Attaching Fins

[@mguerramd]

Once you use a jig you will never go back! I used a few of the cardboard ones and then popped for the guillotine jig for a five fin rocket. The guillotine is expensive but like most tool purchases you don’t regret it. Using a jig, CA glue and some instant set spray, you can get all your fins on lightning quick.

[@henrya3530]

I recently purchased the Fin Alignment Jig from Apogee for attaching 1/16" fins to 18mm tubes (BT-20). It really is extremely easy to use and the results are impressive! I am happy to recommend this product :-)

[@apogeerockets]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear you liked it.

[@henrya3530]

I like to use 1/16" plywood for the fins on my smaller rockets and this product makes the task of fitting and aligning them much, much easier than the equivalent Estes product. No more faffing about with shims and spring clips!

[@charlieh3335]

You make this look so easy and simple..making it look like i can even do it. I am awaiting my first kit, an estes big bertha. At this point, I'm just hoping my rocket will go up.

[@apogeerockets]

The hardest part is just having the patience to wait for the glue to dry. You don't know how many times I've screwed up that part.

[@LighthouseProductions1]

Hey tim, for rockets like the Sunward Box Racer with foam fins, would it be safe to use epoxy or maybe titebond 3 wood glue on them without it melting the fins ?

[@apogeerockets]

Yes. For foam fins, that is exactly what you should do.

[@imirish4702]

love your work Tim. Merry Xmas to you.

[@b.h9186]

and what glue did you used ?sorry for doing so many questions

[@shere_kan8329]

Wood glue

[@modelrocketrywithchrispine1189]

I like the jog! Honestly I was never compelled to use one but this I liek how it works very much! Chris

[@notjoseph4971]

Ur speling es mooch guud

[@MadCritter]

@@notjoseph4971 yes

[@CrazyAsian1]

I built an Apogee Aspire without the fin alignment guide and they are slightly crooked. If I use higher power motors, how likely is it that the fin tears off the rocket? I did use epoxy fillets, so hopefully that won’t happen 😊

[@apogeerockets]

You're looking for confidence that it will be OK. I understand that. Unfortunately, I am unable to say for certain either way. Sorry.

[@CrazyAsian1]

@@apogeerockets no problem

[@thatoneguy5463]

Much needed this video

[@yashrajsingh6145]

I have subscribed your channel 👍

[@karenma8072]

Can you make a video about the technique to airfoil a balsa wood fin?

[@apogeerockets]

I'll consider a new one. In the mean time, you can watch this one on airfoiling fins: www.apogeerockets.com/Advanced_Construction_Videos/Rocketry_Video_146

[@hoogalife7504]

can I use the plastic board for the rocket fins?

[@apogeerockets]

Experimenting is fine. Have fun. Do great things.

[@Ham8one001]

Does Elmer’s white school glue work for attaching fins? It’s all I got.

[@apogeerockets]

If it is all you have, then use it. It isn't as strong as a wood glue, but it should hold if you're gentle with the rocket.

[@Ham8one001]

@@apogeerockets okay, thanks for letting me know!

[@b.h9186]

hey tim how atach fins to pvc tubes ?

[@danzelchen5623]

PVC tubes are a bad idea. Way too heavy.

[@Xorobabel]

Is that PVA glue?

[@apogeerockets]

I think that is regular white school glue. But I could be wrong.

[@Xorobabel]

@@apogeerockets Okay, should be good enough for small rockets.

[@dchall8]

Couple of comments. At 5:15 you can see that you installed the first fin upside down. Since these are laser cut, is there planform or aerodynamic difference between upside down and right side up? Or is it only a structural difference? If there is an aerodynamic difference then there would be a difference in drag. Since you, the professional, installed one incorrectly, you should reasonably expect everyone to have the same problem. You might consider changing the planform of the fins so the leading edge is distinctly different from the trailing edge. Secondly, some of your customers might want to improve the aerodynamics of the fins by sanding the trailing edge to a knife edge. While that seems logical it might not be practical to make a perfectly centered edge. If the edge is slightly to one side or the other, it can induce lift and spin the rocket. As an experiment you might try sanding a knife edge from only one side on all three fins and flying it. If the rocket does not spin, then this is more of a theoretical issue than a practical issue. If it does spin, then you should warn your customers not to sand to a knife edge and stick with a rounded trailing edge as shown. And third, this wood to plastic attachment is a perfect application for Gorilla Glue. Moisten the edge of the wood with water, apply the glue with a paintbrush or wipe across like you did with the white glue, let the glue foam slightly (which takes longer than you would like), and then stick it onto the plastic body. It will continue to foam and form its own fillet. You could wipe the fillet as you did but you should wear gloves. Gorilla Glue is used to assemble wooden aircraft, so it should be good enough for this.

[@sendit2873]

it was probably an accident do you look at everything so damn serious its just a basic how to video guy you have issues

[@nisa_rouge]

billy collins as far as can tell, people just do that to flex their “knowledge” they’re not really looking for any actual answers

[@scottielambert9312]

Huge thing if he applied one upside down... huge!

[@mguerramd]

Peripherally related, here is a trick for launch lug attachment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6eQkHadnJ19Z68 By using a 90º aluminum as a fixture, you can get the lugs dead perfect. The shorter a lug, the more error there can be with a purely visual alignment.

[@ericaclark9273]

epic