3D Bandsaw for Building RC Planes?

[Notorious B.E.N.]

I'm going to be starting to cut out the control surfaces on my Dalton 300 soon. For the ailerons, I'm going to use a small box cutter and a straight edge. I will probably do the same with the elevators but I might try a bandsaw since they're smaller and easier to handle. I'm also thinking about the bandsaw for the rudder since I would like it to have the counter balance and cutting a straight line on a curve could be difficult.

For the elevators and rudder, could I use a 9" bandsaw or do I need something bigger?

I have limited space so I need something that can be stored.

Also, what about blades for cutting. Do I need anything special?

 

[Mark Harper]

I don't do a lot of building, but when I do I use either an exacto knife or a razor saw for balsa. I think a band saw would tear it up pretty bad, but then I've never tried it either.

 

[SleepyC]

A band saw does work, but you have to be really careful. When we did my Dalton, we left the wings, stabs and rudder in 1/2 it's foam shuck to hold the surface flat to the table and then slowly pushed it through the band saw. The blade we used had very fine teeth and it didn't hurt the balsa or foam at all.

 

[Notorious B.E.N.]

Well, like I said, it's primarily just to cut the counter balance on the rudder cleanly. I may also use it to cut out the elevators and the rest of the rudder.

 

[sweetpea]

I go the Ryobi one from HD. Only thing I didn't like about it was how close the blade was to the unit. makes cutting large width items difficult. Blade teeth were great for cutting foam rudders.

 

[Notorious B.E.N.]

I read the Ryobi was crap but maybe they've improved it since going to the new green one.

 

[jtec/radiowave]

You may be able to do it with you 9 " band saw but remember you need to get it into the throat of the saw. So what you need to do when marking it up is make sure you mark the side so the cut will clear the inboard side (throat of the saw ) ask me how I know!! LOL.

A more crude way it to make both sides of the shuck. get two long straight edges, tape or clamp them on to the top and bottom. ( leave a little space for sanding the final fit. You can use a hacksaw blade and run it up on the straight edge, be carful and take your time. You can do the final sanding for fit.

Al

 

[jhelber08]

You mean my sawzall won't work?

I have the little ryobi and like sweat pea said there is not much clearance between blade and the saw. Works good for little odd's and ends but I think it would be a hassle for cutting control surfaces.

 

[jtec/radiowave]

Yeah it will get the job done for sure!! LOL

 

[sweetpea]

I had the old blue one. Great saw, just not for big items like wings. Unless you have a helper, but even then the blade is too close to the unit