Dimpling Nutplates
 

I worked out a cheap & easy way to dimple Nutplates today without buying or grinding down the edge of dimples. Simply take a piece of 1/4 steel about for inches square, drill a #40 hole close to the edge (so the countersink for the screw clears the edge) then machine countersink the hole so an AN426AD3 rivet sits just below the surface. Now simply use plate as female side of die. I used mine the the bottom on the DRT2 and it worked great, also I straightened the Nutplate out due to distortion of the dies by leaving the weight down on the handle and slightly stretching them down.

Dinpling Nuplates
 

Thanks for the great idea. I never thought of that. I'll be sure and try it out tonight. Seems like it's almost too easy!

At your own risk
 

Gents,

The DRDT-2 is fine tool but it was designed to dimple aluminum and not steel nutplates. The loads imposed dimpling nutplates may damage the DRDT-2 clamp.

When I dimple nutplates I use my hand squeeze which is designed to handle the higher loads.

If you own a DRDT-2 and are considering dimpling nutplates I would highly recommend against it.

Build on......................

Now you tell me! I dimpled a lot of nutplates using a steel adaptor plate similar to described above. As far as I can tell my DRDT-2 is still working okay.

My 9A is 90% done,did not dimple a single nut plate, used NAS 1097 rivets, makes it a lot easier.

The leverage arm on my DRDT-2 broke at the top of and under where the press fit black oxide pivot pin went through. I believe the reason was from the added pressure required to dimple the nut plates. I had to re-weld mine at that point and I reinforced that area with some extra passes of welding rod filler. I ground a side off of the male and female dies and also needed that set for dimpling some of the tight spots in the airframe.

Ok maybe that's not such a good idea. What about pneumatic squeezers will they be ok to load up????

Good advice. It's a well-known secret that Van's carries NAS1097 rivets in
three AD3 sizes now as well as the AD4's they tout as "oops" rivets.

Search at the Van's Aircraft webstore (be sure to check "The List") for NAS1097.

--
Joe

And much faster. Also easier in cases where it is difficult to dimple the sheet metal.

Avery 3/8" Diameter Dimple Die
 

I used a 3/8" diameter female dimple die from Avery Tools in my pneumatic squeezer. It works perfectly for dimpling nutplates:



They're on sale now at Avery Tools:

http://www.averytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=14870