Whether you are a first time scratch builder or a seasoned veteran, we have all come in contact or will soon become familiar with razor blades. In scratch building, the razor blade is equivalent to an artist’s pen or pencil in importance. Without this tool it is very hard to start building your first RC aircraft or even your 100th build.
One of our goals at Flite Test is that individuals join this great RC hobby, no matter what their age is.
A major concern with that statement is, "how can I get my son or daughter who is between the ages of 6-7 to use razor blades without worrying about cutting themselves or others?"
Personally, I have also found that I am not very good at making bevel cuts. Maybe it’s the lack of hand-eye coordination or another reason, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to get a good bevel. The good news is we have found three different method alternatives that will help not only with safety but also help with those tricky bevel cuts.
The Sanding Block
Instead of using a razor blade to bevel, cut a hinge for the control surface of an airplane. You can use 100 to 120 grit sandpaper attached to a sanding black to get the correct angle that will achieve the best throw. This works best if you sand the area in question on the edge of a table. There are two disadvantages using this technique. One is it’s very messy! The other is if you are not careful, it is possible to sand through the foam.
The Credit or Gift Card
It’s inevitable that at some point you will cut through the foam board when attempting to make an A or B fold by making the score cuts a little bit deeper to easily remove the access foam and paper. This is very frustrating for those who want their plane to look pristine. Using a credit card or gift card is a great alternative because not only is it not sharp, but it also will not go through the foam and the paper on the other side no matter how hard you push.
The Crush Method
This method involves using a blunt side of a pen or permanent marker to be dragged in and across a score line for the control surface that you want to double or bevel cut. Double bevels are used when a build calls for making a wing. The foam board must be able to fold upon itself, and this technique is a perfect fit.
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I tried to publish an article on Flight Test of this winner of the Experimental Airlines WTF contest but had trouble communicating with the moderator...
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