Glow prop

[wjcjr1]

Patmatgal you had mentioned a Glow Prop in a different post somewhere and wanted to comment here in propellers on my experience with Glow Props.

I bought 4 Evolution props for my Apprentice airplane and had a very unsuccessful time. Make sure to balance the props. I always have used APC props but with the Apprentice wanted something a bit more sturdy. Well I never balanced the prop just threw it on and boy did she rattle the nose of that plane. Rattled the plane so much that it cracked all four corners of the plane's motor mount. I brought the props back to the LHS where they put them on their magnetic prop balancer and they were slightly out of balance but the main cause I feel for the issue is the mass. Much more mass means every little anomaly will be exaggerated. If the plastic mount/foam or anything flexes during rotation the heavier massed prop will cause more harmonics and vibration thus leading to my dorked motor mount.

I am back to APC props. I never have balanced a single prop ever and NOT once had a vibration issue I could detect never mind see a plane's nose bouncing. With my lack of any trouble with APC electric props I thought all props were made to a perfect truism of balance from factory. Why would a factory produce a defective unbalanced product? Now I come to the realization that it may not be that the APC props are perfectly balanced but that the lack of mass makes the consequences thereof more insignificant.

So in the nutshell be careful balance thoroughly and report back what you find. Hate to see you break a mount or worse.

Wayne

[flydiver]

Yes-unbalanced big mass is worse than unbalanced small mass.

Personally I consider all props to be unbalanced and in fact most are if only a little bit. As prop speed and size go up this makes more difference. It's hell on the plane, bad for the bearings, and can actually rob significant power. Doesn't sound too hot either.

FWIW the slow fly black props from hobby city are HORRIBLY balanced. The APCe clones aren't great either but better.

The center hole on APC often is NOT centered. The little centering rings are part of the critical process of making sure the shaft is centered.

[wjcjr1]

I may need to get a prop balancer as well. Sure would be a shame to wreck some bearings on a nice motor with fouled props.

So is it a cost savings issue the reason props come unbalanced directly from the manufacturer?

Wayne

[flyer88]

I just happen to be trying a MA 9 x 6 glow prop on my Turnigy 450 -1080kv motor on the Cub and it's working very well as this motor likes to rev a little higher than the Park 450.

But I've been doing some testing with MA Nitro props on my larger electrics with better results overall than electric props.

I've even gone to a 5.5 x 4.75 MA Nitro on the Funjet, with great results.

Glenn

[wjcjr1]

Great!

Wayne

[patmatgal]

The guy at the LHS recomended an APC 10 X 7e as being better than an e flite 10 X 8e, for the Park 450 Outrunner. When I mentioned that I liked the MAS he said they were usually way out of balance (or something like that and got a smirk on his face) Bottom line is I trust his opinion and will switch back to the APC, like 'em but the tips chip way too easily. I get the impression I'm skating on thin ice with the MAS, but for the time being hope to stick with them. Good to hear what to watch out for.
Thanks Much

[mythotical]

I ran across a thread somewhere i can't remember that led me to the holy grail of props for the SC. I have the newer SC with the stock 480 brushed motor and found that the best prop so far is the GWS HD-1080, the thread went on to say that with an amp draw meter and a force/thrust gauge proved the GWS had 18% more thrust for the same amps as the stock HZ prop. However the hub is 3mm and the SC is 4mm so some drilling is required for a good fit, the lock nut fits perfectly. I just put it on tonight and will fly it this weekend, I will report the results later.

[mythotical]

The GWS HD1080 works well, it takes a little more RPM to pull but it gets you more fly time. I fly the stock prop at around half throttle most of the time and get about 15min out of the stock 7cell battery. With the GWS HD1080 I have to fly at about 2/3 throttle but get about 18min flight time.

[admiralev]

i would estimate that 70% of flyers dont balance their props. i have never balanced mine and have never had a problem. guys at my field who have been into RC for 30+ years have never balanced props. unless they are really out of whack i dont see where it really makes a difference. if i fire the engine and i have horrible vibrations i will balance the prop, but unless that happens the screw usually pulls the planes along without a hitch. just my 2 cents

admiral

[patmatgal]

Have finally gotten to the point where I don't come in for too many bad landings and break that many props. So now I think it'll be safe to switch back to a prop that was designed for electric flight. GWS 10 X 6 DD on a prop saver, woo hoo... Works very well (as good as the MAS 10 X 6 I was using, which is durable as all get out) and draws much less current, so flights are extended. That said I'll probably break a dozen of them now.