Painting wood blades question

[cliffp73]

My plastic is coming off of my woodies and I would rather catch it now instead of latter. There is a own inch rip on the top of one (factory defect) a tear on the bottom of the same blade (my problem) the other blade near the blade grip it is coming off (my problem) and well I would just rather paint them. Just got back from Lowes with some ultra hard enamel Epoxy (black) and I got some lacquer gloss finish. Well I was thinking on the way home, why did I get the Clear when I don't how it is going to react with the fuel, I got the epoxy because it does well against the fuel and well it is pretty darn good. Can someone tell me if I would lightly sand the blades paint with the epoxy and then fine sand then a couple of coats of clear? Will that be ok, if that is ok why not just start with the clear and be done with it. Why even bother using the epoxy? TT Titan 50 TT 50 motor. I do appreciate every one here and I thank you for all of your wisdom. I don’t mind the blades black and I don’t mind the wood either. I just don’t want to get them off balance too bad with too much paint. I guess another question is, what should I do to these blades with only 3 tanks of fuel through it with these blades. I am getting CF blades and well I don’t really want to put them on yet, still a newbie.

[MarkD]

Replace the blades

BTW how did the damage to the blade covering happen - if it was damaged from new you should have returned them. Heli blades are not the patch up and go and fly like planks are

[cliffp73]

They came witht he Titan kit and two of the now 4 "cuts" are from the factory Has to be because nothing looks to have started the rips on the top of the blades and I have been very careful with these blades and I havent a clue as to what happen to the bottom, but it looks like something touched it and then moved and it now looks like a v cut. I just don't like the plastic on the blades and I know why it is there but I was just thinking why not paint these and then they will last until C Day I hope. I didn't really feel like waiting on another part from Thunder Tiger again. The some plastic parts were not modeled correct and had to wait for them to come in the mail and now this. Just dissapointed if you know what I mean.

[RSL_Mongoose]

Just wick a bit of CA into the tear and stick it back down. If your not comfortable doing that you can get blade covering.

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=2400013

[cliffp73]

Thank you and of course I have a question about the CA. Do I have to use the foam safe CA? That is the only one that I dont have.

[RSL_Mongoose]

I used plain 'ol CA that I got where I work, it was either locktite 493 or 495. But I imagine any brand would work. I still got that set of Raptor 30 blades around here somewhere, and that was nearly 6 years ago.

[cliffp73]

Great I will try that. I was wanting to do that last week but the know it all at our club said he was worried about somthing flying off. CA flying off? Cant see it but hey you never know.

[RSL_Mongoose]

CA won't fly off, it soaks into the wood.

[cliffp73]

Just did it, I caped off the ends with a little ca 3 drops and the other two places took 2 drops on one side and 3 on the other, just asking that is in no where enough weight to make a difference is it? I don't think so but you never know how sensitive it is. I guess I have two cans of spray to do somthing with.

[Rickenbacker]

Well, as long as you balance them... Best solution is to toss the woodies and get CF or fiberglass though.

[cliffp73]

Thank you very much.
Cliff

[agoodman]

you can apply several coats of polyurethane, I used (3), and the blades will be fuel proof. Make sure you balance the blades when their dry. The first coat of polyurethane actually soaked into the baldes and made them a little stiffer. Stay with the woodies until you get comfortable in all orientations. $20 is better than $60 plus.

[skyad]

2 1/2 inch clear packing tape over rip rebalance your ready to go

[spork]

I personally prefer painted blades to shrink covered blades. The shrink covered blades can cost you significant performance over time as the covering pulls away from the blades in high lift conditions. I just: sand lightly, coat of primer, sand lightly, coat of gloss white (I prefer all white blades).