Tapering The Stiffeners? - Page 2

Av8torTom · #11 10-06-2012, 11:08 AM

Snips all the way - VERY simple, VERY fast and accurate. I started out using my band saw and that worked quite well, but the snips were faster and easier. Finish up on a 6" Scotchbrite wheel. Be sure to use right or left hand snips as appropriate.

David Paule · #12 10-06-2012, 06:22 PM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Finished the ones for the rudder as described above.

Tried other things with no luck but a lot of fun -

Took a couple trials of the scoring technique, which I couldn't get to work for me. Apparently I'm missing something.

Went to the store and tried a paper cutter, sigh, they don't make them like they used to.

An old technique involving a chisel and a vice didn't work because the "good" part was the cut-off. It would take more tooling to get the stiffener to be airworthy this way.

I nearly made my own little shear. Didn't when I realized that snips would do the job in a flash. Turns out that it isn't so hard to do, though: a bit of wood, three scraps of 4130 (anvil, clamp and blade), a single bolt would do it plus a vice. Easier to merely use tools on hand.

I didn't use the band saw. Mine is somewhat aggressive (3/4 hp, 6.5 tpi blade) and using it for these cuts would take more effort to keep it good than snips would.

Thanks again!

Dave

fl-mike · #13 07-03-2013, 08:00 PM

having just accomplished this, I can say without hesitation that a DiAcro 6" corner notcher is the bee's knees for cutting the taper and squaring up the ends. I picked one up a while back on Craigslist. Very clean and precise, and super fast.

N804RV · #14 07-04-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Repucci's method - exactly!

I haven't gotten that far yet with the "real" airplane. But, I was working on the airfoil practice kit from Van's which uses the same sort of tapered stiffners.

I don't have a band saw yet. So, I tried cutting with Wiss snips, per instructions. They distorted the aluminum to the point that I was worried about work-hardening the extrusion. After a little thinking, I realized I had the perfect tool for this in my old Taco Wagon. I scribed the taper line as above and used a hand nibbler to cut, then finished the edges again, as above. I think they're <$30 from one of the tool suppliers.