Wing skin storage ideas?

N546RV · #1 03-16-2013, 04:24 PM

So I've basically got all the stuff from my wing kit put away, except for the eight flat wing skins. They're too big to lie flat either on my shelving unit or on the shelf underneath my work bench. I do have a possible good chunk of wall space where they could hang, but I'm not sure how to safely hang them up. Would they be OK with some small finishing nails through the rivet holes maybe?

Any other good ideas? How did you guys do it?

chrishalfman · #2 03-16-2013, 04:56 PM

I've done the finishing nail thing with several of my skins. I used tape folded in half over the nail to make sure the sheets didn't slip off accidentally.

I also did some 'behind the couch' storage on items to keep them out of the garage. Probably not the best if you have young kids or a household critter.

Flyin4Fun · #3 03-16-2013, 05:05 PM

Philip,

You are going to be handling the skins several times before you finally rivet them to the spars. If you try to use nails until you complete the wings, your wall will look like you shot it with a shotgun.
I would suggest a vertical rack that is wide enough to store all of the skins with a layer of cardboard between each skin. Position it on the wall so that you can slide the skins in/out of one end.
If you could give me an idea of where you are thinking of postioning the skin on the wall, I could send you a sketch of the rack I am thinking of.

KCBerner · #4 03-16-2013, 05:13 PM

This is what I did for my RV-14 wing skins. That's 1/2 inch galvanized piping screwed to the ceiling with a flange. All from Lowe's Aviation Supply. I added a piece of carpet to this to finish it off. This size was sized to fit the bigger outboard skin/what I could fit on my ceiling. The garage door opens about 6-8 inches under this. I made the shelf deep enough that it also fits the wing tips (seen in second photo) as well as other flat stock.

N546RV · #5 03-16-2013, 10:09 PM

Thanks guys. I ended up doing the finishing-nails-in-the-walls thing. I ground down the nail heads first so that I could slip the skins on and off without having to remove the nails. Unfortunately space in the garage is pretty tight, so my options are limited. Even overhead storage is tough because I have beaucoup flourescent fixtures up there.

Dbro172 · #6 03-17-2013, 11:24 AM

I couldn't find a happy place for skins in my garage, so they were always kept under our bed.

longranger · #7 03-18-2013, 09:43 AM

I propped the crate up at an angle and store the skins there. Just make sure that after you dimple the skins you face them exterior to exterior and interior to interior to keep the dimples from making a mess of exteror of the skins. Having them in the shop keeps them handy for when you need them for fitup (like the flap I hung yesterday

).

Not a great photo, but the best I could find on short notice. Note the skins stacked in the crate in the lower left of the photo:

rapid_ascent · #8 03-18-2013, 01:08 PM

I just left the skins in the box. I have a sheet of plastic over the top and I shoot my primer in that area. Makes it so I don't have to bend over quite so much.

MarkW · #9 03-18-2013, 01:55 PM

I had a pretty wide work bench but not wide enough for the skins. So I used a crate top and built a diagonal shelf under the bench. The skins of the 9 are pretty long so the bench was off the wall a ways till I used the skins.

Mel · #10 03-18-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyin4Fun

I would suggest a vertical rack that is wide enough to store all of the skins with a layer of cardboard between each skin. Position it on the wall so that you can slide the skins in/out of one end.

Be careful placing cardboard between skins. Cardboard tends to absorb and hold moisture.