Prop Balancing

rhoffart · May 22, 2018

Who still balance their props? 3 were perfect but 1 needed some work. All is good!

LarBear360 · May 22, 2018

rhoffart said:
Who still balance their props? 3 were perfect but 1 needed some work. All is good!

I balance all of my props. All four of them. Still originals. I found the quad made less noise.

novi81 · May 23, 2018

Guys what fo you use for prop balancing?

rhoffart · May 23, 2018

novi81 said:
Guys what fo you use for prop balancing?

This ...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GZBZSUY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can use a glass or a Yeti, just make sure it's on a level surface.

Bakersfield Quad · May 23, 2018

Prop balancer, always balance props, why not?

LarBear360 · May 23, 2018

novi81 said:
Guys what fo you use for prop balancing?

I like the Dubro Products 6MM. It's around $24 I think.

Andy9 · May 24, 2018

How do you fix the unbalanced prop?

LarBear360 · May 25, 2018

Andy9 said:
How do you fix the unbalanced prop?

Sandpaper will remove weight till it's balanced. If it's a genuine DJI, it won't need much. Some guys add weight using Scotch Tape.

Andy9 · May 25, 2018

Adding something on the propeller can fix the balancing but who knows how it affect the air flow around that point.

LarBear360 · May 25, 2018

Andy9 said:
Adding something on the propeller can fix the balancing but who knows how it affect the air flow around that point.

And as such I've never used tape. Sanding works best in my opinion. Balanced props also seem to make less noise.

embayweather · May 25, 2018

I experimented with sanding on one aircraft and tape on another. Both worked well initially. In time the tape started peeling off, and of course with it peeling off in flight started to make more noise and possibly endanger the aircraft. Go with sanding it is safer.

jiminyfixit · May 26, 2018

embayweather said:
I experimented with sanding on one aircraft and tape on another. Both worked well initially. In time the tape started peeling off, and of course with it peeling off in flight started to make more noise and possibly endanger the aircraft. Go with sanding it is safer.

I found that a light spray of clear spray paint works best.

Rick218 · May 26, 2018

Andy9 said:
Adding something on the propeller can fix the balancing but who knows how it affect the air flow around that point.

Been adding tape/ CA glue and even epoxy to props for 35 years with no issues. Just be sure it's on the backside of the prop and as smooth as possible (No globes of glue)... scotch tape works great!!!! I also sand props to get them balanced...

lolo780 · May 27, 2018

The thinnest packing tape works well if you don't want to use adhesives.

CFster · May 27, 2018

Clear nail polish.

Harleydude · May 27, 2018

rhoffart said:
Who still balance their props? 3 were perfect but 1 needed some work. All is good!

I used to be absolutely adamant about balancing my Phantom 1 props. I even came up with a way to dynamically audit my bird's balance and smoothness. I have always wondered how I would balance the P4P props. The bird seems so smooth that I just assumed they were balanced from the factory.

I thought about a homemade balance system for the P4P props, but just haven't been motivated to build it.

Where did you get your balancer? And do you trust it?

Harleydude · May 27, 2018

LarBear360 said:
Sandpaper will remove weight till it's balanced. If it's a genuine DJI, it won't need much. Some guys add weight using Scotch Tape.

I found tape to be a terrible idea. It flies off half the time and adds weight. I find removing material via sandpaper a much better way to go. If you remove too much, you go to the other side. You eventually get good at not removing too much. It's an art.

Andy9 · May 28, 2018

Rick218 said:
Been adding tape/ CA glue and even epoxy to props for 35 years with no issues. Just be sure it's on the backside of the prop and as smooth as possible (No globes of glue)... scotch tape works great!!!! I also sand props to get them balanced...

Well, maybe funny stupid question - which side is the back side?! I mean is it the up or down, side as drones are slightly different then airplaines.

Harleydude · May 28, 2018

Andy9 said:
Well, maybe funny stupid question - which side is the back side?! I mean is it the up or down, side as drones are slightly different then airplaines.

All rotors have a "leading edge" and a "trailing edge." That is the vernacular that should be used when describing the "front" or "back" of a rotor.