New Builder Hints

[mlwynn]

You can very efficiently dimple ribs by placing your pneumatic squeezer in a vise fixed to your bench. Set up the dimple dies, and, using a foot operated air valve, quickly and efficiently dimple an entire set of leading edge, tank or empennage ribs. Be very sure that in your efficiency, you remember to move your left index finger far enough away that the dimpler does not quickly and efficiently remove a small but suprizingly painful circle of skin.

Michael Wynn
RV 8 (starting the fuselage)
San Ramon, CA 94583

[brian]

Here is a tip for when you use a microstop countersink cage. If you shove the drive shaft all the way into your drill chuck, then the sliding housing will slide back until it hits the chuck. This will throw off your cage adjustments. If you later reinsert the cage into the chuck, it will now be cutting too deep. LESSON: when you are adjusting your countersink cage, make sure, when your sliding outer cage housing is all the way back, that it clears your drill chuck. If your chuck is stopping the sliding part, rather than it being done by the adjustment ring on the cage, you will get false settings. This has bitten me a couple times.

brian

[Rupester]

Thanks for the tip. I've had some aggravating and mysterious consistency "issues" when countersinking. I bet that was my problem. Never thought about that possibility before.

Terry Ruprecht
Mahomet, IL
RV-9A fuse 75% complete

[Steve]

Use a shortened screw (AN818?) to hold the nutplate to the workpiece instead of a cleco. Rotate the nutplate into position. Then drill a #40 hole through a leg. Install a cleco. Then drill the other #40 hole. Deburr and dimple. The shortened screw centers the nutplate over the hole and holds it securely to the workpiece.

Steve

[brianwallis]

Originally Posted by Build9A

Always put your tools back in their rightful place after each use. I worked a little over 1200 hours on a quickbuild (about average). 200 hrs. can be attributed to "hunting for tools".

I wanted to say "What does Doug's wife and my toolbox have in common?" and the answer is that they both have yoga mats... but that would be a little rude I think for a thread so here is the explanation. I have a 3 bay 1600lb toolbox from snap-on.. I LOOOVE it... I have a LOT of tools.. and like the man said 200 hrs was looking for tools.. well I dont. I Ghosted all my tools on the mat and cut out the holes so now I have a toolbox with 3D tool cutouts. It make my life sooooooo easy. The reason I did not make it a thread was I did'nt want anybody comparing Doug's wife to my toolbox or vice versa in any way shape or form. I bought a Yoga mat at Wal-mart and I love it because it's blue foam and the surface is easily cleanable of dirt and grease. So Doug if you read this... no offense. I'm not comparing your wife in anyway shape or form to my toolbox... ok leagalease over... anyways... I know instantly if anything is missing... because the mats in the drawer are black and the yoga mat is blue it stands out.. and it's 3d. You'd be surprised how many tools you find when you empty your box of everything and inventory and clean it. All my customers get a guided tour of the box and they are impressed... also they know no tools are rolling around in the airplane because an inventory is conducted before and after the job.
You would be surprised what a yoga mat and an afternoon can do for your life.. take that however you wish...

[skyyking56]

Never let your tool air hose hang in front of your shop heater while in operation....
The heater WILL win........sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
If the heater is not on...they WILL co-exist

Jim
2nd air hose and learning fast
7A elevators and wings on the way

[Caveman]

A fellow builder told me to place my rivets in medicine bottles and drill a hole in the cap so you can dispense them like salt from a salt shaker. If you knock them over accidently you'll only have to pick up a few instead of a whole bin full. Works great!

Of course we didn't forsee our "attention starved Bassett hound" checking out the project in the garage. She playfully grabbed a bottle sideways in her mouth and ran out in the backyard through the open door shaking rivets out with every bound. She loves to be chased. Guess what? If you drive by this summer and hear little "tinks" while we're mowing the lawn you'll know why!

[ccrawford]

Originally Posted by Caveman

A fellow builder told me to place my rivets in medicine bottles and drill a hole in the cap so you can dispense them like salt from a salt shaker. If you knock them over accidently you'll only have to pick up a few instead of a whole bin full. Works great!

I did something similar - I used glass pepper/spice shakers (found at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $2 each; I think I got 10) that have screw on caps. Under the cap they have the plastic cover with holes in it - works great to shake out 1/8" rivets, and an enlargement of the holes with your unibit makes it work for the larger rivets.

The cap is great because you won't ever spill any if you aren't actually using the jar - preventing cats, dogs, and other animals from spilling them all over the place!

[rv9aviator]

The quality of rivet installation is directly proportional to the number of beers you drink while working on your RV, especially in hard to reach places.

[tyconnell]

Originally Posted by rv9aviator

The quality of rivet installation is directly proportional to the number of beers you drink while working on your RV, especially in hard to reach places.

I think you mean inversely proportional.