DIY Close Quarters Dimple Tool

MrPilot · #1 01-20-2021, 10:38 PM

I am currently working on my practice kit and have been waiting a month already for my close quarters pop rivet dimpler to arrive from Aircraft Tool Supply. That being said, I was really wanting to make more progress and came up with a quick tool to dimple those hard to get rib holes.

1. Take a cleco clamp and disassemble.
2. Take the part of the clamp with the housing and mark 6mm up from the end. Make another mark at where the center intersects your first mark.
3. Screw the clamp housing to your work bench.
4. Drill using a #40 all the way through the clamp.
5. Counter sink until a rivet sits just under the surface.
6. Re-assemble the clamp.
7. Place a rivet into the hole to be dimpled.
8. Place the clamp over the piece to be dimpled and the rivet. The rivet shank will go through the hole in the clamp.
9. While holding the clamp, give it some taps with the rivet gun. (on the factory head side)
10. Remove the clamp and rivet.

This made an adequate dimple in the rib. It is not cframe or DRDT2 quality, but good enough for those few that any other tool can't get to.

Hope this might help someone in the future.

jacoby · #2 01-21-2021, 08:22 AM

That's a pretty cool idea! Just wait to you go and rivet those.. I have yet to figure out how to. Those rivets look awful on my practice kit and I have like 6 rivets I need to set on the real thing since I haven't found anything that will set them with any consistency. On the rudder I just used two blind rivets.

That practice kit is actually far harder than the real kit (at least on the -10). Van's gives notches and clearance or dimples parts for you where you'd need a close-quarters dimple.

FWIW, check your countersink method. You're either running it in and out too fast or not letting it spin at full depth. The countersink shouldn't look faceted like that, even if you are doing it by hand in the deburr tool. And it looks like you went a bit too deep to compensate for the facets.

John Tierney · #3 01-21-2021, 09:14 AM

Similar ideas on the Experimental Aero page by my friend Paul.
http://www.experimentalaero.com/Builders%20Tips.htm

wirejock · #4 01-21-2021, 09:33 AM

Love the idea and home made tools.
I use one of these. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...sedimplers.php
That is one spot where a pop rivet works. MK-319-BS

MrPilot · #5 01-21-2021, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacoby

FWIW, check your countersink method. You're either running it in and out too fast or not letting it spin at full depth. The countersink shouldn't look faceted like that, even if you are doing it by hand in the deburr tool. And it looks like you went a bit too deep to compensate for the facets.

Good eye! Yes. It is a horrible countersink. I was holding the clamp by hand and used a speed debur tool to make it. This was mainly a proof of concept, if I need this type of tool again (not on a the practice kit) I will spend a little more time on it.

MrPilot · #6 01-21-2021, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirejock

That is one spot where a pop rivet works. MK-319-BS

Thanks for rivet part number. My neighbor is building a 9A and came over last night. He said the exact same thing and mentioned he might have a few left over blind rivets I could have. There is really no good way to solid rivet such a tight space.