Help, my Sailaire is ready for it's big day

[flystoolow]

Before I heave this giant Gentle Lady, how do you keep the full flying stab halves on???

It has two 4 or 5 inch metal rods that slide into brass tubes...but no screw hold downs or anything. And they slide out nice and easy!

[ShaverR6]

Try bending one of them very slightly, worked for my bird of time

[cosmicpossum]

Glue stick was recommended to me and it worked great for my Aquila.

[equest]

Another method that is commonly used is to rub the metal rods with a Glue Stik. The glue will create friction within the tubes, but yet allow you to remove the stabs when you are done flying.

Equest

[flystoolow]

Do you mean the glue sticks elementary kids use or a hot melt glue stick...without the heat.

[Batmanwpg]

Put the rod in a vice with about 1/2" sticking up and tap it with a hammer to put a small bend in the very end of the rod. That will keep it in place when the stab halves are assembled. I glue the rods into the other half of the stab with a small drop of cyano. If you ever need to remove the rods just heat with a soldering iron and it will break the glue bond, twist the rod with a pair of pliers and pull the rod out.

[AcintSpec]

Can also use citrus fruit innards on the metal rods. Acid from orange/lemon/lime/etc. causes rust, the easy fit is no longer. If too rusty, light sand paper will trim the rust.

[IBWALT]

I have used beeswax for years. It's an all natural renewable resourse. :D Works great and lasts a long time. Plus it has many other uses.

Walt

[lincoln]

I've used bowstring wax. There's also some kind of what I think is surfboard wax, to make your feet stick better, called, I kid you not, Sex Wax. Or at least there was at one time. About the same as bowstring wax. (as in archery)

I think it would be really cool to glue a rare earth magnet inside the brass tube and cut the joiner rod to exact length.

In the past, I've seen people use collars and setscrews.

[mocgp]

I built mine 20 years ago and took advantage of the size of the stab root area to cut a channel through the mid section and use a retainer spring. The channel has a slight "C" shape based on the radius of the arc.

[Twizter68]

I've used bowstring wax. There's also some kind of what I think is surfboard wax, to make your feet stick better, called, I kid you not, Sex Wax.

That's Dr. Zog's Sex Wax- The Best Wax For Your Stick!

-Twiz, who got his nickname, and thus his username, as a surfer in the 80's

[lincoln]

That's Dr. Zog's Sex Wax- The Best Wax For Your Stick!

-Twiz, who got his nickname, and thus his username, as a surfer in the 80's
Ok, so now I know that memory was not a hallucination.

[lincoln]

I built mine 20 years ago and took advantage of the size of the stab root area to cut a channel through the mid section and use a retainer spring. The channel has a slight "C" shape based on the radius of the arc.
I bet you could put a little notch out on each end of the rod and have a spring that engaged it.

[enrico74ec]

I never secured it with anything on mine, it basically stays put no mater what. For a bit more reasurance, bend one of the rods slightly to create a presure fit. My viking Mk I has the same isue and I fixed it like that. Enjoy the bird it is a great flyer!!!
Enrico

[kzimmerm]

Do you mean the glue sticks elementary kids use or a hot melt glue stick...without the heat.


Good old glue stick elementary kids use. I've been doing this for years. I like it the best. What you will find that over time there will be a slight build-up which can be sanded off.

I've done most of the other suggestions, flatten the end of the joiner rod, bending the joiner rod and even apply CA on the joiner rod. Never tried the bees-wax although I'm sure it would work just as well as the glue stick.

So any pics?

Did you fly it yet?

Good luck.
Kurt

[williamson]

Several people have recommended use of a glue stick. I have used a glue stick for both flying stabs and for wing rods. The results have been great.

I wouldn't recommend an ordinary glue stick because the glue can eventually harden. The kind of glue stick recommended to me and used by me is a Post-It glue stick. The glue is the same as that used on Post-It notes. The tack is strong enough to keep things from sliding, but the glue never sets.