Fluting the HS ribs

[RVdreamin]

Guys...still rookie questions I know. Deburred all the HS-904/905 HS ribs and the next step is to flute. The nose ribs on the HS really have no place to apply the fluting pliers because of the notches in the rib flanges and the skin holes. I easily bent one straight because the notches allow an easy 'stress' location to straighten the ribs. The main HS ribs also have notches, but there is room for the fluting pliers. So the question is....Can I manually bend the HS main and nose ribs straight or should I use the fluting pliers? If I should use the fluting pliers, how can I flute the nose ribs on the HS? Thanks for the help..

[mikehoover]

Here's a picture of how I fluted the front of the nose ribs:
http://www.aclog.com/rv-9a/images/Em...p/DCP_1176.JPG

Here's another showing flutes between the rivet holes on the nose ribs:
http://www.aclog.com/rv-9a/images/Em...p/DCP_1446.JPG

I fluted between the rivets holes on the main ribs as well.

Hope this will help.

[RVdreamin]

Mike...Are those the HS ribs? They look like the wing ribs.

[mikehoover]

Yep those are HS ribs (circa 2003, not sure if Vans changed the looks of them.)

[RVdreamin]

I looked at other builder logs and it looks like they have cut more notches in the nose ribs and main ribs for the HS. Between each hole for the skin there is a notch cut which makes it easy to straigthen without fluting with pliers. There are also several ore notches in the flange on the HS main ribs also.....Its like they come up with a better idea for these part and straightening them. A little concerned I do not see the ribs I have on other web sites.

[AF_Alan]

My ribs circa 2007 look like Mike's. No extra notches required. My original (used) pliers had a fat head (model fp10 i think) which created wide flutes. Others create narrower flutes and fit easily between the skin holes. Check out Avery model 500 as one example.

Good luck