A Note on Rubber Bands

[dbruening80]

Most of today's trainers use #64 rubber bands to attach the wings to the fuselage. Please, Please, PLEASE use at least 12-14 rubber bands when attaching the wing and ALWAYS CUT UP and THROW AWAY the rubber bands after each flying session. A few flyers at our field recycle rubber bands by placing them in a baggie filled with corn starch, IMO this is almost asking for trouble. Not only does fuel oil deteriorate (sp?) the bands, but the UV rays from the sun breaks the rubber down as well, while the corn starch could remove the oil, it will do nothing to reverse the sun's damage. Rubber bands are cheap, planes are not! (Personally I would rather crash my plane beacuse of something my thumbs did than have some sort of mechanical failure :rolleyes:) I also cut mine up after I witnessed a new flyer at our field pulling old rubber bands out of the trash and putting them in his baggie for re-use. I know the hobby can nickle and dime you to death some times, $7.99 for a plug, $5.00 for glue etc etc, but hey, a one pound bag of #64 rubberbands from office max is around $3.50. Sorry to rant, just somrthing to chew on

[DaveSawers]

Rubber bands should certainly be inspected before each flying session. If they're looked after reasonably, there's no reason why they shouldn't last a lot longer than one flying session though.

[Phi3l]

I always reuse rubber bands. I put them in a can half full of floor dry (like they use in auto repair shops to soak up spilled oil) this absorbs all traces of oil from them and is, IMO less messy than corn starch or baby powder. The next time as I put the bands on I stretch each one and look for any damage (nicks, cuts scuffs, etc.) and if I find the slightest thing wrong that band gets tossed and is replaces with a new one. In all the years I have flown I have not had a wing come off because the bands broke. I never use fewer than 12.

I do start each flying season with all new rubber.

Phil in MN :)

[LuckyArmpit]

When I had my H9 Arrow, I generally used 14 to 16 rubber bands. After the day's flying, I stored them in a baggy with some talc powder. I threw them out after 3 or 4 flying days. Best kind of bands I ever used were these silicon like bands. They were like a kind of thin large "O" ring but they held up pretty durn good!!!
Every club has these older guys. Been in the club 20 years and they still fly a trainer but, since being in the hobby for years, think they know it all. And alot of them are tighter than a wooden nickel! :D

Dave...

[tinman4009]

i also use the office max bands , new bands each time i go fly cheap insurance and peace of mind at $4 for a big bag that lasts a long time

[globemaster3c17]

I've been flying for a year and I've always reused my rubber bands. At first I just threw them in my field box and got 2-3 flying sessions out of them before they began showing any damage. Now I use corn starch and get several more sessions out of them. I think I'm now on my second 1/4# bag of bands, and I've never had a single one break, and my flights always involve a lot of "airframe checks" i.e. high-g maneuvers. Yeah, it's a little easier to just toss 'em after each day, but you save yourself a small amount of money and waste less material by reusing them

[tailskid2]

If you cut'em up when you are done flying, remember to PICK THEM UP!

Jerry

[LostMyPlane]

I think both sides are right. you can certainly reuse rubber bands as long as you inspect them and know there worthy. If you have the money and want new rubber bands each flight, how can this be a bad thing.

[cornbinder]

ok try this idea instruct ALL new fliers to throw them out one less problem to think about,then when they are on their own they can make their own decisions and inspections on this item.

[globemaster3c17]

Really no matter what you do, you need to carefully inspect every band before using it. I've pulled fresh ones right out of the bag that had nicks in them a few times.

[dbruening80]

!!!
Every club has these older guys. Been in the club 20 years and they still fly a trainer but, since being in the hobby for years, think they know it all. And alot of them are tighter than a wooden nickel! :D

ME? Hmmm, age-20 years= flying since 4 years old...Wow, I should be a TOC competitor by now! :D

I was taught to pitch the bands when you were done for the day and I stuck by this. If nothing else I think it was my instructors way of letting me know to take no chances with such a simple thing. I can see both sides of the discussion and definately if something else works for you, by all means continue to do so.

[BuzzBomber]

Most of today's trainers use #64 rubber bands to attach the wings to the fuselage.

I don't mean to drag this off topic, but this is something that drives me batty. You see, my lazy sunday flyer is a Sig Kadet LT-25. Due to the big fat wing(chord is quite a bit more than most other trainers), size #64 rubber bands are a little too short, and you need #67 bands. Unfortunately, I'm stuck using #64s and since I have to stretch them to their limits, little strips of aluminum to keep them from crushing the wing. Wanna know why? #67s are apparently molded from a silicon rubber-unobtanium compound. Nobody around here has ever heard of them, and though many websites have them listed, they're either out of production or out of stock. Back on topic, use whatever works, either recycle or use freshies, just remember to inspect ALL bands before counting on them to hold your plane together.

[tailskid2]

Try using two # 64's tied together instead of the single 64's. I know what you mean, I've been there, done that....

Jerry

[Viper Pilot]

Convert to bolt-mounted wing!!!

[50+AirYears]

For me, for a plane under 5 pounds, set the wing on with on band on each wide, and one on each side for each pound or fraction of a pound of weight, then another pair crossed over to hold the rest on the pegs. Over 5 pounds, 2 per side, followed by the same 1 per side per pound or fraction, then 1 or 2 crossed for security. A 3 pound 15 powered plane would use about 10 bands, a 6 pound cabin job would have 18 or 20. Only lost one wing, and that was because I was using some cheapies from the stationary department of a certain Big Box discount chain. Pulled out of a loop, and saw the bands go flying. A couple I was able to find had snapped.
I will reuse a certain portion of the bands for maybe one or two other times but the only time I reuse a full set is on my electrics.

