Bob Bertram Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) 17 hours ago, john stones 1 - Moderator said: Filler up ? That's the pits! Edited March 31, 2022 by Bob Bertram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 On 30/03/2022 at 11:37, Gary Manuel said: I've never heard Lewis Hamilton being described as a Lightweight Filler before, but I suppose it's true. ?? He is not a big bloke, so South Africans may describe him as one. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 To save money and save weight on your plane--don't use filler but to 'fill' any dents in balsa- drip a drop of water into the dent and just leave . Just one drop right into the dent. Maybe a second try if the first is not sufficient. It will probably just remove the dent as if by magic! If there is a split or missing bit of balsa then insert a sliver of balsa and a drip of cyano instead of any filler then sand when dry. Lighter, cheaper and probably invisible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gates Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 50 minutes ago, kc said: If there is a split or missing bit of balsa then insert a sliver of balsa and a drip of cyano instead of any filler then sand when dry. Lighter, cheaper and probably invisible. While I normally agree with KC, I am afraid this time I am going to disagree. Please do not use cyano with slithers of balsa infill, use PVA or similar. Cyano will make the wood very hard and make sanding it down flat quite difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Hilton Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 Mix your own using micro balloons and emulsion paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Cripps Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 Or sweep up some balsa dust from your next sanding session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight1 Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 i use the No Nonsense from screwfix cheep and good but for something harder I use the light body filler from the car world as Big Boy Lightweight Body Filler and as above if you infill with balsa use a aliphatic glue as easer sanding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Gay Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 I use the balsa dust from the shop vac attached to my cnc machine. Cutting a couple of kits makes for a huge volume of the stuff and it works well mixed with a sandable aliphatic glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 7 hours ago, kc said: To save money and save weight on your plane--don't use filler but to 'fill' any dents in balsa- drip a drop of water into the dent and just leave . Just one drop right into the dent. Maybe a second try if the first is not sufficient. It will probably just remove the dent as if by magic! Try applying a covering iron to the dampened spot - the expansion of the water in the fibres often lifts dents completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Having tried most of the above which does not always stick well to balsa I now always use my copy of some stuff which used to be made in Germaany. Mix lots of Super Lightweight Fairing Compound from Bucks Composites with a little Halfords polyester resin then mix this a little at a time with hardener; you need to experiment to get it right for the required setting time (about 2mins). It sticks to anything, is very light and easy to sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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