, 09:29 PM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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I am now using Brodak sanding sealer since Aerogloss no longer makes dope products, actually Brodak sealer works better than Aerogloss. Sanding sealer I believe has zinc stearate added, balsa filler will have a talc like product added.
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  #18  
Old 12-01-2018, 10:43 PM
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LeeR LeeR is offline
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I am now using Brodak, based on the high praise from scigs30. I think I used 4 coats, my test was on a nose cone that is not part of any current build. It’s just a nice big piece of balsa that I thought would be a good test subject. As such, I was periodically applying the sealer, eventually sanding, and the applying another coat. I guess I lost track of the number of coats. I really like the way it brushes on, and seems to flow nicely, better than the Deft.
I have given the nose cone one coat of Duplicolor primer, and it looks amazing.

I have had great results with Deft Lacquer Sanding Sealer, but it’s getting hard to find. I do think it requires more coats than Brodak. I had a half-full quart can of Deft left, and it went back to my woodshop. I’ll use Brodak from this point forward for model rocketry.

I’ll be anxious to paint the test nose cone, but it’s way too cold here to do any painting.
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  #19  
Old 12-01-2018, 11:36 PM
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Brodak's "primer" is the equivalent of old Aero Gloss Balsa Fillercoat.
I use 3-4 coats of that topped with 2-3 coats of Sanding sealer. Gives an almost "plastic" like surface for topcoating.
__________________
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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