Foam Honey-Coming Weight savings

[Dave Burton]

IMO, the best way to save a couple of ounces is by careful wood selection of
contest grade balsa resulting in less compromise of wing integrity.
Dave
  -----Original Message-----
  From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On
Behalf Of David Lockhart
  Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:44 PM
  To: discussion at nsrca.org
  Subject: Re: Foam Honey-Coming Weight savings


  With regard to the weight savings of the glue that has been mentioned by
several people..............you can save the glue weight whether you
honeycomb or not.

  I've done wings both ways - to me, it is clearly not worth the fuss on
thin airfoils (or stabs, or rudders/fins).  I use the same amount of glue
either way, so even on the fatter wings, the weight savings is at most 1 oz
per panel - and without a doubt, the wing becomes more prone to damage from
hanger rash.

  Dave

  ----- Original Message -----
    From: AtwoodDon at aol.com
    To: discussion at nsrca.org
    Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:30 PM
    Subject: Re: Foam Honey-Coming Weight savings


    The amount of weight saved by honeycombing a wing is more than the foam
weight.  It is a combination of the foam weight and the epoxy or adhesive
you don't use in those areas.  Once the foam is honeycombed, take the
template and very lightly mark the outline of the honeycomb on the inside of
each wing skin.  Then only apply adhesive to the areas of the balsa skin
that will contact the foam.  The combination of the foam weight reduction as
well as the reduced adhesive will give you the greatest reduction.
Admittedly, the reduction is not large but when you consider reducing an
ounce in a 11 or 12 oz wing panel, the percentage is respectable.

    Don Atwood

    you have the wing honeycombed, In a message dated 7/27/2005 7:22:37 P.M.
Pacific Daylight Time, kerlock at comcast.net writes:
      Yup a little.

      Whether it's worth it or not totally depends on the amount of weight
you're looking for. Actually cutting the honeycomb isn't too difficult or
time consuming, but making the templates can be a little painstaking.
However once you have them, you have them for a few planes.

      I am currently running a fairly thick tip section, and performed
honeycombing on the outer half of the wing panel past the spars. It saved
about an ounce per panel compared to the first set I made. So, you save a
couple of ounces, and remove some mass from your wingtips. Does it help? I'm
sure it doesn't hurt, and theoretically (being the operative word) it can
help in dampening snaps and spins...but not a lot, unless your tips are
really heavy to begin with.

      If you're building an electric or a plane that historically comes out
close to the limit, it could be worth the effort. I'm not sure it's worth it
on a 10 lb or less plane.

      Just my 2 cents.
      -Mike
        ----- Original Message -----
        From: Jim_Woodward at beaerospace.com
        To: discussion at nsrca.org
        Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:46 PM
        Subject: Foam Honey-Coming Weight savings



        Hi Guys,

        Does anyone happen to have some experience in weight reductions from
foam honey-combing?  Wing cores, stab cores, vertical fin and rudder cores?
Maybe a 25% weight reduction?

        Thanks,
        Jim W.
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