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As long as none of these are severe in nature
- they can be repaired easily with some house hold ingredients,
Crazy Glue and Baking Soda! There are two types of repair that can be done using the
following
procedure. One is the repair of a prop tip - this is where a split
is found at the tip of a wood prop. The other is where a prop had been
nicked by something striking it, either wood or composite.
When you mix house hold baking soda with super-glue,
(there are a number of kinds of "Crazy Glue", if your are working
on composite props you need one kind, wood props another) its strength increases tremendously.
When doing repairs mix VERY small amounts, 1 mg of crushed
baking soda with 2 ml of glue can be mixed in an old tablespoon.
Once mixed immediately apply it to the damaged area, if it is a
crack at the end of the prop blade try moving the parts to allow
better penetration.
Where possible make a SMALL "V" groove on each side of the
blade where the crack is. You will have to work fast, the baking
soda will make the glue harden very quickly. Use a small paint
brush to apply several thin layers rather than one heavy layer.
As each layer hardens, lightly sand the area, clean and apply
the next layer.
Once the crack or split has been sealed and repaired you can
use a two pat epoxy as a filler. To do this mix a small amount of
baking soda into the active part of the epoxy, mix and then add
the hardener.
Again apply in thin layers, when applying the epoxy allow
it to become tacky and then use your finger tip, dipped into a
dishwashing mixture of 20 ml of water to one drop of water, to
spread the epoxy around. The soap solution will stop it from
sticking to your finger.
Once set, sand lightly and reapply until you have a nice smooth
finish. When finished the prop needs to be balanced. To do this
lightly sand a wood prop, and then clean it with acetone.
Composite props need only be cleaned with acetone.
You balance a prop using a prop balancer and adding weight to
the light end of the prop, by apply either layers of clear coat or
paint.
CAUTION: Prop repair can and should ONLY be done on small nicks
and cracks - a prop that has major damage to it should be
replaced. I have been in a plane that lost a prop blade in flight
- it tore the engine off the plane before I could shut the engine
off!!!!
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