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-   -   EAA Tie-Down Stakes - Wow!! (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=17190)

wltrmtty 12-20-2012 05:10 PM

I've been looking for these. I first made a set of these back in the 1990's when I believe I found them in Kitplanes Magazine.

Yes, they work great!

William Slaughter 12-21-2012 07:17 AM

Go Ti
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight (Post 120793)
Yup, John's link is to the ones I'm talking about! I just hope I can figure out how to get them out without carrying a 20 lb. crowbar to every fly-in....;)

I have a titanium crowbar that I could loan you!

Oops. Just realized I'm replying to something from 5 years ago, but the offer still stands. :o

777Dave 12-21-2012 07:40 AM

Tie downs
 
I went to S & F after the big blow 2 years ago and was disheartened at the carnage.... I had EAA style tiedowns with me and used them. As I was driving in the 18 inch pins I could feel that there was not much resistance until I got to about 10 inches! Then it was nice to feel them bite.
I came away thinking that depending on soil conditions, sometimes you don't have much "hold" unless you go deep. Some systems don't go very far down :(.
Granted rocks can be an issue, and pulling then out is tough sometimes ( like the twisting suggestion!) but let's face it, the whole idea is to get the best hold possible!!
I love my home made EAA tiedowns.

CharlieWaffles 12-21-2012 08:01 AM

You guys referring to these?

http://www.eaa.org/sportaviationmag/...10_BuildIt.pdf

bkthomps 12-21-2012 08:28 AM

i think the problem is when the ground is soaked, do they still hold then?

flyboy1963 12-21-2012 09:26 AM

safety first! know where you are pounding!
 
Even if you are at your home field, you are in danger of puncturing an irrigation line, phone cable, gas line, or power cable when you start pounding in 18" stakes!!!
These things are seldom marked, and even the locals probably don't know where they all are.
Not really a nice thing to get electrocuted....or even have to pay to fix something you stabbed!
At least ask the airport manager if it's ok, or where to tie-down; then you have a little butt-coverage should things go badly.

David-aviator 12-21-2012 10:53 AM

These tie downs work, I built a set before the last trip to OSH.

EAA ought to have a roving Bob Cat to assist getting the pins out of the ground when its time to leave. :)

boom3 12-21-2012 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David-aviator (Post 727194)
EAA ought to have a roving Bob Cat to assist getting the pins out of the ground when its time to leave. :)

Ya I wasn't too successfull with the rope around the washer to pull them straight out. Mine didn't budge. A 6 inch claw hammer works great, once you get them started, they pull out easily.

rzbill 03-10-2013 07:49 PM

My version of the EAA Tiedowns
 
Here's a few pics of my recently completed EAA tiedowns.

For convenience sake, the original plans are here:
EAA Tie Down Plans
I made a few changes. Yes, untested but I promise to report if my mods don't pan out.

Basic change was to make the stakes out of tubing rather than rod.
The numbers say they are bit lighter and a lot stiffer. This with the increased surface area for loamy soil should be positive. The negative should be high driving force into hard soils.

Used 3/8" OD by .035 wall SS tubing. I was prepared to lathe turn some ends for the tubing but I found some SS carriage bolts in the bin so they became the ends. I threaded the tubing, cut the bolts (they were too long) and used the scrap for the pointed end. My son (a professional welder) TIG welded the parts together and then I sharpened the pointy ends with a bench grinder.

I got the rope from West Marine while I was in Key West (trip report elsewhere).

Here is the lot, prior to me sharpening the tips.


Brackets from 1/8" 6061. TLAR design. Did not run the numbers but should not be weak link in system.


Closeup of the stakes with carriage bolt head and before and after of tip sharpening.


Now I have to cajole SWMBO into sewing me a bag for this stuff...:eek:


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