Any reason to not use Aluminum Rods?

[coryhenry]

Just wondering if there is a reason to avoid aluminum rods for construction? I always see brass which is heavier.

Thoughts?

[redboat219]

Same question.

[Subculture]

Very soft. I favour stainless steel.

[RCSubGuy]

Rods for what? Linkages? As Andy pointed out, aluminum is really soft and bends easily. Most people use stainless or brass. I like brass as it is easier to solder to for connectors.

Word to the wise, don't mix your metals, IE: run a brass rod through an aluminum tube used as a bushing. The two metals interact and will corrode.

Bob

[coryhenry]

Thanks Bob,

Tracking not mixing metals. I was going to use 1/8 aluminum rod for the rudder and planes posts. In that short length it seems plenty stiff.

[RCSubGuy]

1/8" is pretty beefy. For short runs, you'll be fine.

[Bob Gato]

coryhenery, Do you have a personal source for aluminum rods at a cheap price? It was wisely suggested not to use them in wide contact with other metals but it sounds like you are planning to use them for control plane posts- I hope that you will be using plastic of some sort for stuffing tubes or bearings and now in another thread you are inquiring on running wet outrunners in salt water. So to recap, you are planning on using the aluminum rods in saltwater? You might want to listen to the advice given and go with stainless.

[Subculture]

Outrunners tend to be a blend of aluminium, iron, stainless steel and copper. I'd consider running a sacrificial anode of a less noble metal if running in salt water.

[coryhenry]

I just had the aluminum available, but it sounds like brass is best so I will go pick some up.

[Bob Gato]

Stainless Steel is lighter than Brass-unless of course, you like the smell of WD-40 in the morning and that pretty green patina that brass gets in a salty environment