Wood vs. Metal

[DannyDot]

It looks like I have come to terms on David Rude's BC-12D up in NY. He has offered either wood or metal prop. I plan to hanger it down here in Houston and am thinking about wood. The panel is pretty much original as is the rest of the plane. I am looking at flying the plane to be like a time machine to the past. Based on all of this, I am thinking of going with the wood. They are more maintainace, but they are so pretty and classy.

Any ideas on this.

Danny Deger

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

If you are hangared and don't fly through rain I really don't think a wood prop is any more maintenance. I keep mine wiped down with "Pledge" and there is a really wonderful feel to running your hands over a wood prop on pre-flight and when you pull her through. It's WORTH it to have one. I have a metal one on the 45 and wood on the 41. The metal changes RPM slower, but is smoother (from flying a friends 46 with a metal prop, my 45 is in pieces). The throttle response is noticeably faster on the wood one and it feels easier to start than a metal prop plane but I think that is probably the engine, not the prop. The metal prop pulls better and cruises faster from what others have told me but the comparison is meaningless on the planes I have flown since the weight was so different. All in all I like the wood better.
Lastly, it tastes better when you kiss her goodnight before you close the hangar up.

Hank

[dedrekon]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Aesthetically wood is the better choice, but in my opinion metal is superior in every other regard...including durability, performance and maintenance. Mine is hangared, but I live in Oregon and if you don't fly through rain, you don't do much flying.

Also, I don't think a metal prop is necessarily "incorrect" on a '46. Although they weren't stock, they are a typical upgrade, much like putting Fuchs alloys on '64 Porsche......they're not stock, but they are acceptable and "correct" to most owners.

I love the look of wood props and have thought of painting a metal prop with wood grain with the typical tip colors and decals to replicate the look.

I saw Dave's T on Barnstormers.....looks like you got a real beauty. Maybe he'd sell you both props.....best of both worlds.

Vincent

[d.grimm]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Just changed from metal to wood on my Vagabond. Saved 11 1/2 lbs off the front of the airplane and it looks really nice. Might save a crankshaft some day if it gets away from me.

[alwaysoar]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Stay away from gravel; it will kick up and ding the soft metal brass tips worse than the metal props--and you can't file out the dings as you can on metal. Also be sure you mount it correctly as you can do a lot of damage over-torqueing. If you have a tapered shaft see if you can get a new prop that is not counterbored in the back for the flanged hub.

[lfries]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Went to wood, keep her in a hanger, have flown in the rain but dried
her off right away, still looks new and pushing 10 years.

[94973]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

propping wood is easier on the fingers than metal

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

The danger in flying through rain is it blasts the prop finish. Can get pretty expensive refinishing it. Also you always want to keep the prop horizontal when you aren't flying. I didn't believe it till I measured it but if you stand a wood prop verticle the bottom blade WILL get heavier!
Hank

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

The danger in flying through rain is it blasts the prop finish. Can get pretty expensive refinishing it. Also you always want to keep the prop horizontal when you aren't flying. I didn't believe it till I measured it but if you stand a wood prop verticle the bottom blade WILL get heavier!
Hank

Wood propellers are essentially a water bottle. They must be stored horizontally or they will get out of balance. Take a coke bottle half full and lay it down, same theory applies to the wood prop.

There are pros and cons for both. Metal props are a little faster and less maintenance and care and can be stored outside. Down side is engine tear down woth prop strike. Metal props were available from the factory as well. Wood props are less stressfully on a motor, will save you a teardown if you ever have a prop strike, much nicer to look at, new wood will cost what used metal will cost. Down side is a little extra care and need to be stored indoors and horizontal. I am a little biased since I build wood props on which one I want, but if speed is the game, stick to metal.

Mike

[dsmuda]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

I dont know if im right but they say dont file a metal prop you are suppose to rub it out.What would you do with the filings you took off

[crispy critter]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

I flew into a hard rain once behind a wood prop. 5 minutes later I was back in dry air and feeling the vibrations. Luck enough it did get me back home(another 5 minutes).....it is now a wall hanger on my uncle's wall and it never flew again after the 5 minute down poor followed by 5 minutes of drying vibrations. It was not a bad looking prop. It had good varnish,good tips & tip guards,and had been hangered. It was about 10 years old and had never seen rain until that day. It eat the leading edges up real bad.....Sensenich said it was beyond repair so I gave it to my uncle how cleaned it up as best he could and had a small mouth bass mounted centered in the hub.....I don't know why either but I did ask him why he hung the bass on the prop instead of a clock and he simply said," which one would you rather look at, a cheap ass $10 clock or a 21 inch small mouth bass?"......he makes a good point and it does look really cool.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Lastly, it tastes better when you kiss her goodnight before you close the hangar up.

Hank

I have a metal prop on mine, but I kiss her on the top of her vertical stabilizer. Brie

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

Watch for splattered bugs buddy. I always "Pledge" the prop before the good night kiss.
Hank

[Tom Garrick]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

"Wood, Natures carbon fiber." A quote from my engineer son.

Tom Garrick

[fearofpavement]

Re: Wood vs. Metal

I dont know if im right but they say dont file a metal prop you are suppose to rub it out.What would you do with the filings you took off

Well, if you saved all the filings for your entire life you would have about 12 cents worth of scrap metal.

REgarding the filing vs rubbing issue: The whole point of filing out damage on a propellor is to remove stress inducing nicks that can cause the blade to fail by promoting a crack. Burnishing the damage on a prop blade can make it look all better but what has occured is that you have "smeared" metal over the nick and not actually removed the damage. I know mechanics that use the burnishing method but have never seen it officially recommended and in AC43.13-1B it shows only metal removal as a correct form of aluminum prop repair and states: "It is not permissible in any case to peen down the edges of any injury wherein the operation will lap metal over the injury." That is what burnishing does, ie it covers the injury with other metal. Not a good idea.