Craig,

Do you use 220-grit for this initial sand as well?

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

For the initial sanding, yes. It's not so coarse that it cuts down into the fibers of the paper, but it is aggressive enough to cut the glassine layer. You can *raise powder* quite easily with 220, both with the white [Euclid] tubes and the old-style brown tubes...

I've found 220-grit is also a good general purpose paper for doing not only the glassine sanding, but for the first balsa sanding and the first few primer sandings. Once the primer looks smooth, like after the second or third coat, then I switch to 400-grit, spray a coat, and finally switch to a 600-grit for the final sanding. I don't take it down any farther than 600, but I suppose one could for a laquer-based finish...


Craig...

Okay, I just spent awhile looking back at this thread, and I think I've boiled down the process to "Almost 3 (okay, 4) Easy Steps!"

1. Using 220 grit sandpaper, sand "naked" body tube.



2. Apply Fill N' Finish.



3. Sand excess Fill N' Finish with 220-grit sandpaper.

4. Apply primer to body tube, sanding after each coat.

Now, I think I can patter off on my merry little way... --Yes?


Cheers,

--Jay

Sounds like a plan, Jay.

For catalog-finish models, you might repeat steps 2 & 3 "as needed". FNF sticks to itself reasonably well...

Since I don't yet have a catalog to finish, I usually just apply FNF once...

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

Yeah, but you know *me,* Craig. If I wasn't so stinkin' picky about my finishing techniques in my second incarnation as a rocketeer, I'd actually get more rockets *built*... ...*If* ya know what I mean.


Cheers,

--Jay

I can't seem to find this Fill N Finish anywhere. All the shops around me have is the heavyier crap- E832, et. all.

There is one hobby shop that has a Hobbico product. It looks like spackle and has "Micro-balloons". Anyone know if this will work as well as FNF?

Thanks,
EB

No, micro balloons isn't the same. I've used micro balloons mixed with epoxy to make fillets, but it won't work like Elmer's FnF. My FnF (light wood filler in a 16 oz round tub) is almost out. I was in Lowe's the other day and found it, but in a rectangular 16 oz tub now. It appears to be the same stuff.

__________________
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

OK then - no micro ballons it is then. I'll try lowe's. Thanks!

I just got done filling a tube for my LOC Isis. I add a little water to Elmers Wood Filler and it works great. Also doesnt take very long.

__________________
Frank
My Rocketry Site < Photos coming soon!
Northern Illinois Rocketry Association
NAR#83246

No, he's saying the stuff from Hobbyco has micro-balloons in it just like the Elmer's FnF does, but you're right in that the FnF is much better for the job than the Hobbyco stuff.

__________________
Roy
nar12605