But once I show you how I setup my blades, you'll learn how to balance your blades, it's like riding a bike, you will never forget.

Alright then, here is the crazy story on blade balancing. RC helicopter blades spin at very high rates of speed and at those high speeds you need to make sure that your blades are identical by C.G. point and weight.

Here are some of the negative effects that will occur if you don't have the blades balance correctly

• Screws can become loose in time from the vibration

• Harder to control while in flight
  
  There are two parts of the blade balancing process you should perform on your blades to get them ready for flight;

1. Dynamic balance.

2. Static balance.

The first step you will need to perform is the dynamic balance. What the dynamic balance does is that it finds the blade's Center of Gravity (G.C.) point.

After you are done with the dynamic balance then you can start the static balance

The static balance makes sure that both of the blades weigh identically. You have to make sure that the static and the dynamic balance are both within tolerance.

Below you will find an economical way to balance your blades, and you know what? You might even already have the tools you need in your tool box.

Here are five steps to dynamically balance your R/C helicopter blades.

Five steps to dynamically balance your R/C helicopter blades. Step # ONE - Start by trying to find the Center of Gravity (C.G.) point for each blade. Using the ruler, place blade number one on top of the triangular ruler until the blade comes into balance.... just like balancing a pencil on your finger.

Technical Illustration:                          Step # TWO –Mark out the Center of Gravity (CG) with a marker. In the above step you balanced the blade on top of the triangular ruler. Now that the blade is balanced on top of the ruler, you need to mark the blade where the Center Of Gravity (C.G.) point is located. As shown in the picture below, go ahead and place a small mark on the blade where the ruler meets the blade. Now that we have found and marked the Center Of Gravity (C.G.) point, we now need to find the C.G. point for blade two as well. So go ahead and repeat steps one and two for blade number two. Step # THREE - At this stage, go ahead and compare the two blades to see where each blade’s C.G. points are located. You must line up the holes that are located at the root then secure the blades by inserting a blade grip bolt through the root holes. Securing the bolt through the blades will give you an accurate reading when comparing the C.G. points.   When compared, the two blades may have the C.G. points in different positions. If the two C.G. points are no further than 1 mm apart, then the blades C.G points are okay and you do not need to do any corrections to the blades. You can now proceed to static balance section. But if the blades C.G.’s points are further than 1mm apart, proceed to the next step. This is where you will need to match both blades C.G. points. As you can see from the illustration below, Blade one C.G. point is closest to the root so we will use blade two C.G. point as a guide ( because its farthest from the root) for blade one. Technical Illustration:                          Go ahead and mark blade one with the marker in the same spot where Blade two C.G. point is located. So in other words, transfer the C.G. point mark from blade two to blade one. You will use this as a guide where blade one would need to be balance exactly like Blade two. Go ahead compare your blades and use your marker to place mark on Blade 1 to match Blade 2.

  Remember, we will need to match Blade 1 C.G. point to blade 2 C.G. point. Step # FOUR - If the blades C.G.s are more than 1mm apart, then you have to get the C.G. point of Blade 1 (C.G. that is closest to the root) to match with C.G point on Blade 2 (C.G. that is farthest from the root). So we are trying to push the C.G. point out of Blade 1 to match Blade 2. In step three you marked Blade 1 with its new C.G. point from Blade 2. Now go ahead and place Blade 1 on top of the triangular ruler on the mark you put there from step three. Make sure you line up the C.G. point (same C.G. from Blade2) with the tip of the ruler.

