Making round parts round

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:02 am

Okay, I've assembled the nacelle halves together, puttied and sanded smooth. Now the sides where the seams are have a flattened edge. Is there a way I can correct this?

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:32 am

Babaganoosh wrote:Okay, I've assembled the nacelle halves together, puttied and sanded smooth. Now the sides where the seams are have a flattened edge. Is there a way I can correct this?

Sand in a figure-eight pattern, from the front of the nacelle to the back.

Hope this helps.

Kenny

Darkov · Post by **Darkov** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:09 am

Sounds like you could use some flexi-files. They work Great on rounded surfaces.

rpauly · Post by **rpauly** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:01 am

Darkov wrote:Sounds like you could use some flexi-files. They work Great on rounded surfaces.

[Homer]Mmmm.... Flexi-files....[/Homer]

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:26 pm

I was thinking about putting it in a bench clamp horizontally and taking a strip of sandpaper and sanding it like a shoeshiner would shining your shoes. The styrene is so thin though that the pressure of the clamp would break the part or pop a seam.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:55 pm

Do you have a jeweller's saw? If you do, do as I do (do be do, wop be doo): Cut a thin strip of sandpaper ('bout 1/4" to 3/8" wide â€“ sanding film holds up better than paper-backed) and a bit longer than the saw's maximum opening. Fold the two ends of the strip "grit inside" around a little piece of plasctic card or thick, stiff cardboard, then attach them to both saw holders (my saw has simple flat blocks, tightened with wing nuts) and adjust the moving arm to the desired "tautness" (I'd suggest not too taut, so that you can sand really nice curves). In essence, a "counterfeit" flex-i-file.

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:09 pm

I bet I could make one out of popsicle sticks.

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:52 pm

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/SG1fan1/hmff.jpg

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:44 pm

How is your home made flexi-file working? Hopefully well. I always thought flexi-files were interesting, but never saw the need to get one. Then I was given one for Christmas a couple years ago. Now I don't know how I ever lived without it. It makes sanding curves deliriously easy. If I'd only known just how useful these things are I'd have bought one yeeeeaaaars ago.

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:46 pm

dunno yet. I'll let you know in a little while.

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:24 pm

eh, it worked alright for a little while but the band kept falling off.

I cut a piece of palm-sized sandpaper and worked the part in my hand like it was a...um, baseball bat? Kept twisting it in my hand for a minute and then looked at the results. Getting there...

Post by **TER-OR** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:47 pm

Larger pieces of wood or plastic, fine wet-sanding paper and the handyman's secret weapon - Duct Tape.

Let the grit do the work for you, don't push it.

Or contact cement, wetsanding paper, and a foam sponge pad.

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 9:17 am

Flexi files or sanding sticks are the way to go...I find sanding sticks have enough bend in them to do things like nacelles and such, but flexi files are good too.

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Making round parts round

Making round parts round

Re: Making round parts round