Warbird Information Exchange

You PT guys, what are you using for epoxy to old the wood together????

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Haven't used it in any aviation projects ,but I know from doing wood working projects that GORILLA GLUE joints will hold to the point that the wood fibers fail first-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Another good epoxy to use on wood is the West System, used in boatbuilding. I've seen it used a couple times in aircraft, but it was in a kitplane magazine, not on PT's.
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/

HTH

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T-88 seems to be the popular choice. I know that many of the experimental guys and pre-war Aeronca guys use it. There are some hold-outs for resourcinol.

I'll be using resourcinol to attach the spar reinforcing plates on my Champ when I rebuild the spars, but I used T-88 on the ribs for my Hatz project...

You might want to check on the legality of using epoxy for a restoration. There was a thread on this a couple of months back.

Good point. A lot of it goes back to the IA who will be signing off the work and his/her preferences. Mine likes T-88, I'm sure there are some who don't.

Providing it stays absolutely dry. If it gets wet the joint will just fall apart.

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Have your IA talk to his PMI over at the FSDO. If this is a typical wood repair then you will be filing a 337 form. The FAA is real squirmy with epoxy glues. As far as the FAA is concerned, the only "approved current" glue is resorcinal. Addison Pemberton used West system on his Boeing 40. Classic Waco uses West on their new aircraft but are not willing to share any certification data (who can blame them?)

Don't even think about using gorilla glue. The FAA will toss you out on your ear if they hear that. All the FAA wants to hear is MilSpec or AC43.13 approved. Gorilla glue doesn't fit in that category. If it's a major rebuild job get a field approval run through the FSDO before you glue stick one. Our FSDO down here is fairly wood ignorant so I have been working with them to educate them. A long process.

While T-88 is good stuff, I would tend to favor West due to more certified aircraft are flying with that epoxy system.

Hope this helps.

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Bill Goebel
aka TPFD

Vintage Aircraft Services
Aircraft restoration and rebuilding
Rhome, TX

http://www.vintageaircraftservices.net

Thanks guys. Yea I got a chuckle on the gorilla glue. He has been talking with the FAA guy that comes to the FBO that we work out. He seems like a good understanding guy and has expressed interest in working with him. He is leaning towards the West System himself as he has done some boat work in the past.

Will keep you posted as things progress up here in VT. He still has not become a WIX member yet so I will continue to be the middle man in the PT-23 Story in VT. Should be some new news after saturday.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

west systems is the bomb!! it is so versatile, & holds up to any application or conditions as to heat / cold / moisture / dryness. i've sold the heck out of it for years on boats..... wood metal & fiberglass. my sales of the product speaks for itself!! it has overtaken the bondo, evercoat products by leaps & bounds. it has now since been applied to so many projects well beyond boats where it has it's origins.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

The Bristol Boxkite replica project here at the RAAF Museum uses the West System, it's certified as a homebuilt with the SAAA under the Australian limited category (I think!) while the RAAF Museum's static restoration of their Mosquito, while otherwise keeping to original standards and materials is using West.

http://www.boxkite2014.org/

A friend of mine in Iceland was investigating alternatives for his rebuild of a wooden Miles aircraft - he was considering West, but IIRC, that wouldn't be acceptable to the CAA if the aircraft was to be sold or imported to the UK.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com