[fhhuber506771]

If you are going to reuse rubber bands... use corn MEAL not corn starch.. corn starch makes a gooey mess of them. (well OK.. use the starch then you'll toss em out because they're a mess :p )

Compare a used rubber band to a new one some time. take your new plane and new rubber bands.. fly (make sure oil gets on the bands).. remove the bands and put in corn meal.. shake well.. wait a week.. now put one brand new band out of the original box next to one of the used ones.

If you ever actually put a used band back on after that.. remind me to get under a table when you fly.

[ivanc]

If you are going to reuse rubber bands... use corn MEAL not corn starch.. corn starch makes a gooey mess of them. (well OK.. use the starch then you'll toss em out because they're a mess :p )

Compare a used rubber band to a new one some time. take your new plane and new rubber bands.. fly (make sure oil gets on the bands).. remove the bands and put in corn meal.. shake well.. wait a week.. now put one brand new band out of the original box next to one of the used ones.

If you ever actually put a used band back on after that.. remind me to get under a table when you fly.
If you're ever going to use rubber bands... compare a NEW USED rubber band but never flown to a NEW UNUSED right out of the box: get one out of the box an put it on the plane; take it off right away and put it next to another one out of the box. You'll see the "used new" one to be stretched. Would that mean it's damaged? I don't think so. I'm reusing rubber bands as long as they are not damaged and still have enough resistance when I put them on the plane. But if I would have the slightest doubt in a rubberband (even new out of the box) I would throw it away.

[fhhuber506771]

Each restretch actually damages the rubber...

Hmm.. lets risk a $300 (minimum) model for about 20 cents worth of rubber bands when planning to burn $1.50 worth of fuel... makes sense to me. (not at all)

[hillbilly]

In all my time flying kadets and even my kwick fly, I have never used more than EIGHT #64 rubber bands and have never had a either plane come down with the wing crooked or anything. I really didnt think that this discussion would get to this level. I guess opinons really are like belly buttons, every body has at least one! :)

[noveldoc]

If you get sick of the corn starch mess, try a baggie with some kitty litter.

We use it in the hospital to soak up all sort of gooey messes.

Tom

[hogflyer]

I've been reusing rubberbands for 35 years and have never lost a plane due to a rubber band break. Have I had a rubberband break in flight? Yes, and anybody who has flown a lot with rubberbands probably has. I do check my rubberbands before I put them on - used and new. I've had new rubberbands break when I stretch them out for the first time, and if I feel one is not up to the job (new and used) then it gets pitched. I used to put them in talc but found it tended to dry them out and have never had any issue with exhaust residue causing any problems. So for me I'll continue using them. For the number of rubberbands I use, it depends on the size of plane. For 1/2A I generally use 8, for .40 I'll use 10 - 12, and on the rare occasion I'd fly .60 I'll use 12 - 16, but for anything above .40/.46 I tend to prefer bolting the wing on.

Hogflyer

[Wingwrecker]

Wow. To think I read this whole thread... I need to go fly; with my nylon bolt... ;)

[Brother2]

Wow. To think I read this whole thread... I need to go fly; with my nylon bolt... ;)

Word.

[50+AirYears]

Wow! An almost 3 year gap, then resurrection!

Frankly, I just wash the plane with some spray and paper towels, pull the wing, roll the used rubber bands in a piece of towel, throw away any showing too much lightening or nicking on the edges from being overstressed, then put the rest into the plane for the initial positioning of the wing next time. I rarely reuse more than half those bands next time, even on electrics.

Of course, I grew up using castor oil as a rubber lubricant on rubber ff models toextend rubber life.

[Rodney]

Another lubricant we used to use (back in the rubber band powered days) was glycerine and green soap. We'd just go down to the local drug store and get a bottle of each, swab down the bands with a 50/50 mixture and go fly. Seems like our rubber power lasted forever.

[50+AirYears]

Now I have a couple small 1 ounce bottles of a commercial model rubber lube I bought at LHSs, Sig and Micro-X, and 2 8 ounce free samples of an industrial rubber lube. Probably a lifetime supply.

[jetmech05]

airplane $300 to 400....12 rubber bands....pennies......peace of mind...priceless....
never lost a rubber band, ever, until I was short one day. Borrowed one from a friend from his corn stratch bag of reused rubber bands...thats the one that broke...
I teach my students to cut off the rubber bands..

[Ira NZ]

I just give the rubber bands a quick stretch and then if it doesn't break I put it on the plane. Afterwards they all go into a slimy pile in my flight box ready for next week. Never had any actually break in flight. And I've tried!:P They're only there to hold the rear end of the wing down anyway, so it's not like they're holding the lifting force of the wing in a high G maneuver.

[fhhuber506771]

With many planes... the bands take the full load to keep the wing on.

Having a dowel at the front and rubber bands holding the rear on is somewhat uncommon.

[Ira NZ]

Guess mine really rare, it has two dowels.

[abenn]

What size are #64 (and #67) bands :confused:

The bands I've got in my box are 1/2" wide, about 1/16" thick, and about 4-1/2" long, unstretched. My local hobby shop has them in a few different lengths, and we use 6 or 8 at a time. Subject to pre-flight inspection, they last for several flights :)

[fhhuber506771]

#64 are appx 1/4 inch X 3/64 X 3 inch (dia) when limp.

Yours sounds like #72 I think... (If I remember correctly) and each would count as 2 of the #64's

I believe its #108 that is double the #64 in both width and length, but the same thickness.

[50+AirYears]

Since a number of my planes stretch the 64s to their limit, I've had individual bands, even new ones, break. Even on electrics. I only lost one plane because of band failure, an aerobatic glow job where I shorted the hold down by a couple bands per side. Lawn dart/flettner rotor wing combo.