Wood propellers?

[mclarkson]

I've got a couple of planes I'm thinking about adding wood props to for scale purtiness. I notice that HobbyKing, for example, sells a wide range of wood props. They're labeled, TYPE A, TYPE C, etc. etc.

I've no idea what this means.

They ones that seem the most promising are labeled TYPE A BEECH. Is that ... right?

I know there are 10x8 props and there are 10x8 props but, in general, if I'm running a 10x8 propeller on, say, my SE5a do I want to replace it with a 10x8 if I go to wood?

Any advice is appreciated.

[Stevephoon]

Mark,

I have a XOAR and some Turnigy wood props that are specifically made for electric motors. I would only use those made specifically for electrics unless you are using a really big heavy motor. I have had good luck with both. The turnigy are cheaper and the finish is not quite as smooth, but all have been balanced OK out of the shoot and seem to perform pretty well. I still think the APC thin electric are the best for mid sized planes and GWS for smaller.... But when you want that wood look, these work fine!

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ric_wood_.html

http://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propeller...ood-Propeller/

Steve

[hayofstacks]

http://www.headsuprc.com/servlet/Categories

Headsup has several wooden props for a good price. I have no idea how to answer your question though. I was wondering the exact same thing. I have ran nitro props, and although they work, they don't put out the same thrust as an apc/slow fly prop on my electric motors.

I have however ran a couple of composite nitro props that worked fine on a escapade that we picked up from a yard sale with a 11X7 prop on the motor already. There was no discernable differance between the apc or electric props on this plane.

It is fairly easy to get a black prop and paint the tips yellow to get a good scale look on warplanes.

[mclarkson]

I'm considering them for my WWI-era SE5a and my 30's-era Tiger Moth.

[Stevephoon]

Most of the glow engine props, (from any material) are just too heavy for the smaller electric motors to spin. (Probably from 400 Watt and up it may not matter. Just a guess)

I had forgotten about the headsuprc props. I just bought this one, but I have not even pulled it out of the box yet..

http://www.headsuprc.com/servlet/the...-6-DFDL/Detail

Steve

[mclarkson]

I know a nitro wood props are going to be too heavy but these TYPE A's look fairly light. HobbyKing shows the Master Airscrew Beech Wood 10x8 propeller at 22 grams, and the Master Airscrew Electric Only 10x8 propeller (glass-filled nylon) at 32 grams. FWTW.

[rcers]

The Turnigy "light" electric are what you want. They work well, as do the Xoar light electric props.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ric_wood_.html

http://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propeller...Propeller/#des

They generally are larger sizes however and they are a bit limited in selection.

[mclarkson]

Thanks for all the input, guys. By the weights, the 'light' woods from HK appear to be heavier than the other series. Definitely more limited in my sizes. I'll probably buy a few of each and see what I get and how it works.

[rcers]

The "light" ones are significantly lighter than the other Turnigy wood props I have. HK uses shipping weight on some items - strange but the light ones I have are lighter than their other wood props.

They also perform much better in my tests - pretty much the same as Xoar at a much nicer price. They rival the efficiency of APCe and they are very stiff.

Mike

[mclarkson]

And ... they're all on backorder.

[rcers]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

And ... they're all on backorder.

No not all of them - but no question the secret is out. More likely that HK stock controls are still less optimal than desired. Shocking.... LOL

[nidly]

I bought a bunch of the wood electric props and while they were even lighter than plastic ones I wasn't impressed with them for two reasons.

Some of the holes weren't drilled on center and they seemed to pull nearly as much current , but turned the plane into a dog. I'm fixin' to use a few more of them to make sure that I do or don;t really like them. I think I'll replace an exact 11x7 with a wood 11x7 for comparison.

[mclarkson]

What was the brand / where did you buy them? Do you remember?

[nidly]

They were the turnigy ultra light wood. The cheap ones that are backordered.

[rcers]

Not my experience - the ones I have used rival APCe props in efficiency. I have not had an issue with offset holes either in fact balance on them was excellent.

Mike

[Stevephoon]

I see that HobbyKing now has a lot of the Light Electric Props in stock. I also see a new type of wood prop. A wood slow fly prop.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Slow_Fly.html

It would be nice to have a slow fly wood prop on some of the WWI birds... I do not see any details on theses props, so I am not sure if they would work on small to mid sized electric planes. Anyone else have any more info on those props?

Steve

[rcers]

Steve those certainly look interesting. Not very authentic for WW1 aircraft though IMHO. The scimitar shape is more what they used.

That said - not sure what those props will do other than in very low revs. Will be interesting to see the amp draws -suspect they will be way up with that large blade.

Mike

[NJSwede]

I've been using Xoar props for some of my models and I love them. Nicely balanced and pretty much "everyone" carries them, so it's easy to find replacements when the inevitable prop strike happens. I'm sure the Turnigys are fine too, but the lack of supply always turns me off a bit.

[rcers]

Originally Posted by NJSwede

I'm sure the Turnigys are fine too, but the lack of supply always turns me off a bit.

Yep i have used both and the Turnigy's are a pretty good representation. But agree HK is a bit of a whipping even when they do good.

[mclarkson]

Originally Posted by Stevephoon

I see that HobbyKing now has a lot of the Light Electric Props in stock. I also see a new type of wood prop. A wood slow fly prop.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Slow_Fly.html

It would be nice to have a slow fly wood prop on some of the WWI birds... I do not see any details on theses props, so I am not sure if they would work on small to mid sized electric planes. Anyone else have any more info on those props?

Steve

None in my size, of course.