VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 09-15-2014, 07:23 AM
cwharris cwharris is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Meridian, MS
Posts: 75
Default Gas Tanks

If I wanted to get my gas tanks professionally built and tested who could I call and how much does someone usually charge?
__________________
Waylon
RV-14A Kit S/N 140175
Ordered Empennage Kit on 8-01-14
Ordered Wing Kit on 6-24-15
Reserved Tail# N814WB
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-15-2014, 08:26 AM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default

Call my buddy, Ray Lawrence in Sandersville, Ga. He's built tanks for all models, including a -14. 478 232 9560.

Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132


Dues gladly paid!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-15-2014, 08:31 AM
JDBoston JDBoston is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Boston Area
Posts: 284
Default

I spoke to Ray a while back, and he seemed to really know what he was doing...

I am working on the leading edges now, and am staring at my winter project which will be the tanks. Still on the fence if I am going to take a shot at it myself or not. Leaning towards doing it myself, sort of a rite of passage.
__________________
Jeff

RV-14A
Status: Wings complete(ish), Working on: Empennage. Fuselage kit on order
Location:MA
http://vans14a.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-15-2014, 09:14 AM
Mike S's Avatar
Mike S Mike S is offline
Senior Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
Default

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...1&postcount=12
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-15-2014, 09:16 AM
Mel's Avatar
Mel Mel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,768
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JDBoston View Post
I spoke to Ray a while back, and he seemed to really know what he was doing...
I am working on the leading edges now, and am staring at my winter project which will be the tanks. Still on the fence if I am going to take a shot at it myself or not. Leaning towards doing it myself, sort of a rite of passage.
If you're thinking about doing it, then DO IT! It's not that bad.
__________________
Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
Recipient of Tony Bingelis Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-15-2014, 02:19 PM
jswareiv jswareiv is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 474
Default It's not that bad?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mel View Post
If you're thinking about doing it, then DO IT! It's not that bad.
Mel, you lie! Some people do have the opinion that it is not a big deal, but it's a pain. After having done all of the wings and the empennage, it is that bad. You will have black "stuff" everywhere. It will be all over your tools, clothes, ground, benches, clecos, etc. It's very tedious dipping every rivet in the proseal, then trying to get it off your glove into the hole, then take your nice rivet gun and get black stuff all over it. Proseal never really goes where you want it, it goes everywhere. I had someone help me that was a pro and without him, I probably would have had a bunch of leaks. His name is Dennis Millsap, retired military. He also helped me get all of my trailing edges perfectly straight. If you decide to do the tanks, take a week off work and do all the trailing edges at the same time since you will be mixing up the proseal and getting it everywhere. My vote is have it done or get professional help. If I build another plane one day, I am having Mel come help me, because he must know something I don't know.
__________________
Stoney
First RV-14 Flight 04/17/2016
Serial #140087, N214SW - Sold
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-15-2014, 02:56 PM
Tom Martin Tom Martin is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,544
Default

I am just working on the RV14 tanks now. I use a lot of electrical tape to mask the inside of the tank and that really helps with the mess.
I am using the caulking tubes this time and they really work much better then the old quart can method. I am estimating 6 or 7 tubes for both tanks.

It really is not that bad a job and the actual pro seal/riveting work is going to take about six sessions, one for each caulking tube. These sessions are about 3 to 4 hours long. I work alone on this job and I am not sure that if you know how to rivet, having extra hands in the way are going to help much.

That works out to about 25 hours of actual riveting. Save some money and do it yourself.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 1000 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1 Rockets
RV14 Tail dragger

Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
fairleafield@gmail.com
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-15-2014, 03:06 PM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
Default

I'm in the middle of it and it's really not that bad. Remember when you were a child and were playing in the mud? Like that but with an airplane involved.

Dave
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-15-2014, 05:01 PM
rmartingt's Avatar
rmartingt rmartingt is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 1,029
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jswareiv View Post
It's very tedious dipping every rivet in the proseal, then trying to get it off your glove into the hole,
Then don't dip the rivets Just use a toothpick to put a dab of sealant in the hole, then insert the rivet. You get messy, but at least it's easier to handle the rivets that way.
__________________
RV-7ER - finishing kit and systems installation
There are two kinds of fool in the world. The first says "this is old, and therefore good"; the second says "this is new, and therefore better".
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-15-2014, 06:17 PM
Barneybc12d Barneybc12d is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Belleville, il
Posts: 124
Default Like getting in cold water



Been looking at this for 3 evenings. Hesitant to jump in.
__________________
Barney Johnson
14A #140111
started build 12/24/13
Empennage done, wings done, fuselage done, finish kit in progress.
Dormant 2017, 2018,2019
Back at it 3/20
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:26 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.