#40 dimple dies

n700jl · #1 02-01-2011, 08:51 AM

Who in you mind makes the best dimple dies. My current dies do not seem to be as good as what Van's is using at the quick build factory. Thanks for you input.

sf3543 · #2 02-01-2011, 08:55 AM

I prefer Avery and Cleaveland for their dimple dies, and tools in general.

rocketbob · #3 02-01-2011, 09:28 AM

Funny that you mention this. Just this weekend a friend was helping me dimple some skins with my big 22" c-frame yoke and footpedal operated squeezer. We did one half of the dimples with a Cleaveland set and the other half with an Avery set. Overall there was almost no noticeable difference. One difference I did note was that the Cleaveland's have polished faces and will leave less of a ring around the dimple (less radial scratching). No big deal however.

Dies do wear out and I've found that you don't want to do more than one airplane with them.

DarylT · #4 02-01-2011, 09:45 AM

I also like the fact that the Cleaveland dies are marked so you can easily tell them apart. CAT 426-4 for a #40 for example. I bought one set in the beginning that had no markings at all.