Tip: Degaussing the Rollbar

[Norman CYYJ]

If you want to have fun some time. Take a piece of steel rod and aim it north then put it at an incline to match your latitude. Then give a few good wraps with a hammer. The rod will now be a rod magnet, not very strong but still a magnetic rod.

[DennisRhodes]

a small "buzz box' welding machine makes a good degausser. Needs to be an AC welder ie not the DC type used for good welding results! Wrap several turns two or max three of the welding lead around the part and connect to the ground. Need to minimize the time and use in a low amp setting if you have that option. It will get hot and eventually burn up your welder if you leave it for minutes. Its like a stuck rod when you were learning how to weld. Wont take but seconds to do what you need to do. If you ever practice welding you know how bad an AC welder will stick the rod to your work.

[flightlogic]

One thing I noticed in the original photos in this thread. A simple compass. I don't see one in many tool boxes... but with electronic instruments the mainstay of panels today, you can use a compass for a number of things.
Finding what I call "quiet" spots in the airframe can be done quickly and accurately. And don't mount your AHRS backwards !!!

[Tom023]

Originally Posted by Norman CYYJ

If you want to have fun some time. Take a piece of steel rod and aim it north then put it at an incline to match your latitude. Then give a few good wraps with a hammer. The rod will now be a rod magnet, not very strong but still a magnetic rod.

Magnetic or true?

[glenn654]

I believe that the Sac Sky Ranch has been closed, perhaps for 2 or 3 years.

The owner, John Schwaner (sp?) has retired and which is a loss for GA.

Glenn Wilkinson

[videobobk]

It is true that striking a rod pointed north will create a weak magnet. Aeronca had that problem, way back when. Their assembly line was aligned north-south, vs. east-west like it should have been. All Champs came off the line with horrible compasses! That of course changed over the years, and the magnetism diminished with time and vibration of the airframe pointed various directions. I doubt if there is a real lesson here, but it is a fun fact. My father was a final assembly welder during those couple of peak years after WWII.

Bob