Give a man sealed balsa wood and he’ll make a composite core structure for a day. Teach a man how to seal balsa wood and he’ll make composite core structures for a lifetime.

so.......I've found some cool channels over the years. & this is one of the coolest. Perhaps google upgraded its recommendation algorithms or I just got lucky. It was a great find though. Interesting & useful yet somewhat diverse content. I already got more stuff than I have time to watch, which is why I hardly ever need to seek out new channels. & damn this dude is smart. & man do I wish I could afford all that nifty apparatus myself. I Need a neighbor like this.....I'm considering relocation lol.

@M1keLucien

6 жыл бұрын

I just had the same experience :)

@WrinkleRelease

5 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I'm really impressed at his knowledge base.

@timothyandrewnielsen

4 жыл бұрын

Let's all be his neighbor. We'll start a cult of engineers and end up migrating to Mars in 20 years.

@lordslavik

4 жыл бұрын

what are your other favorites?

@carrotbailey

4 жыл бұрын

Same homie. I’d watch this dude talk about anything. One day my shop will be like his i hope

Seriously.... thank you for all of your videos.. I’ve watched a fair amount of your posts but never commented, but dammit it’s time.. The range of subjects and processes that you tackle are a GOLDMINE to makers, breakers, thinkers, and tinkerers, and you should know that your time and effort is most definitely appreciated. You explain each process in such a way that it almost seems like you know what I’m going to ask before I do. All in all, every one of your videos have taught me something invaluable or made me think about a process/project in a new way. To be completely honest, half of the time I end up at one of your videos by accident through auto play or the random suggested video scroll panel; now being a perfect example. I started out researching piezoelectric synthetics and their frequencies aaaaand now I’m here lol.. That being said, Im pretty happy that I landed on this particular video though, as Ive been thinking hard about a homemade boat project and had all but written off the idea of using wood (of any type) for the the frame/stringers. After seeing this video though, balsa frames aren’t looking too shabby (when compared to the cost/weight of composite paneling)... Thank you very much for walking through materials comparison and epoxy/filler process! Anyway, sorry for the novel.. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make these videos and (more importantly) for going into such fine detail and explaining the science, nuances, and reasoning behind each project. It is very much appreciated. Best, Thomas

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks, that's very kind and it's reassuring to hear that after spending a considerable amount of time on these projects. Oh, we're currently building a hydrofoil catamaran.

this is the best channel since I found AvE many years ago. and thanks to this excellent video I have a newly found love and appreciation for Balsa wood! thank you!

@ollieb9875

6 жыл бұрын

Brian Boatright dead tree carcasses! 😀😀

@nicewhenearnedrudemostlyel489

5 жыл бұрын

Many years ago? Like, six tops?

Your channel is so wonderful. So educational. I am excited to try new things. Thank you.

This is so cool. Why have I never seen this channel before? Great work guys and I love seeing the material experimentation for all of these projects. It's awesome that you guys do solid research for your projects rather than just throwing a bunch of stuff together hoping that it works out. Keep up the great videos!

Absolutely love your work. I am employed as a machinist/technician at Carleton University, Canada's premier university for mechanical engineering. I am involved in a large variety of projects from aerospace, mechatronics to biomed and beyond. It just never stops and that's great!! :). Your lab is fantastic...cozy and very cottage like. Seems like a good place to sleep. Ha Ha! I am eager to watch ALL of your stuff and to see future vids as well. I agree with some of the other comments regarding the music. Just doesn't fit the mood. Wishing you the best. With respect. Ian

Thanks for putting this info up. Happy to have come across your video. I have been debating core materials for the last 6 months to use on a fire wall repair on my Lotus Europa. I had looked into Coosa board and Nida Core manufactured materials, but after your demonstration of the properties of end grain balsa I think I have a winner. I also appreciate the extra info on proper preparation with coating epoxy/micro balloons on the core to promote adhesion and reduce wicking.

You have a incredible ability to teach with efficiency in doing so that astounds me,I genuinely hope you make good from doing these videos cause you deserve every bit

Your channel is so beyond detailed. Thank you so much for the time you take to share your vast knowledge.

Great way to avoid the balsa from sucking up a bunch of epoxy with the micro spheres. I assumed you were going to use a higher viscosity epoxy that didn't wick, but this is a far better solution. Really interesting channel, I just discovered it today and am looking forward to going through your videos.

