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  #11  
Old 05-08-2012, 10:14 AM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Gillispie View Post
....
Keeping it RV related...I am guessing my RV-10 was built with 90% US mfd parts.
Yes, I think 2024 sheet and 4130 tubing is mostly (all?) US-made...

I bet most of your other 10% is in the avionics - US-designed but built overseas.
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  #12  
Old 05-08-2012, 11:21 AM
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mike newall mike newall is offline
 
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When Vans assembled in the Czech Republic, the build quality and priming were exemplary.

Can't say the same for the current assembly in Philippines - mistakes, smiles, wrinkles, wash primer........

Britain is sadly going the same way though with many of our good Engineers getting older and skill sets dying out when they retire.

Where can you get a starter rewound and tested ?

Who can mill up some widgets for a project ?

Where can you get good aluminium welding done ?

There are places, but most of the fellas are, should we say - experienced, mature and about to retire
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  #13  
Old 05-08-2012, 02:31 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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Default Trend Underway for decades,

Mahle has produced pistons, good ones, in Brazil for decades. My first encounter with Brazilian mahle pistons was for VW air-cooled engines in the early 70's. They were as good as the German made ones when others weren't.

It's funny, in building this 7, I am buying more $ in components made in the USA, than ever in my life, including all the cars over the years. One exception, my house, and lot.

When I worked at a US engine supplier in the mid 80's outsourcing was in high gear to break the supply chain links and limit liability.

I suppose we are all free to open a business making valves, guides, pistons, rings or other components to reverse this trend, but these are big businesses with low margins. The higher levels of the food chain (assemblers) make the most margins, while typically adding the lowest technical content.

No easy answers.
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  #14  
Old 05-08-2012, 03:02 PM
Lux Wrangler Lux Wrangler is offline
 
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Default teach them well...

Quote:
I find it almost impossible today to find decent petrochemical engineers coming out of the universities, all the old-timers that really knew this stuff have retired and nobody is teaching the kids anymore. - airguy
So, why don't you teach them?
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  #15  
Old 05-08-2012, 04:49 PM
jrs14855 jrs14855 is offline
 
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Default 4130

Lots of chinese 4130 tubing and sheet. Very marginal looking stuff. 4130 tubing from Germany is very high quality.
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  #16  
Old 05-16-2012, 08:30 AM
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Russ McCutcheon Russ McCutcheon is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
Yes, I think 2024 sheet and 4130 tubing is mostly (all?) US-made...

I bet most of your other 10% is in the avionics - US-designed but built overseas.
We where just cutting a run of Van's tubing and I took note, about 50% split between these companies, Promoly is made in the U.S.A. and Benteler is made in Germany.

http://www.plymouth.com/products/car...-steel-tubing/

http://www.benteler-distribution.co....dia/PTG700.pdf
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  #17  
Old 05-16-2012, 09:43 AM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ McCutcheon View Post
We where just cutting a run of Van's tubing and I took note, about 50% split between these companies, Promoly is made in the U.S.A. and Benteler is made in Germany.

http://www.plymouth.com/products/car...-steel-tubing/

http://www.benteler-distribution.co....dia/PTG700.pdf
At least German steel should be better than Chinese steel...

Is the German stuff actually marked 4130? ...or is it their PTG-700 product, which actually sounds a little better than 4130.
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Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ

Last edited by az_gila : 05-16-2012 at 09:45 AM.
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  #18  
Old 05-17-2012, 10:40 AM
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Russ McCutcheon Russ McCutcheon is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
At least German steel should be better than Chinese steel...

Is the German stuff actually marked 4130? ...or is it their PTG-700 product, which actually sounds a little better than 4130.
Yes it is marked 4130.
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