Jim Ellis
Well Known Member
There are many discussions in the Forum archives regarding riveting versus welding the W-818 aileron pushrods (DWG-15A). When I built my -9A I used the aluminum rivets called out in the plans to retain the pushrod ends. That worked okay but I did have to make the hole in the rear spar larger to clear the rivet heads. I decided that this time for the -7A I am now building I would have the rod ends welded.
Because I don?t know how to weld and I don?t have any friends that do, I located a company in the Dallas/ Ft Worth area that specializes in just this kind of welding. The company is Aero Space Welders located in Grand Prairie, Texas and its head man is Josh Green. Josh welds certified parts for Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Bell Helicopter among other big iron builders.
As instructed by Josh, I cut the steel tubing to length, drilled two opposing 1/8 inch holes in the tubing and removed about one inch of the powder coating from the ends. As a side note I did cut the tubing to a slightly greater length than the plans call for. I cut them to 23 15/16 inches to get a few more threads into the rod end bearings.
Josh removed the cadmium plating from the rod ends to avoid toxic fumes and beveled the mating surface. He then welded the circumference of the rod ends to the tubing and made two rosette welds through the holes I had drilled.
I was very pleased with the results. The finished pushrods look great but will need the ends repainted. As to strength, I figure if they?re good enough for a helicopter thrashing they?re good enough for me!
If you would like to have this welding done send the prepared parts to Josh. He charges $50.00 for two pushrods plus the cost of return shipping back to you. This is the cost for non-certified parts. He can also provide certification papers if you need them for some reason but at a much higher price. You should call and discuss certification cost with him first. Keep in mind that the actual work performed is exactly the same whether the parts are certified or not.
Here is the contact information you need:
Aero Space Welders, Inc.
Josh Green, President
2470 Doreen Street
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
(972) 988-9121
www.aerospacewelders.com
email: [email protected]
Just for clarification I have no interest in or connection to this company. But I do like to pass on what I have learned to others who may be searching for this kind of help. Josh is a good guy and easy to work with?.besides you don?t have to lie and tell him the parts are for your lawn mower!
Because I don?t know how to weld and I don?t have any friends that do, I located a company in the Dallas/ Ft Worth area that specializes in just this kind of welding. The company is Aero Space Welders located in Grand Prairie, Texas and its head man is Josh Green. Josh welds certified parts for Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Bell Helicopter among other big iron builders.
As instructed by Josh, I cut the steel tubing to length, drilled two opposing 1/8 inch holes in the tubing and removed about one inch of the powder coating from the ends. As a side note I did cut the tubing to a slightly greater length than the plans call for. I cut them to 23 15/16 inches to get a few more threads into the rod end bearings.
Josh removed the cadmium plating from the rod ends to avoid toxic fumes and beveled the mating surface. He then welded the circumference of the rod ends to the tubing and made two rosette welds through the holes I had drilled.
I was very pleased with the results. The finished pushrods look great but will need the ends repainted. As to strength, I figure if they?re good enough for a helicopter thrashing they?re good enough for me!
If you would like to have this welding done send the prepared parts to Josh. He charges $50.00 for two pushrods plus the cost of return shipping back to you. This is the cost for non-certified parts. He can also provide certification papers if you need them for some reason but at a much higher price. You should call and discuss certification cost with him first. Keep in mind that the actual work performed is exactly the same whether the parts are certified or not.
Here is the contact information you need:
Aero Space Welders, Inc.
Josh Green, President
2470 Doreen Street
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
(972) 988-9121
www.aerospacewelders.com
email: [email protected]
Just for clarification I have no interest in or connection to this company. But I do like to pass on what I have learned to others who may be searching for this kind of help. Josh is a good guy and easy to work with?.besides you don?t have to lie and tell him the parts are for your lawn mower!
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