@deyc3

4 жыл бұрын

I'm wondering if whipping air into it would achieve the same result?

@heinzhaupthaar5590

3 жыл бұрын

I usually just use one resin, a very low viscosity infusion resin, and no additives. To avoid excessive wicking I just brush on a Layer, wait until its geltime is reached and proceed. With extremely spongy and sucky materials I do it twice if needed. Tested it and in many cases it's lighter and stronger as well compared to other solutions, the bonding is way better. Test pieces didn't delaminate/buckle or whatever, like they did with about any other method, the core material simply ripped apart. And not just end grain Balsa, even with Baltic Birch, Acorn etc., Airex or XPS - the poor folks Airex - of course just crumbles no matter which way. I believe it makes the core material an integral part of the composite structure, with a wet-in-wet layup on top of a "wood epoxy composite" instead of incorporating a failure point on purpose, and with the gradually decreasing epoxy content in the wood it seems to have an excellent load distribution. It's rather hard to get the process perfectly repeatable though, a spray gun and metered amounts would be the least I guess. But as amateur or for one offs - who cares? Try it! It's simple and you don't need any unnecessary additives.

Your children are so very fortunate to have you as their father,genetically and as a role model

Every single time that I see one of your videos, I know I'll learn something new, and every single time I am amazed at how much information and details about a very specific subject you can deliver! Simply amazing Thanks

Thank you for the work you do on these videos. They have inspired my to research areas of science I wouldn't have otherwise. KZreadrs like you reinvigorate my passion for science.

@TechIngredients

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Gosh! I've recently watched some of your more recent videos about resins, but only just realised the breadth of your expertise across a range of technologies. This is all as impressive as it is meticulously explained.

@TechIngredients

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great video and explanation of how (sandwich) fillers work, and tradeoffs. Love the info on balsa. I have not used it yet, but this video has convinced me to get some to experiment with. I am working on a project which will require every lightweight construction technique I can come up with.

Absolutely superb explanation of the whys and how’s for us amateurs!! Thankyou

Fantastic videos. Please consider sharing your material sources. I think you could do well with affiliate sales from your website; cross listed and/or indexed by technology, videos and kits. Sourcing is half the battle for breaking into new technologies. Great shop/studio!

You are my science guru. It seems as though every project I stumble into, you tie in as source material in some form or another. Thank you, and please, keep it up!

@TechIngredients

3 жыл бұрын

Sure.

Always nice to learn how others tackle a challenge.. good content ! Thanks for sharing !!!

Boy did I get lucky finding this channel! I love it and have subscribed.

Thank you for the inspiration once again for self study into material sciences. Your videos are spot on, and you are a phenomenal teacher, not to mention i appreciate you trying to be precise with terminology. That really helps my searches.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you're here. Thanks!

Great channel!! I started watching you laser videos but always enjoy your in depth explanations. Can't wait for the RF stuff ;-)

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen in my life - thank you, Sir, for taking time to educate us!

I really appreciate the effort and care that you put into your videos. In this specific video, the background audio is really diverting my attention though. It made me stressed and unfocused. You have made some great improvements in the video production of your more recent videos. Very glad to see these changes. :) On the subject of how you explain and go about practical projects, I'm very impressed. Way to go! Excited for all upcoming content. Thank you!

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I've been a fan of composites for decades (used to sneak off to Jr. High school library to read up on what Bert Ratan was up to ) Thanks, informative.

Thank you for all the incredible information. Learning a lot today.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

Great, more incoming!

Thanks for all you do. Very educational.

I always wondered why boat decks had the little cubes of balsa. Now I know! I am so glad your channel got recommended by the algorithm!

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

Welcome!

Very cool, worked the aerospace industry for 30 years and seeing balsa core brings back memories, I also play with pulsejets so I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas for making yours more efficient. I’m burning 500cc/min to produce 12-18 lbs of trust. I’m high for the amount of thrust but don’t burn valves at any rate.

That opening statement awnsered every question i have 😂 thank you

Certainly a wealth of knowledge . Much appreciated 👍

Another fantastic video! Loving this channel more and more. :)

For sure my favorite channel

Thanks for demonstrating. I grew up with an inventor and laminates were the majority of the process.

Thank you for sharing! I love the music too!

Wow, so much useful information in one video 👌

I clicked on this video and seen that it had a thumbs down and I never did such a thing,maybe a glitch? I wonder..I changed it to a thumbs up cause all your videos deserves a thumbs up for sure

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking! Like other channels we have also had viewers complain that they were involuntarily unsubscribed. KZread has been redirecting viewers away from original content creators and toward corporate sites beginning around 2016. As you say, this may be just a glitch...

