Drilling hole in wheel pants for "air-hole."

Tram · #1 10-15-2011, 11:41 AM

Hey guys-

Picked up some 1" plugs in the aviation isle at Lowe's and I am planning on putting a 1" hole in the pant so that I can air up my tires without removing the pants..

I don't have a ton of drilling fiberglass experience and I'm just looking for a few tips before I get rolling.

I was thinking about drawing the hole on the pant, drilling a hole large enough for my dremel sanding wheel to get in, donning the mast and long sleeves and cranking the rpm's up to 20,000 and letting it rip..

Anyone see issues with this?

GLPalinkas · #2 10-15-2011, 12:20 PM

Borrow a 1" unibit. (Stepdrill) Much easier.....

Also, I am going to do the same and use a laser set up to target the stem valve. Reinstall the back pants without disturbing the set-up. This procedure worked great for locating the holes for mounting the pants. No I didn't think of it, I shamelessly stole it from a VAF member.

Tram · #3 10-15-2011, 01:36 PM

What sort of laser system?

Bevan · #4 10-15-2011, 02:02 PM

laser pointer or laser level etc.

Bevan

Tram · #5 10-15-2011, 02:12 PM

Ok, I'm just trying to visualize it.

I guess you're mounting the laser to the stem for a straight shot through the pant?

alpinelakespilot2000 · #6 10-15-2011, 02:15 PM

No, just get something to hold your laser pointer. Set it a couple feet from the wheel, pointed at the valve. Put wheel pant on. Drill where the laser points. If you don't have a unibit, a regular hole sole will work just fine. Just make sure you have a cap (or door) the size of the hole saw if you want the hole covered.

Tram · #7 10-15-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000

No, just get something to hold your laser pointer. Set it a couple feet from the wheel, pointed at the valve. Put wheel pant on. Drill where the laser points. If you don't have a unibit, a regular hole sole will work just fine. Just make sure you have a cap (or door) the size of the hole saw if you want the hole covered.

Too easy and a great idea.. Thanks.

alpinelakespilot2000 · #8 10-15-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tram

Too easy and a great idea.. Thanks.

Also, remember to point the laser from the same angle as the valve is pointing so that your hole is located such that your air hose will go straight to and properly aligned with the valve. Make sense? This may mean, for example, that the hole you cut is actually higher than the location of the valve stem. Just play with the orientation of the wheel until you get the stem pointed to where you'd like to cut the hole in the pant.

Tram · #9 10-15-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000

Also, remember to point the laser from the same angle as the valve is pointing so that your hole is located such that your air hose will go straight to and properly aligned with the valve. Make sense? This may mean, for example, that the hole you cut is actually higher than the location of the valve stem. Just play with the orientation of the wheel until you get the stem pointed to where you'd like to cut the hole in the pant.

Makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the tip! I love this board..

RVadmirer · #10 10-15-2011, 07:59 PM

I was told those plugs will chip the paint over time.
Andy Patterson, the fellow that built a fabulous cover plane featured on Kitplanes a few months ago sent me these pictures of a snazzy way to do it.