Riveting Problem

D&M Dan · #1 01-22-2007, 08:45 PM

Well I riveted the R side of the HS skin. All went well until I noticed all rivets done on the main spar have distorted the skin. Ribs and squezzed rivets are fine. Is it possible I did not coutersink deep enough? I made a test piece of dimpled skin and checked to make sure it was sitting flat on the spar when countersinking. Or is it possible my gun operator is doing something wrong? I would think riveting on the thicker spar material should go easier.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/816/img00438sf.jpg

David Johnson · #2 01-22-2007, 09:57 PM

Bummer dude. Looks to me like the countersinks or dimples in the spar may have been too shallow on many of them.

GAHco · #3 01-22-2007, 10:53 PM

Yep thats what it looks like.

Practice withe some scraps of the same gauges of aluminum before you start again. I did that until I got all the depths just right.

In th .032 you can Countersink, but be very careful and keep your c/s clean and steady. Once again practice on some scrap, or your real pieces may just end up that, scrap.

Have fun, you'll get it.

rv9builder · #4 01-22-2007, 11:01 PM

Did you rivet the ribs to the spar and skin first and then go back and put rivets in the holes on the spar that are in between the ribs? This can cause wrinkles. You want to start riveting at the center of the skin and work your way out to each end.

G-force · #5 01-22-2007, 11:33 PM

I don't remember any countersinks under any skins on my HS...what model are you building?

Pirkka · #6 01-23-2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-force

I don't remember any countersinks under any skins on my HS...what model are you building?

They are 0.032 thick, in theory they could be countersinked... I didn't countersink any as they can be just dimpled and they will be much stronger after that. And dimpling is also much easier process IMHO.

skyyking56 · #7 01-23-2007, 03:37 AM

I noticed that the dimples started getting shallow on my spar and after investigation I found that my pneumatic squeezer was ( with adjustable set)
was backing off. What caused this...I dont know..but I keep a close eye on the depth now (and re-adjust as needed)...I dont know if this caused your wrinkling, but something to look out for if your using the same set up.
Jim

D&M Dan · #8 01-23-2007, 05:50 AM

I am building a 9. Instructions say to countersink spar. All web sites I have seen they have countersunk. After the nose ribs were installed I followed instruction to begin riveting spar. Should I start at the center of the spar and work my way out? How deep on the countersinks? I had these set up to receive my test piece sitting flat. Should it be deeper for rivet expansion?

craigvince · #9 01-23-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D&M Dan

I am building a 9. Instructions say to countersink spar. All web sites I have seen they have countersunk. After the nose ribs were installed I followed instruction to begin riveting spar. Should I start at the center of the spar and work my way out? How deep on the countersinks? I had these set up to receive my test piece sitting flat. Should it be deeper for rivet expansion?

I'm also building a 9. I countersank my HS spar, too. Since then, I bought the DRDT-2 dimpler, and all of my spars since have been dimpled. The DRDT-2 works great for dimpling spars, and they come out much nicer.

At this point, my opinion is that you should drill out the skin rivets, order a new skin from Vans (if necessary) and redo it. I realize that's a lot of work, but if you don't, you will look at that HS for years to come and wish that you had.

jcoloccia · #10 01-23-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D&M Dan

Well I riveted the R side of the HS skin. All went well until I noticed all rivets done on the main spar have distorted the skin. Ribs and squezzed rivets are fine. Is it possible I did not coutersink deep enough? I made a test piece of dimpled skin and checked to make sure it was sitting flat on the spar when countersinking. Or is it possible my gun operator is doing something wrong? I would think riveting on the thicker spar material should go easier.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/816/img00438sf.jpg

Take a picture of the INSIDE of the HS and post it here. The outside is just a symptom. The actual interface between the skin and the spar on the inside will almost certainly show exactly what the problem is.