Awesome stuff! Love your videos.

Boy it'd be great if you made an update video on all your old projects. I want to hear about the APU and the armor and concrete!

Very good video and I have subscribed. Epoxy resin to hardener ratios are commonly specified by volume. Using a scale is more accurate (especially with smaller batches), less wasteful and less messy. Some epoxy manufactures give alternate ratios by weight, others don't but you can calculate it if you can get the densities from the product data sheets. For the products I use 2:1 by volume translates to 100:46 by weight, and 3:1 volume is 100:32 by weight.

Thanks a lot for this very informative video, appreciate the efforts

I've got some serious shed envy watching this :)

Thank you so much for this video. I've been looking for something that will provide a core for S2 fiberglass for building battery boxes for electric sprint karting that are both light and very strong (especially impact) while also resisting heat. I had looked at a lot of foams and hexagon materials that are as you say, very pricey or not that rigid. This seems like the best of both worlds.

Best demo on jet/fan propulsion I've seen. Great work on creating that hybrid too, I can see you machined most of those items... Impressive.

Hi and Thank you ! Super interesting. Like taking physics and chemistry which teachers always wanted to flunk me in though I liked them so much ! Yayyyyyy KZread and Tech Ingredients !!!!!!!!

Thanks, I did not know that you could buy balsa as end grain panels, useful.

@EggBastion

4 жыл бұрын

Quite!

Awesome video and the music made it much more cheerful, alive and vivid.

The very successful WW2 fighter bomber, the Mosquito, used a lot of balsa in its construction. Very good material, probably under rated in todays high tech world. Excellent video; I learnt a lot.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great show!

I really wish there wasn't music throughout the video. your more recent videos are so much better. I am very thankful for your channel. Please keep making videos.

@TechIngredients

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Nice, like to see more on videos on composite core construction, there are not many videos on what you did, Thanks again

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Thank you buddy , You have helped me

It's good to see you making a video in my field of work, I would tend towards using a vacuum to pre impregnate the core when using epoxy, especially for balsa wood its ability to wick is astounding or even using a thickened isothalic resin which gives less working time but uses less material.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

I have found pre sealing with the thickend epoxy works best if you can't get the surface sealed end grain balsa directly from Baltek.

I realize this is an old video and you'll not read this but I must say that your explanation of the forces at the beginning was excellent. You said the top is under tension and bottom under compression, which is how the limbs of bows work. This year marks my 42nd archery season and I collect bows. It is interesting how different cultures solve these parameters.

@TechIngredients

2 жыл бұрын

The universe is what it is, it's up to us to work with it. That's engineering no matter what the application.

One of the most educational channels on YT. Priceless for the time spent. I wonder if instead of filling the balsa with "nothing" (the micro spheres and the additional epoxy ) one would not get the same result by placing the mixed epoxy on the carbon fiber and laying flat the balsa on top letting them cure this way and then repeating the process for the other side. Some epoxy might capillary creep into balsa upwards but I doubt it to be too much. Just a thought... Anyway, I have learned a lot from you, so... thank you and keep up the fun education for the rest of us.

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The capillary action of the balsa channels will still draw the epoxy away from the carbon. The force of gravity is small by comparison.

@meandmybuddymcgee

5 жыл бұрын

@@TechIngredients Thank you! Another afterthought I had (after initial posting) was to lightly sandblast (or sandpaper) the carbon fiber creating some retention (wetting) A lot of fun anyway, thanks again.

Brilliant, watched a few now but please loose any music in the background. You don't need it. Its wonderfully instructive. Thanks.

Great video. Love all your great videos. Hopefully if possible please do video on FLASH GRAPHENE or something similar. I am planning to build the required capacitor bank on the lines of Rice University experiment.

VERY COOL!!! what a good idea

That is definitely useful. Thank you

@TechIngredients

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

I always learn something new with your videos. Thank you :)

Perfect timing. I was about to buld a light weight structure.

