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Cox Engine of The Month
Boiling Propellers
Page 1 of 1
Boiling Propellers
Hi all. Just a quick question regarding the process of boiling propellers that MAY be brittle. First, these are not old beat up propellers. They are new and un-run that I was told should be boiled prior to use. What does this process entail exactly. Get a pot of water up to a boil then drop in the props and stir like spaghetti, get it up to boil drop in props then remove from heat, etc? I am not sure of the process and would appreciate any help that could be provided. Thank you.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3896
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 46
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: Boiling Propellers
Put something IN the pot so the props cannot contact the bottom directly. This is a precaution and not completely necessary. I use 3 or 4 pieces of flatware.
Put water in the pot. Put props in the pot. Bring to boil for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow cool in the water. Put props into a resealable bag like a Ziploc FREEZER bag. Keep bag sealed until use.
Search DAM nylon if you want more. That is "Dry As Molded" and not a curse upon the nylon.
Phil
Put water in the pot. Put props in the pot. Bring to boil for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow cool in the water. Put props into a resealable bag like a Ziploc FREEZER bag. Keep bag sealed until use.
Search DAM nylon if you want more. That is "Dry As Molded" and not a curse upon the nylon.
Phil
pkrankow- Top Poster
- Posts : 3025
Join date : 2012-10-02
Location : Ohio
Re: Boiling Propellers
Thank you.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3896
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 46
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: Boiling Propellers
pkrankow wrote:.........
Search DAM nylon if you want more. That is "Dry As Molded" and not a curse upon the nylon.
Phil
Some people say nylon is already a curse word in itself, the abbreviation for "Now You Lousy Old Nippon" that went into use during WW2 when the silk, produced by Japan, and used for stockings and parachute canopy production in the US, became unavailable for the US given its state of war with Japan, proclaimed after Pearl Harbor...and then in need for a substitute material DuPont invented nylon...but this may just be some urban legend..
balogh- Top Poster
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Posts : 4880
Join date : 2011-11-06
Age : 65
Location : Budapest Hungary
Re: Boiling Propellers
If you think the prop is brittle, I would personally discard them. My flying partner insisted on doing the same thing and ended up with a prop blade through his cheek. He has a scar about 4" long down his face. After the surgery and 2 attempts to remove the scar that developed a keloid, I figured that was just over $10,000. That being the worst incident, I've seen a lot of minor ones compared to that that all due to brittle prop use. Is it worth the risk for something that costs $2 ?
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5591
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
Re: Boiling Propellers
some light history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon
I agree with Ken that a questionable prop should not be used and instead discarded (I had a stack of old white Top Flight props that were brittle before boiling, and just as brittle after boiling).
Nylon becomes more flexible when "wet" internally. It does however loose a small amount of strength when "wet" internally. The net result is that in some cases the prop will perform better in a prop strike situation and not break.
I do not boil all my props. I have boiled my new manufacture Cox "rubber ducky" props, and I am unsure if there was practical improvement. The new manufacture props are supposed to be "conditioned" with moisture after manufacture, so there is no need to boil.
Phil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon
I agree with Ken that a questionable prop should not be used and instead discarded (I had a stack of old white Top Flight props that were brittle before boiling, and just as brittle after boiling).
Nylon becomes more flexible when "wet" internally. It does however loose a small amount of strength when "wet" internally. The net result is that in some cases the prop will perform better in a prop strike situation and not break.
I do not boil all my props. I have boiled my new manufacture Cox "rubber ducky" props, and I am unsure if there was practical improvement. The new manufacture props are supposed to be "conditioned" with moisture after manufacture, so there is no need to boil.
Phil
pkrankow- Top Poster
- Posts : 3025
Join date : 2012-10-02
Location : Ohio
Re: Boiling Propellers
These are new Cox props that came with a boil before use note. I will try to do it this week. Thank you for the help, advice, and concerns. All taken note of.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3896
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 46
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: Boiling Propellers
How do you determine if the prop is still too bridle to use or unsafe ? I know I have some old ones from engines that I am sure are 30 yrs. old and would never consider them or ones with worn edges where it looks like they been into the concrete !
getback- Top Poster
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Posts : 10355
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 67
Location : julian , NC
Re: Boiling Propellers
One symptom is when you slightly bend the blade you will see thin cracks and crevises on the surface..You do not want to use this brittle one...
balogh- Top Poster
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Posts : 4880
Join date : 2011-11-06
Age : 65
Location : Budapest Hungary
Re: Boiling Propellers
With the white Top Flite props I grabbed a blade and bent it. They were a flexible prop that should have bent easily and returned to shape like a Cox "rubber ducky" prop. They broke with little deflection. I had some "good" props that were supple and flexible, but ebay provided me with over a dozen junk props. After boiling the junk props were still junk. After sitting for several weeks in a plastic bag with added water they were still junk.
Phil
Phil
pkrankow- Top Poster
- Posts : 3025
Join date : 2012-10-02
Location : Ohio
Re: Boiling Propellers
Great. Thanks for the pics. I will take a look and evaluate now that I know what to look for.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3896
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 46
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: Boiling Propellers
I will also comment, that while his example shows the cracks in the blade it doesn't show the root at the hub. This is where a immediate failure will occur and with no warning or visible signs.
Ken Cook- Top Poster
- Posts : 5591
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : pennsylvania
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