Polar
Active Member
I have all the ribs in my emp flattened, and all the flanges squared up, but I've left this one for last.
It's the top rib on the rudder and it's curved considerably more, and in the opposite direction, than all the other ribs were. I've watched every video and read every article I can find on fluting and they all show the use of flutes to address curves the direction opposite to this. I've squared up the flanges on this piece, but haven't done any fluting, so I can't 'unflute' something to try and push this end back down.
I considered repeatedly fluting then flattening those flutes, like a shrinker stretcher, but I'd be worried about cracking the flange. When I do that to a sheet of aluminum I have to anneal it first. I'd rather not take the acetylene torch to this part. Yet.
I'm sure there's a way to do this, but I can't seem to find it on the Google box.
It's the top rib on the rudder and it's curved considerably more, and in the opposite direction, than all the other ribs were. I've watched every video and read every article I can find on fluting and they all show the use of flutes to address curves the direction opposite to this. I've squared up the flanges on this piece, but haven't done any fluting, so I can't 'unflute' something to try and push this end back down.
I considered repeatedly fluting then flattening those flutes, like a shrinker stretcher, but I'd be worried about cracking the flange. When I do that to a sheet of aluminum I have to anneal it first. I'd rather not take the acetylene torch to this part. Yet.
I'm sure there's a way to do this, but I can't seem to find it on the Google box.
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