Thanks interesting video. I’ve never even thought of using cross gain balsa, I like it

@oddjobbobb

4 жыл бұрын

Len d I don’t think this is cross-grain balsa. That sounds like plywood. This is end-grain balsa. It is put together in small squares where the glued edges are the long grain, not the end grain. I think the manufacturers of sheets of end-grain balsa do this because one of the drawback is to this material is if the costing fails, in an underwater setting like the hull of a boat, or even on the deck, the balsa will wick water and saturate very quickly, and it rots very quickly. Making the sheet from small squares reduces how far and how quickly the water will migrate.

@stace5676

3 жыл бұрын

@@oddjobbobb The reason for using end grain balsa was explained early in the video with the bunch of straws, it has higher strength against bending when laminated.

Again a great video. I had no problems with the background music, but reading other comments, I think you could set the music volume to be slightly above "barely hearable". My main motivation for this comment, though, is that I think one could be a little more 'lazy' and give the carbon fiber sheet a coat of epoxy, then wait until it started hardening but still "tacky", then add the Balsa; I believe the epoxy would not get too deeply into the Balsa then. I also thought about the foam... popsicle+foam+popsicle+foam+popsicle ... this would only give you stiffness in one direction, though - however if you have no Balsa but a lot of foam and thin strips of wood, it could be an alternative to get lightweight stiffness. One could also use a bunch of thin strips to make a "torsion-box". -Or if you have a bunch of corrugated cardboard (it can be acquired as "paper-ish" rolls), you could make sheets / rolls and slice them into boards using a cheap (large) handsaw - thinned PVA glue is usually fine for gluing cardboard sheets (eg. from box sides).

Excellent interesting video as always!.. Thanks.. I would love meet you and visit your lab!

Another great video 👍. If you’d like the XPS to take a greater point load you can always try Owens Corning FOAMULAR 1000 😊

Absolutely fantastic content! Also watched the 'Easy Tricks Using Fiberglass Strengthening!' and I could't stop. So much knowledge, thank you for sharing it! I came across your channel looking for a solution. I'm building a sit/stand desk with quite a bit of weight of equipment attached to it. I decided to reinforce it with two steel plates where I would place two heavy-duty monitor arms. The problem is that the plates added quite a bit of weight, so much so that there is much more stress on the rear legs than the front ones (it's a 4-legged frame, with 4 separate motors). This contributes to a significant wobble at the start and finish of the motors' operation. Would you be able to recommend some kind of material I could use instead of the steel plates? It doesn't have to be the lightest possible (like balsa wood) but the steel in an overkill in this case.

Great info!

Thought it was called amorphous. Thixotropic, never heard of - guess you learn something new every day :) Thanks :)

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Sure!

Raka same stuff I use, great stuff..

Very interesting stuff, I like it. Wish you've shown strength of result composite though.

Outstanding presentation

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Cork would also be interesting to try

Love your work mate! If I may offer one small piece of criticism, the music is really unnecessary (and honestly a little distracting)

@kosh604

6 жыл бұрын

Agreed, the content presented on this channel does not profit from background music. Better to leave that to the entertainment channels.

@amendment2concepts299

6 жыл бұрын

I agree but I also find the content entertaining , I will say trying to imagine technical content with music going for me is tough but I have a coworker that is the total opposite..

6 жыл бұрын

Make your own damn videos and stop whining.

@nzpork1

6 жыл бұрын

I find it easier to concentrate on what he is saying with the music.

@odudex

6 жыл бұрын

Audio quality is great and this low volume music makes the class more pleasing, keep it!

Brilliant!!!

This is the best channel ever! A lot of these topics are things i'm quite familiar with so I always start watching this thinking i won't new anything new in terms of science but i might get inspired to try some new technique or whatever.. So far, i've never been right about the science part lol. The diversity of in-depth information keeps surprising me every time and its so impressive that your knowledge stretches out over such a wide range of expertise. Thanks again teach! keep em coming! PS. Could you tell me if the tubular orientation in your piece of balsa wood is manufactured like that specifically for use as a hybrid composite core, or is it a typical characteristic of sheets of balsa in general (im referring to the panels i can buy at my local hobby shop, would they most likey be suitable for this application?) cheers

@TechIngredients

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your kind words! Regarding the balsa, typical hobby balsa will not work. The tubular orientation is parallel to the surface in these boards. End grain balsa is specifically fabricated as a core material with its vertical grain orientation. It also makes for nice speaker panels if you have any left after your project.

So useful indeed

i found it fascinating

Putting that epoxy on the balsa looked like spreading Nutella on a warm piece of toast! I must be hungrier than I realized. :-)

Love the video, aweful music! ;)

Agreed with respect to music, your presentation is adaquate, better than crappy music.

