Rib Dimples

[Av8torTom]

Does anyone have a good way to dimple these last two holes in an RV-9 flap rib? On the other flap I spread the rib flange and slipped in a pop-rivet dimple die, but that was a pain.


Thanks,

Tom

[Vlad]

From a heavy steel chunk I fabricated an extended flat pointy thing. Then drilled the point 3/32, countersunk it, inserted in that tight spot and used rivet gun with proper die. You can just smack a used die (even a rivet) with a hammer into it too. A deburring rotating bit will finish the dimple to perfect fit.

I may still have that contraption need to look.

[FlyingArcher]

This comes from Cleaveland and is VERY helpful in many places.

[Av8torTom]

Such an elegant solution. I drilled a #40 hole in some steel stock, machine countersunk it, then hammered a male dimple die into the countersunk hole. Worked great! Thanks Vlad....

Countersunk hole in steel bar:


Male die in hole:


Resulting dimples:

[tkatc]

Tom, you should see what he can do with "jim-balls"!

[Av8torTom]

I would need to spend some time in the Mother Land to know what to do with "jim balls"

[clevtool]

I came up with this tool a few years ago as a better solution to bending stems on a pop rivet die, or using the vise grip type. Both don't really give enough compression to activate the springback feature of the dies. The countersink in the strap works but still lacks the springback. Quality of the substructure dimples and squareness of flanges is important in this area due to the thin skins.


http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/p...mber=DIE4263DF

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[1911pilot]

I've got the Cleaveland tool. Love it. Simple and elegant.

[KMinor]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

Such an elegant solution. I drilled a #40 hole in some steel stock, machine countersunk it, then hammered a male dimple die into the countersunk hole. Worked great! Thanks Vlad....

Countersunk hole in steel bar:


Male die in hole:


Resulting dimples:

New builder here and late to the game, but thought this might help someone. I was researching how to better dimple in narrow spaces and found this post. I made the same counter sunk dimple "die" out of a steel plate, but made the end more pointy. I kept getting smiley faces in the metal using a rivet gun. What ended up working for me was to use the no-hole yoke in my hand squeezer and the male dimple die in the set holder. It takes three hands, but slide the flat side of the no hole yoke under the steel plate, male die through the hole and squeeze. I'm just working on the rudder and all that might not fit later on, but so far so good.

[Mel]

What's wrong with a "vice-grip" dimpler from Avery's?