  Naturally, when you place Blade 1 (Blade with the new C.G. point in place) on top of the ruler, Blade 1 is not going to stay balanced. That’s why we have the tracking tape to aid in adding weight to the one side blade in order to get the blade balanced according to the new C.G. point. Do this by applying a little strip of tracking tape or duct tape at the EDGE of Blade 1 to push the C.G. more to the outer edge to match Blade 2. As shown in the picture below. Technical Illustration: Step # FIVE – After applying the tracking tape to the Blade 1, we will need to re-find the C.G. again by repeating steps 1 and 2, and compare with Blade two. You have to make sure that the C.G. point is in the same location as Blade 1. If you notice the C.G point from Blade 1 is way off (not the same as Blade 2) go ahead and remove or add some tracking tape. After adjusting the tracking tape make sure to re-find the C.G point for both blades. Make sure they are in the exact same spot. You might have to play with it a little in order to get the exact same C.G. point as Blade 2.

Technical Illustration: Once you got both the blade’s CGs in the same location, the Blades are now Dynamically Balance. What this means is that when both blades spin, the C.G. points will be spinning together at the same spot.

Two steps to statically balance your R/C helicopter blades.

But now you might be thinking the blade you added tape to is going to be heavier than the other blade. Well, there is a simple way to check and make sure the blades weigh the same. Here are some of the tools that you will need:

1. Blade holder bolt

2. Heavy duty string or ribbon: As for the heavy duty string, you can buy it at your local hardware store and the ribbon you easily get at your local gift shop.

3. Tracking tape or duct tape. You might already have the tools needed for this section from the Dynamic balance section. Okay then, let's get to the static balance...;

Step # SIX - To make sure the blades weigh the same, align both blades together at the root of the blades. Then insert the blade holder bolt screw and fasten the string or ribbon on the head of the bolt. Firmly tighten the bolt but not too tight, you don't want to damage the blades. After the blades are fastened extend the blades, make sure that the blades are parallel, like a straight line.

Technical Illustration:

Let's continue to the next step...;

Step # SEVEN - Now, grab a hold of the string or ribbon and slowly raise the blades into the air (about 4 inches from the surface). Wait for a few seconds and take note on the blade that points up.

The blade that points up is called the light blade and the blade that points down is called the heavy blade. What you are trying to accomplish is to make both blades simulate a straight line. This will mean that both blades will weigh close to the same, and that's what we are looking for. So, on the blades that is pointing up (light blade), put tape EXACTLY on the C.G. point mark. The tape will add the needed weight to balance the light blade horizontally.

Technical Illustration:

You might have to play with the amount of tape you add to the light blade, because too much tape will make the blade to heavy and too little tape will continue to make your light blade the light blade. If you added the right amount of tape, your blades will stay at a horizontal position. If the blades are at a horizontal position, your blades are now balanced. Make sure to completely read this guide again before you install them on your RC helicopter, just to make sure that you have a full understanding of this guide.

Congratulations! By completing this guide, you have learned how to cost-effectively setup your RC helicopter blades.

You have specifically learned how to:

• Find the Center Of Gravity (C.G.) point.
• Balancing blades
• How to make sure you have your blades nearly weigh identically.

Please let me know what you thought about this guide, I'd love to hear from you.

See you at the field!

1.    Tracking Tape   To correct the Center of Gravity (C.G) point, you’ll be using tracking tape to add the needed weight to your blades. 2.    Black Marker   The marker will be used to mark the Center Of Gravity (C.G.) point for each blade. 3.    Triangle Ruler   The triangular ruler is good because it has a flat side which will let you lay the ruler nicely on any flat surface like a table. 4. Blade holder bolt 5. Heavy duty string or ribbon: As for the heavy duty string, you can buy it at your local hardware store and the ribbon you easily get at your local gift shop. With the above three items you can easily and cheaply balance your RC helicopter blades. You can purchase the ruler and the marker at your office supply store. The tracking tape can be purchase at your local hobby shop. One more thing I wanted to mention, when you get more into RC helicopters you may want to purchase a blade balancer tool to add to your home workshop. Doesn't matter which kind of balancer you get, so long as it allows you to balance both static and dynamic. But for now, the three items above will work just fine.  Instead of the tracking tape, you can also use some clear duct tape. You can purchase the duct tape at your local hardware store. Instead of the tracking tape, you can also use some clear duct tape. You can purchase the duct tape at your local hardware store.