Thanks for the videos, I love seeing some productive content rather than recycled rubish! I am curious though, do you feel this would seal the balsa enough to prevent rot long term? I would be worried about any penetration (e.g. screwing something into a panel) that might cause rot later.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

It works pretty well, but it still is a cellulose based material. Regarding fasteners, bore a hole much larger than the screw all the way through the first skin and the core, but not through the second skin. Fill the hole with thickened epoxy and once curred, screw into this.

I read down quite a ways looking to see if my question was already asked, but I didn’t see it. I am curious why you don’t immediately lay at least a lightweight piece of glass in the thickened resin a soon as you have the balsa coated. I NEVER fail to learn from your videos.

Love this!

@TechIngredients

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! More on the way and if you liked this, please subscribe. It really helps us out.

I love your content! I would love to see what’s going on with that gas powered APU lately ;)

In aircraft a similar product is GLARE glass laminate aluminium reinforced extrusion. Strong as and light as. Another one is a hexagonal aluminium sheet that’s about 10mm thick the hexagons are on the vertical axis and the aluminium is goddessly thin as in thin enough to easily slice your finger. And that honeycomb sheet has a GLARE top bottom and sides and is rigid in all dimensions with fantastic sheer strength. The GLARE outer layer is only about 1.2mm thick and has 2 aluminium layers between 3 glass layers. I’m sure there are more sizes but this is the one used at my work to make chart tables in the rear of our surveillance aircraft. They weigh less than the scales that measure them and can be stood on by an adult male. Well by you but not the average USA male these days. The sheet structure comes in very large panels and you cut it to shape and add the edging. I haven’t done it myself but I have seen a damaged table top that had a corner gouged out be repaired and the engineer said that once the crushed edge was removed that you just re edge it like it was originally and it just as strong as before. And I watched him do that. I’m the captain so I’m responsible and it was interesting as all get out. And yes I bled all over the floor and my flight suit playing with the cutoff. The air gap between the layers is sound muffling and the laminated faces reduce sharp sounds.

@robertchilders8698

Жыл бұрын

I learn something new every day! Thanks so much!

i like how you anthropomorphize the plate of metal

I feel like this would be a very good application of stabilizing resin, apply it to balsa prior to carbon fiber application. Downsize is the cost and added weight, but you may see some significant increases in rigidity and hardness.

I think that is the idea behind engineered trusses. A 2x2 or 2x3 as caps with a web of 1/2” or 3/4” plywood between the “two-bys.” The strength of a solid 2x8 or 2x10, 2x12 but much lighter and cheaper, the plywood web being much cheaper than solid high quality lumber. I was re-watching your panel speaker KZreads a couple days ago, and thought about them as I watched this today. As I recall one of the advantages of the foam insulation in the speaker builds was the cost factor. Also the light weight of the foam made them very easy to handle and to mount on walls. Just sort of spit-balling but do you think speaker panels made with balsa cores and carbon fiber skin would perform equal to or better than the foam insulation alone? Always enjoy your videos. As a result if this video, and using thickened resin to seal the surface of balsa , I am thinking that several shelves and bulkheads on my sailboat could be replaced. Some of the shelves in my galley are actually thick cardboard that I coated with resin. They have worked well for almost 10 years, but they are sagging now. I would flip them but coming out of a boat they aren’t symmetrical.

I've done this with boat repair. Used fiberglass rather than carbon fiber. West System sells the epoxy and a wide variety of fillers with various properties. If you look up boat repair you can get many good tips (and some bad ones).

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

You're right! We're building a hydrofoil catamaran at this time. Stay tuned.

Thanks for the nice video's! I watched a lot of them the last 2 days and learned a lot, I'm happy to have added you to my subscriptions list :) A question about these core constructions, did you consider a 3D printed core? I am working on an RC paramotor at the moment and am using a composite core construction but in this case the core is made of printed plastic. The thing I like about it is that you are free to make more complex shapes and the shapes get replicated accurately. The internal construction of the printed parts can easily be configured to be optimized for the load you expect to put on it.

@TechIngredients

6 жыл бұрын

Welcome and thanks. We have considered 3D cores. The engineered strength and dimensional freedom are attractive. The relatively slow printing speeds, so far, are not. Nevertheless, it's only a matter of time before the 3D systems become fast enough and the material prices drop from proprietary to commodity.

