My next session in the shop will be the first time where I will be using the fuel tank sealant. I'm sure I would eventually work out a "system", but I thought I would solicit advice here first. I'm trying to envision what this will be like so I can anticipate how to set quality, non-leaking rivets while keeping up with the mess. So I have lots of questions. Just how much sealant do you put between mating parts? Run a bead down the middle and let it squish out? Completely butter the contact surface? Put sealant on both parts to be mated or just one of them? How do you apply sealant to the rivet? Just put a dab in the dimple? Put it on the rivet? What about backriveting? I plan to use backriveting for the stiffeners but I'm expecting that my backriveting steel plate is going to get covered in goo. Do you have to clean all surfaces after every rivet? Clean the bucking bar between rivets? How do you apply the sealant? Section 5 talks about putting it in a sandwich bag, cutting the corner off and using it like a chef. I'm guessing popsicle sticks might be helpful.
These may sound like naive questions but I'm terrified of having leaks at the end because I suspect fixing a leak will be much harder than doing it right the first time. Any advice from those who have gone before is much appreciated.
These may sound like naive questions but I'm terrified of having leaks at the end because I suspect fixing a leak will be much harder than doing it right the first time. Any advice from those who have gone before is much appreciated.