The odd single blade thread

[trillian]

Not long ago there was a thread about having one blade left from a pair, presumably when only one is damaged in a crash etc.

But I cannot find that thread, 'don't remember what it was called.

Anyway, I have a 450 size carbon blade. It is 325mm and is black with a white graphic kinda like the bigger TT blades and has a brass insert for the bolt in the grip. It has a small surface scratch near the trailing edge in the middle but otherwise looks fine.

I think this was on my 3DX 450 and I set it down hard (a long time ago) and had a boom strike but only the other blade was damaged.

[heliward0]

so are you offering it up,,
or asking for a blade,,

[trillian]

so are you offering it up,,
or asking for a blade,,

Either one really. Otherwise I have yet to think of a good use for it.

But you'd need to prove you have the matching twin

[heliward0]

well i have a single align 325d blade, (black carbon showing with big white "align")
or i have an align blade (std with the v2 kit)

[heliward0]

post a pic of your blade..

[Asid]

But you'd need to prove you have the matching twin

A jeremy Kyle show . DNA results

[Holst]

well i have a single align 325d blade, (black carbon showing with big white "align")
or i have an align blade (std with the v2 kit)

I think I have a 325D as well.

Also a thunder power 325 carbon.

[trillian]

Ok here's the blade. I don't know what it is but someone can probably identify it.

[gazza]

Ok here's the blade. I don't know what it is but someone can probably identify it.

Wow it's a Hooky Hong Kong Radix

[moyesboy]

In 325 blades I have a 315 radix, and a 325 glx (captainC).
Maybe I should balance them up as a pair

Anyone got a radix 325 spare? as I have matched those successfully before

and that blade in the photo - I rthink you can get ones that loook like that for under £12 a pair from HK if you buy plenty. I saw hanger-7 with something similar but with yellow paint.

[acwman]

I have a curtis Next D 325 blade.....

[Paulice]

I wouldn't recommend anyone using a blade from a crash, when one blade has visible damage the other has been through the same stress and could well have damage internally that you can't see.
On a smaller heli they are spinning around at +/- 3000 rpm, what would happen to your heli if on broke off, also what would happen to you if it then hit you?

Paul.

[moyesboy]

The other blade hasn't necessaril been through the same stress at all. All mannner of things can happen or not happen to the blades in a crash and often on a quite individual basis.
however there is a possibility of some unseen damage.
A careful examination of the blade applying twist and bend and listening to it will eliminate most, but not all, of the possibility of damage.
Then its a case of standing well back when its spun up (in terms of safety) and fingers crossed (as a blade failure is gouing to really hurt the heli).
So its a case of balancing the risk v benefit - something that the modern western world is rapidly losing the ability to do .
It sort of means to me that I wouldn't consider using a crash survive blade that I hadn't seen crash.

However also note that brand new blades have been known to fail from time to time and flying helis has losts of risks that you can't eliminate completely.

[trillian]

Yeah, definitely in a crash the blade that is not obviously damaged needs to be examined carefully and the nature of the crash is important as to what stresses both blades may have been subjected to.

In the case of the blade I have the heli just had too much negative pitch set in normal flight mode and when set down a bit hard and throttled back one blade struck the boom and absorbed the energy of the rotor (along with the feathering shaft).

Also, the size of blade is important. I would not risk using a crash surviving blade on a larger heli because the tensil strength remains the same while the weight goes up. So, for example, a 450 size blade of the same material has a higher tensil strength relative to a 60 or 90 size blade.

Anyway, I suppose it's best to err on the side of caution all round and these odd orphan blades should probably live the rest of their lives as paint stirers.

[darryl]

i destroyed one of my titans earlier this yr from using crashed "perfect condition" mixed blades. They were from 2 seperate set of SAB's. I had them balanced cord & span wise, both were flexed and tested by my hand for any signs of weakness but they seemed perfect. First flight i was flying fast backwards and flicked it vertical for a backwards wall. One of the blades snapped about 15mm from the screw hole totally destroying my heli!

I'll never use crashed blades again. It was a seriously expensive lesson fo me!