Carving Props

I figured it was you Robert , i am a member over at HPA and there is a lot of people from all over the world on there forum , most it seems are FF guys there are some tips there and people that do make there own props . >> https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_plans/details.php?image_id=12023&mode=search had a article but in PDF and want open here ... Your prop looks good hope it works as expected..

Very good work

I remembered the carving a propeller in a page of Ladybird Books Air, Wind and Flight, a book from my childhood days.

Hi rdw777,
Beautiful work, thanks for sharing.
I've tried it. 1974?  Pushy Cat, OS.15, the only pusher prop I could get was an 8-6, that did not work.
Found some info in model mags, and set out to carve my own wood 'pusher 8-4'...
Everything went well.
I got to the stage of your first photo, put it on the plane to admire it... Then realized, it was a RH pitch !  
The LH prop was easier to do with that practice.
It worked,  and flew the Pushy Cat to several under powered flights...
At that time, the pusher thrusts on that OS.15 had done it's toll.
Last pusher plane I've tried...
The prop making was interesting. Marking it out carefully, then shape to that.
Not sure what wood I used (the article said to avoid knots !) Sealed with Buterate dope.
I do remember that it was as 'flexible' as the all nylon props of the day...
Some wood props were were advertised as 'Hard Rock Maple'... Mine was probably semi fine grained ceder or spruce !
As usual,
Your results may vary...
My hint,
Make sure it is a LH or RH while marking it out, then, carve away...
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave

Nice Job , I like the looks of it too !

Nice work on the gun stock Bob ….. Looks like it was “let in” at the factory for a custom order…. I’ve got a couple of stocks that need repair and refinish…. What do you use for finish?…. The prop pitch is set by the height of the prop blank

Thanks for the articles Eric ….. I like to read so that will keep me occupied for awhile    

Love the artwork on the book Levent, And nice that you still have it…..The image of the boy with the knife reminds me of my dad teaching me, Always cut away from you….He taught us how to sharpen too…. Funny, We all carried pocket knives as kids, And I still do today…. A little Buck knife I’ve carried most of my life….



The article I stumbled onto was for a pusher as well Dave….. I just back tracked the information and made it the size and shape I wanted….




Thanks akg  ….It was a satisfying little project….. I’ll probably make some more…

I have this Wenger Swiss Army standard issue with alox handles. 2.75" Blade, screwdriver, cap lifter, small screwdriver, can opener, reamer, awl and scraper. Discontinued in 2013. I think that a folding knife is best companion of a kid

I searched Buck 303. Beautiful one and still manufactured.

https://www.buckknives.com/product/303-cadet-knife/0303FAM01/

Many years ago, about 40. I needed some 6" x 6" props for FAI Speed and could not find what I wanted so decided to make some. There was a machine called a Duplicarver that looked like it would work. I copied it and machined one up for myself. I used a router on the one side of the arm and the stylus on the other. It worked OK, but not as good as I hoped, little scallops all over. I made a double turntable and a brace so the prop would not vibrate. Here is the machine that is still made now. https://www.duplicarvers.com/q.aspx?p=Cc250-Clone-Carver&q=14 Made up a pitch gauge as well by photocopying the front plate and machining the rest. Took forever. I used maple.

$800 US is a bit pricey for me @aspeed, those $4 props are looking cheap to me, now.

Hi All
'Rock Hard Maple' is very hard to get,
Even harder, to carve into a prop.
You results may vary,
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave

HalfaDave wrote:Hi All
'Rock Hard Maple' is very hard to get,
Even harder, to carve into a prop.
You results may vary,
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave

I got my maple from a Lowes that sold flooring by the sq. ft. Good for motor mounts too.

GallopingGhostler wrote:$800 US is a bit pricey for me @aspeed, those $4 props are looking cheap to me, now.

Yes it is very expensive, that is why I made it myself. Used the cheapest but properly sized B&D router for $50. Still have it and it takes up a lot of space. Probably put it on Kijiji soon. Maybe I will get lots for it since the price has gone up so much over the years? Doubt it.

You did good then aspeed by making your own tool. I used to do a lot of do it yourself, but older I get, notice I am not as enthusiastic as I was before.

Goes for kits too.

I was a bit younger 40 years ago.  Not sure I would do that now either.  Was never one for kits.  Usually did them from scratch.  Lately I just get orphans at swap meets and do the least possible effort to get them in the air.  I like building, but have too many planes to build any more.  That Duplicarver would be good for making something like the hollow log fuselage or wood cowls, but I never used it after doing a couple props with so so results. To stay on topic not that it is important, I used to make indoor props with .020" C grain balsa blades that were wrapped around a beer can at an angle, and glued it to a short stick to make a prop. They worked pretty good, wing was covered with condenser paper.

Hi aspeed,
The 'Rock Hard Maple' may have been a local hobby shop ploy,
To get us to buy the wood props in stock.
They snapped like twigs, compared to the white nylon props that were basicly crash proof.
A 6X6 prop?
Seems impossible to get the wood grain right...

Levent,
My same 'Swiss Army' knife has been sharpened to half its original blade area.
My key chain, 50yrs later ! Nice SS that takes an edge...

rdw777,
That was the basic info I had. Drill a hole in a piece of wood, carve/measure/repeat.
Good luck on your test run.
This is why I like CEF,
Take care,
Have fun,
Dave

Apologies for the drift Robert but bayonets are so interesting, a history lesson in themselves.

No problem Bob, Love history and I always like to learn something new ….. Years ago I read up on the history of swords beginning in the Bronze Age ending up with modern day Samurai….. The progression of the metallurgy alone was amazing…

I’m really not a knife guy either….. Just slightly more than a utilitarian tool to me…. I guess since they were commonly given as gifts or belonged to a relative makes them special…..A few more of mine….The bottom is a semi sharp Old Timer and stays on the workbench for mundane duties…. Surprising how much I reach for it…. Second from bottom is a little Kabar that belonged to my Grandfather…The blue Case is my
“dress knife “…. (My weird humor, Might have to trim a thread off someone’s jacket at church or something )….. The top is the one that carved the prop…. It’s just an old kitchen paring knife I got at a flea market for a couple of dollars…. Made by Dexter…But it’s shaped like a whittler and sharpens easily….. Close enough for me



The Swiss Army knife is a classic Levent…. I didn’t know Buck still made the 303, Thanks for sharing that…. The main blade on mine is worn/sharpened back a ways and all of the ribbing on the handle is gone but it still serves well…. Hinges are still tight as they ever were….

Thanks for sharing your prop experience aspeed…. Yep, CL speed guys would know a thing or two about that…. I think that is where some of the most advancement of home made performance props came from….Yes, serious competition could be expensive… Especially at FAI level…. I’m sure it was a fun time ….You sound a little like me…. Indoor flying…. Condenser paper….. Wide variety of interests….

Bob, there is a page for dating Imperial folding knives:

https://www.americanedgeknives.com/blog/dating-vintage-imperial-tang-stamps/

I can't currently put my hand on it, but many years ago I carved a wooden prop with nothing more than a hacksaw, utility knife and sandpaper.  I had a well-used nylon prop that had a damaged blade so I used it to get the specs and shape as close as I could.  It was carved from a piece of broom handle.  No idea what wood it was, but I figured that a broom handle would be pretty hard and springy.  Looks real nice oiled up, but I doubt I would ever use it on an engine.  Not when you can buy nice looking wooden props so cheap from China.
Still, wasn't a bad exercise, despite taking many hours to do.

That’s cool Rod….If you come across it please take a photo…..Lots of pathways to take with model airplanes…. I guess that’s what keeps it interesting to me