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Rolled Skin

DanH

Legacy Member
Mentor
Obviously not required, but if someone at your airport has a slip roll, it's easy to shape the forward skin.
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Agreed; the local sheet metal shop has a roller and somebody who knows how to use it. Another local builder made some plywood templates for the firewall and instrument panel profiles, so the rolling work could be done remotely from the fuselage.
This process made it much easier to get the skin to sit flat along the longerons.
 
Dan, what a great tip. I have access to one. My question to you is for a RV8, should the entire skin be rolled before cutting out the baggage hold door section?
 
Dan, what a great tip. I have access to one. My question to you is for a RV8, should the entire skin be rolled before cutting out the baggage hold door section?

That's what I would do.
 
If you are having your skin rolled by a non-aviation craftsperson, take care in inspecting all the rollers lest a defect print its presence on your skin.

I purchased a Pexto slip roll that sufffered a bit from exposure. While removing rust I came across some dings that would've left ugly remainders
 
And put a pressure bend on the edges where it attaches to the side skins and longerons...
 
nice to have tool

Got one of these when they were in the $300 range. The only downside is its size and weight.

Even at the current price I would get one again if at the beginning of another build. Used all three functions quite a bit. The rollers are fairly adjustable so conical bends as is needed on the -7 forward upper skin were an easy task. The press brake is very basic, but with some scrap one can vary the bend radius to whatever you need. I used the shear very frequently. Nothing like getting a nice straight cut without the curl.

https://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-shear-press-brake-and-slip-roll-5907.html
 
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Slip roll

I’ve installed a couple of front deck skins with and without rolling and it’s definitely easier if it’s curved to approximate shape beforehand. I used a old firewall to match the curve. Experimented on some scrap first then made multiple light passes to sneak up on to the desired shape. The fuselage is a little narrower toward the front so roll your skin to match. I installed the Vans access covers on the curved part of this skin and they got rolled to match the curve too. Finished up with the Avery edge roller on the front and side edges.

Don Broussard
RV9 Rebuild in Progress
57 Pacer
 

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Just wanted to state the obvious: If you're going to roll this skin, it has to be done before the dimples are put in. Too late for mine:)
 
Just wanted to state the obvious: If you're going to roll this skin, it has to be done before the dimples are put in. Too late for mine:)

You might try opening the rolls and use a sheet of 3/16" rubber on the back or "raised" side of the dimpled skin
 
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