@StefsEngineering

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the answer! I understand that it is not even close to beeing an alternative in a production sense. I was mainly/only thinking about one-off jobs or small hobby runs as you are doing with these propeller blades. There are quite quick alternatives for FDM printers though, with large diameter nozzles and double heater elements that can make large shapes reasonably quick. it does require more sanding though to get the surface flat.

I love this channel! I keep ending back here for great DIY projects. I am watching this video as part of my quest to finding the best material for the DML loudspeaker you've also covered - have you considered testing the audio exciters on a panel of the balsa sandwich material? Or foam core carbon fiber panel?

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

Yes. The increased stiffness produced by the outer layer of cloth significantly reduces the sound output of the panels especially at the lower frequencies.

Great channel ! Super content. I was wondering what needs to be done to ensure the filled epoxy layer on the balsa adheres well to the carbon fiber layer? Sandpaper? flame ? plasma? THX.

@TechIngredients

3 жыл бұрын

Sandpaper works, but take a look at our later video on epoxy "Cheap and Strong" there is an easier, cleaner and stronger method.

Pallets for military and commercial aircraft utilize two inch cross grain balsa and .040" aluminum. These are 8x8 foot pieces. Very little bending and very light. Only downside is corrosion. I'm thinking you built a composite aircraft (VariEze) or some other Rutan design. Nice work.

Just revisiting this video after rewatching the "Super Strong Epoxy with Diamonds and More!" video from 2020. Out of those materials presented, would you stick with the phenolic microspheres for this application? The thought is to build a lightweight plane wing so with the UV exposure, maybe one of the powders from that video (graphite, aluminum, dendridic copper) would also be a good additive. In this instance, it would of course only make sense using balsa wood vs a foam core since the foam can be used with plain epoxy.

Love your content! two questions: Do you get your end grain balsa locally or mail order? Could you wait until the epoxy with filler has began to tack up, apply a new layer of epoxy and lay down fiber? I feel like the chemical bond might be better than the mechanical bond dependent on sanding the sealing layer.

@TechIngredients

4 жыл бұрын

We had ours left over from a sailboat construction project, but you can order sheets from Amazon. Your technique would be superior in strength and it would save time as well.

@TurbineResearch

3 жыл бұрын

@@TechIngredients my question is similar to this. After applying the thickened epoxy as shown can you directly apply fabric on top of that ? Then top coat with regular epoxy? Thank you for your videos !

Another Awesome video! Have you looked into honeycomb cardboard? I used it a couple times in the past with aluminum sheeting and it worked great. Sealing edges was really the hardest part of the job.

Hi, Where did you purchase your supplies? Who is the manufacture for the metal rollers? Awesome videos!!!

This is amazing. Thanks! Also, would using fiber glass instead of carbon fiber have a similar resistance to bending?

@christopheraugustine5816

3 жыл бұрын

Look into S glass rather than the more readily commercially available E glass. The idea is that the outer layers constrain the movement, the center (balsa, in this case) simply makes them work together rather than independent of one another. S glass will offer excellent characteristics for this purpose, but it does lack the "cool factor" of the carbon.

This topic was well presented. May I ask a few questions. NOTE, I ask these questions because I have not yet found any other site that discusses the weight (or specific density) of the end grain balsa that is sealed with any material and also provides the weight of the reference balsa that is unsealed. ~~ Have you or anyone developed an optimized sealer for balsa where the control (reduction) of weight is the primary objective? ~~ Can the phenolic spheres be measured by volume in order to simplify the formulation? ~~ When purchasing the end grain balsa, what density did you purchase and did you weight the balsa prior to your demonstration? ~~ What was the weight of the resin/phenolic mixture that you prepared and what was the remaining weight after you applied it to your sample? ~~ With a scale that can weigh materials to 0.01 grams, could the formulations be developed based on weight? ~~ How much weight of epoxy in the carbon fiber sandwich would be saved by sealing the end grain balsa? ~~ Are there any published sources for this information related material weight?

@TechIngredients

5 жыл бұрын

Those are a fair number of questions. We used the most common balsa density of 6.5 lb/cubic foot. The phenolic microspheres are the lightest available filler for thickening the epoxy. The approximate density of the thickened epoxy is 70% of the pure epoxy. The quantity used is variable and depends significantly on your application technique. Do not attempt to apply the cloth whether carbon or glass to unsealed balsa because the balsa will wick away the epoxy from the interface and prevent a good bond.