Best prop balancer

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  • Jesse J
    scale FE racer
    • Aug 2008
    • 7116

    #1

    Best prop balancer

    I have been using an old (15 yrs) airplane prop balancer, but know there has to be better.
    What do the pros use?
    "Look good doin' it"
    See the fleet
  • mappo
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2010
    • 488

    #2
    Originally posted by Jesse J
    I have been using an old (15 yrs) airplane prop balancer, but know there has to be better.
    What do the pros use?
    I’ve seen some reviews on this one Du-Bro Tru-Spin Prop Balancer DB499, I just ordered one myself
    Do you know what the biggest problem with the world is?
    That the Smartest people are full of doubts while the stupid ones are full of confidence.::tt2

    Comment

    • NativePaul
      Greased Weasel
      • Feb 2008
      • 2760

      #3
      I'm not a pro, but I use one of the generic cheap chinese boat prop balancers that can be found with a dozen different band names, modded with a piece of microscope slide glass over the magnets which freed it up a lot ( i think the neodymium magnets in these are too soft to be ideal for use, maybe copper then nickle plated rather than copper then chrome). I have used a few balancers and this is the best of them.

      Neither of the 2 pros I know use static balancers at all, both ballance dynamically, 1 spinning the prop on a shaft in his well trained fingers, and 1 spinning the prop mechanically at 10,000 rpm with sensors. Both get a better result than I believe is possible with any static ballancer.




      As an aside, while it is nice to have a well ballance vibration free driveline when you give it a blip of throttle to check things are working in the pits, I am not sure how much it matters or if it even matters at all on the water when we are driving hundreds if not thousands of Watts through the bottom blade when the top blade is basically doing nothing. That is something I don't hear being discussed and I would like to hear others opinions on it.
      Paul Upton-Taylor, Greased Weasel Racing.

      Comment

      • dasboata
        Fast Electric Addict!
        • Dec 2010
        • 3152

        #4
        Originally posted by Jesse J
        I have been using an old (15 yrs) airplane prop balancer, but know there has to be better.
        What do the pros use?
        text sent don't go checking my props now LOL

        Comment

        • longballlumber
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • Apr 2007
          • 3132

          #5
          Originally posted by NativePaul
          I'm not a pro, but I use one of the generic cheap chinese boat prop balancers that can be found with a dozen different band names, modded with a piece of microscope slide glass over the magnets which freed it up a lot ( i think the neodymium magnets in these are too soft to be ideal for use, maybe copper then nickle plated rather than copper then chrome). I have used a few balancers and this is the best of them.
          This is great advice from Paul. The glass keeps from tearing up the magnets. It's also important to have the points on the shaft be center ground on each end. It keeps a consistent centerline down the shaft being used to balance.

          Comment

          • longballlumber
            Fast Electric Addict!
            • Apr 2007
            • 3132

            #6
            Originally posted by Jesse J
            I have been using an old (15 yrs) airplane prop balancer, but know there has to be better.
            What do the pros use?
            These are very nice!

            Comment

            • longballlumber
              Fast Electric Addict!
              • Apr 2007
              • 3132

              #7
              Originally posted by NativePaul
              As an aside, while it is nice to have a well ballance vibration free driveline when you give it a blip of throttle to check things are working in the pits, I am not sure how much it matters or if it even matters at all on the water when we are driving hundreds if not thousands of Watts through the bottom blade when the top blade is basically doing nothing. That is something I don't hear being discussed and I would like to hear others opinions on it.
              I can't argue the hydro dynamics involved in this system. It's well above my cranium level. I can tell you with a great deal of confidence a properly sharpened and balanced propeller will provide better performance and handling than a prop out of the bag all other things being equal.

              Comment

              • dasboata
                Fast Electric Addict!
                • Dec 2010
                • 3152

                #8
                Originally posted by NativePaul
                I'm not a pro, but I use one of the generic cheap chinese boat prop balancers that can be found with a dozen different band names, modded with a piece of microscope slide glass over the magnets which freed it up a lot ( i think the neodymium magnets in these are too soft to be ideal for use, maybe copper then nickle plated rather than copper then chrome). I have used a few balancers and this is the best of them.

                Neither of the 2 pros I know use static balancers at all, both ballance dynamically, 1 spinning the prop on a shaft in his well trained fingers, and 1 spinning the prop mechanically at 10,000 rpm with sensors. Both get a better result than I believe is possible with any static ballancer.




                As an aside, while it is nice to have a well ballance vibration free driveline when you give it a blip of throttle to check things are working in the pits, I am not sure how much it matters or if it even matters at all on the water when we are driving hundreds if not thousands of Watts through the bottom blade when the top blade is basically doing nothing. That is something I don't hear being discussed and I would like to hear others opinions on it.
                curious to see the microscope glass you use , almost impossible to get every prop balanced perfectly

                Comment

                • Mike W
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2018
                  • 345

                  #9
                  Originally posted by longballlumber
                  I'll never use anything else. Had to rebalance my whole collection.
                  Otto RC Marine

                  Comment

                  • ray schrauwen
                    Fast Electric Addict!
                    • Apr 2007
                    • 9471

                    #10
                    Andy Kunz used to use a strobe light to help balance a prop. How it's done is a mystery to me???
                    Nortavlag Bulc

                    Comment

                    • Jesse J
                      scale FE racer
                      • Aug 2008
                      • 7116

                      #11
                      Originally posted by dasboata
                      text sent don't go checking my props now LOL
                      Thanks Chris
                      "Look good doin' it"
                      See the fleet

                      Comment

                      • Jesse J
                        scale FE racer
                        • Aug 2008
                        • 7116

                        #12
                        Originally posted by ray schrauwen
                        Andy Kunz used to use a strobe light to help balance a prop. How it's done is a mystery to me???
                        Strobe and molding putty to get each blade identical.. that is overkill to me, since the prop is in and out of the water so much.
                        "Look good doin' it"
                        See the fleet

                        Comment

                        • jim82
                          Fast Electric Addict!
                          • Jan 2013
                          • 1358

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Mike W
                          I'll never use anything else. Had to rebalance my whole collection.
                          Get the this one. Badasss

                          Comment

                          • Moonie
                            Senior Member
                            • Jan 2014
                            • 325

                            #14
                            Jew balancers are the most accurate we can use for our model props.
                            Gold Spilo

                            Comment

                            • Jesse J
                              scale FE racer
                              • Aug 2008
                              • 7116

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Moonie
                              Jew balancers are the most accurate we can use for our model props.
                              ??? What are Jew balancers?
                              "Look good doin' it"
                              See the fleet

                              Comment

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