TH Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Hi Everyone, Can anyone help ? I need to laminate 1.5mm ply sheet onto 3mm balsa to form part of the fuselage of my Fieseler Storch. What would be the best adhesive to use to avoid warping. Thanks in advance for any suggestions Cheers Tony Hobson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Is the laminate flat, or is one of the components already built in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 The heavy press is the important thing Tony, with As any chosen glue can cause warping Rub down lightly the surfaces to be bonded as ply has releaser in the surface from manufacture which is not good for bonding Get everything ready in advance Then e.g.Aliphatic spread evenly with a credit card, enough to wet the surfaces thinly then PRESS Press with flat boards and weights on a flat surface and leave a day if you can Edited By Denis Watkins on 10/01/2019 19:11:34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Stainforth Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 I would use aliphatic. Epoxy would be overkill and CA might not work on the ply at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 The trouble with water based glue is I that it takes more than a day to dry if there is any area involved. Traditionally a contact adhesive is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Whatever glue you decide to use make sure that you sand the ply to remove any release agent used in its manufacture . Often forgoten is balsa cement . Its strong and reasonably quick for laminating . As Don says contact adhesive is the most commonly used . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 When laminating ply to balsa I use Evostick. Not the water based muck but the original stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackinBlack Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 I use a method that was described in an early 80s issue of Radio Modeller which has proven to make strong and reliable laminated sections ever since. The joint surfaces of the parts to be laminated are brushed with a thin coat 70/30 PVA/water mix and allowed to dry thoroughly. When dry bring the parts together in their final position and apply a domestic iron preheated to "cotton heat" for a minute or so. As the PVA is heat sensitive it will form an excellent bond and the iron being flat will hold the lamination flat. I have some models that have used this laminating method for fuselage formers that date from the 80s which are still structurally sound. I have even used this method with thin ply sheet place of fibreglass bandages for wing joining, far neater and stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetenor Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Wipe the ply with a solvent ( meths acetone etc) and allow to dry. /////////Then sand off. This ensures removal off the release agent completely VERY USEFUL STUFF METHS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 You could try Thixofix contact adhesive, Casamite powered resin glue or Tightbond 2 (or Tightbond 3). These are very strong and waterproof when dry. Casamite is used in boatbuilding. Personally I wouldn't use PVA for laminating as it needs air to dry. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 11/01/2019 17:31:10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Aliphatic Resin works really well with the heatthechnique but you have to make sure that the heat gets right through. A normal covering iron is not hot enough. I used to use a small travelling iron. Thixofix used to bew brilliant but I haven't been able to find it for some time now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Wickes still sell a solvent based contact adhesive under their own label. I tried the PVA and hot iron and while it worked to attach the worktop edging when I tried it on ply doublers everything warped as it cooled. I'll stick with contact adhesives in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Posted by Peter Miller on 11/01/2019 18:14:17: Aliphatic Resin works really well with the heatthechnique but you have to make sure that the heat gets right through. A normal covering iron is not hot enough. I used to use a small travelling iron. Thixofix used to bew brilliant but I haven't been able to find it for some time now Thixofix is available via Amazon and eBay, I haven't seen it in hardware shops for a while but the vapours are hazardous so maybe that is why and also why Evo-stick changed its formulation? Edited By Piers Bowlan on 11/01/2019 20:49:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 Many thanks to all who replied offering advice. Thanks, Dennis, so that's why I experienced some delaminating, I didn't know about the releasant on ply. I'm going to try 'Titebond Extend Wood Glue' - after lightly sanding the ply - see if that's successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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