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New builder emp tool question
Hey everybody, I just ordered a -14 empennage at Oshkosh on Monday. Now I'm going thru my tools and ordering some I'll need. So here's my question, will I need a close quarters die set for the emp? If so what size?
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Dimple Die
I have used the reduced diameter dies many times so far in the building of my 14A empennage kit. There are a few other "nice to have" special dies and misc. items that make things a little easier at points in empennage kit. These items used to be available from Avery. I think Cleveland now carries them.
Congratulations, and welcome to RV14 community! The step below is from the plans for the Vertical Stab, the first part you will build. Dimple the corresponding #40 holes in the flanges of the VS-702 Front Spar, VS-803PP Rear Spar, VS-704 Root Rib, VS-705 Nose Rib, VS-706 Tip Rib and VS-707 Rib for AN426AD3 flush mount rivets (use a reduced diameter female die). |
Reduced diameter die, yes definitely. Also, there are some RV-14 specific tools like the beveled squeezer set for the elevator trailing edges and the special RV-10/14 bucking bar too that will make like much easier.
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Thanks guys, I think I have all those items but I'm placing another Cleveland tool order and am wondering about specifically the close quarter die set. That's the one you use with the blind rivet puller.
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We're just getting to the end of the empennage kit, and so far we've only used it a couple of times.
I much prefer the tight fit dimpling fixture and use it on all ribs where it gets narrow. |
Die modifications
You can also grind/polish a bevel on your female die. That's all I used on my Emp and wings and it worked great. I think just about all my female dies have been done. Still get the nice "witness rings" on them using the DRDT-2 and no issues w/my rivets.
X2 on the Emp-specific dies and bucking bar from C-land. |
grind away!
I got a some spare 1/8 and 3/32 dies and took one set to the grinder to get a reduced pair.
I ended up using them a lot on some of the tighter squeezes. They are called for a couple times in the wing kit as well. My witness rings come out just fine even on the reduced diameter set. |
Get it
I'm not building a 14 but in general I cannot imagine not having my pop rivet dimple dies. You may not need them on the empennage but somewhere down the road they will come in handy for sure. They quite simply have the ability to put a dimple where nothing else can, and a pretty good crisp dimple at that. It's a case of "how the heck am I gonna dimple THAT? Then the lightbulb comes on and the pop riveter comes out of the drawer. Say you forgot to put a dimple somewhere and now can't reach it? They"ll save your butt. I only have the number 40 though, 30 probably not necessary since it's usually a skin dimpling thing.
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Thanks guys, I threw it in my cart.
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One tool from Cleaveland I have not seen mentioned is the jig for countersink drilling the rudder trailing edge strip in your drill press. Much easier and probably more precise than trying to shim it. I forget what it costs (~$25?), but I think it was well worth it.
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