Buller Longeron Die Question

rv9builder · #1 03-02-2015, 01:45 PM

Do the Buller longeron dies that work for the RV-7 work for the RV-12, or do we need a special set of dies for the 12?

Thanks!

Brantel · #2 03-02-2015, 01:49 PM

A vise, dead-blow hammer and a crescent wrench does wonders with longeron forming.

Rick_A · #3 03-02-2015, 02:24 PM

The dies for the -7 and the -12 are the same dies.

Maybe I needed a Bigger Vise and a Bigger Hammer but I found that the dies made the job quite a bit easier. I stilled needed the Vise, Hammer and Crescent wrench for final shaping.

cactusman · #4 03-02-2015, 03:09 PM

I'm the one selling them - they do work on the RV-12 and make the job of forming the bend a lot easier.

WingedFrog · #5 03-02-2015, 05:54 PM

I used the longeron die and, while it is not miraculous, it helped a lot compared to the brute method of using a hammer and a vise (although you still need them with the die!). You can see what I said at the time on my builder's blog (that was WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 on the blog).

waterboy2110 · #6 03-02-2015, 06:06 PM

I bought and used the dies. Not having beat a set of longerons into existence I cant say if it was much easier. Measure often. The dies are capable of making your longerons into a circle.

Bill_H · #7 03-02-2015, 06:41 PM

Read this thread: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=69024

RFSchaller · #8 03-02-2015, 06:55 PM

Giving in to my id, beating the $&:t out of the longerons was quite therapeutic!

bhassel · #9 03-03-2015, 08:35 AM

I used the dies. It was the easiest part of doing the longerons.

The beating the angle open on the end wasn't. I actually just used a pipe and vice to do that.

Bob

magiccarpet · #10 09-19-2015, 10:02 AM

+1 for Larry's longeron dies.
I did the bends using the dies in a 4" vise. I was astonished how easy one can (over) bend that L-profile with very little force.
It requires to constantly checking against the template, but you get a consistent bend over the intended length when you advance the longeron by 1" each time.
I completed the bend in 3..4 passes.
I can not say how the whacky hammer method would have worked out, but I can say that I am glad to have used the dies for it. It made the longeron process quite easy. (Opening the angle was another story)

Now I have two nicely bend longerons laying on my table and I am glad to have left this task behind me.