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  #1  
Old 03-02-2014, 11:24 AM
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JohnCFord JohnCFord is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 109
Default Tool Box Practice Kit

Yesterday was a learning experience. I have had plenty of experience building other things such as cars and custom motorcycles. Bucking rivets is a little different and in short, I need more practice before bucking the "money" job....

Used my soldering iron to trim the blue plastic. I had to file the tip as not to score the end pieces.


Match drilled.


Dimpled.


Here are my dimple dies. What tool is used for these (and do you have one for sale?)? I had to convert my drill press to an arbor press for the end pieces and I used channel locks to dimple the box.


My first rivet ever!


Back side.


Pow! First casualty.


Second casualty.


After drill out and replacement. I did find that using a center drill, commonly used by machinists, was a great way to start a larger hole in the rivet head before drilling through. I also need a rivet cutter...


Pretty time consuming process but very fun. I'll finish this project and buy another tool box and probably the other practice project.
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I like the RV-8, and Rv-7
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  #2  
Old 03-02-2014, 11:49 AM
JumpNurse JumpNurse is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Gilbert, AZ (and missing TX)
Posts: 54
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For those dies you either need a c-frame dimpler, DRDT-2, or a pneumatic squeezer. For the record, to my (relatively inexperienced) eyes, that looks way under dimpled. Definitely, not the crisp hole you are looking for.
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  #3  
Old 03-02-2014, 11:54 AM
diamond diamond is offline
 
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Location: Rochester, MN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JumpNurse View Post
For those dies you either need a c-frame dimpler, DRDT-2, or a pneumatic squeezer. For the record, to my (relatively inexperienced) eyes, that looks way under dimpled. Definitely, not the crisp hole you are looking for.
I agree. I wouldn't start another practice kit until you are set up for dimpling with one of the 3 items mentioned here.
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  #4  
Old 03-02-2014, 11:54 AM
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wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
Default tools

John
Welcome.
First I commend you for trying without the tools.
My advise is find a local builder and spend an hour learning basics. You will find out pretty quick which tools you want/need and get valuable experience using them.
As far as the tool box, the drill press and pliers won't give you the force needed. You need a C-frame or hand squeezer or both.
Your profile shows you as a CAP member. Their shop may have the tools and skills too.
Best of luck.
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Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
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  #5  
Old 03-02-2014, 11:54 AM
JumpNurse JumpNurse is offline
 
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As a side note, my first tool box was pretty motley. It's amazing how much better the second one came out. I was feeling pretty confident heading in to the airfoil practice kit and found completely new ways to muck it up. I'm pretty sure you shouldn't need a rivet cutter for the practice kits.
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  #6  
Old 03-02-2014, 12:05 PM
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JohnCFord JohnCFord is offline
 
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Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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Thanks for the insight, guys. Anyone have a pic filed away as to what a properly dimpled hole should look like. Next paycheck, more tools. By the way, I live in Norman, Oklahoma. I went to Brown tool on Friday and was able to look at their used over stock. Big pile of very useful stuff to be had for pretty cheap.
~J~
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~J~
I like the RV-8, and Rv-7
RV-8 Preview Plans received 2/22/12
Collecting/fabricating required tools
Tool Box Project under const.
=VAF= Supporter April 2015
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  #7  
Old 03-02-2014, 12:19 PM
JumpNurse JumpNurse is offline
 
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Location: Gilbert, AZ (and missing TX)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnCFord View Post
Thanks for the insight, guys. Anyone have a pic filed away as to what a properly dimpled hole should look like. Next paycheck, more tools. By the way, I live in Norman, Oklahoma. I went to Brown tool on Friday and was able to look at their used over stock. Big pile of very useful stuff to be had for pretty cheap.
~J~
The Van's section 5 actually does a really good job explaining it. To me, it's kind of like love. Hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. These helped me get my feet under me:

http://www.eaavideo.org/channel.aspx...nts_sheetmetal
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  #8  
Old 03-02-2014, 12:24 PM
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JohnCFord JohnCFord is offline
 
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Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 109
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Cool! I already have the material to weld together a DRDT-2 frame. All I need is a front end kit.
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~J~
I like the RV-8, and Rv-7
RV-8 Preview Plans received 2/22/12
Collecting/fabricating required tools
Tool Box Project under const.
=VAF= Supporter April 2015
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  #9  
Old 03-02-2014, 03:16 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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There are marks like these around the world in different places on aircraft! You just have them where you can see them. There are some pretty good rivets in there too! The drill press can not deliver the leverage and force that a hand squeezer does, so the dimples are under formed.

The tool box is a perfect learning opportunity. Welcome to the world of RV builders.
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and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
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  #10  
Old 03-02-2014, 05:27 PM
Charles in SC Charles in SC is offline
 
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John,
The posts above are are all good. Two things I wanted to say are that riveting with a gun and bucking bar is easier if the work does not jump around. A good way to practice is to get some sheet metal and practice drilling, dimpling, and riveting with the work piece held in a vise or with someone holding it still.
Also the edges and corners look like they need smoothing up until all the tool marks and burrs are gone. I like to draw file this type edge.
Did you deburr the holes?
Good luck and welcome to the forum!
Charles
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Last edited by Charles in SC : 03-02-2014 at 05:30 PM.
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