panhandler1956
Well Known Member
Thought I would share this entry from my kitlog.
Well I debated with myself over the viability of having my 12 year old son Mitchel run the rivet gun on my wing skins over the last few months and today it was "do or die time." I knew that if it went well he would be on cloud nine and if it went terribly wrong we would both feel stressed. I have good news to report, a 12 year can be an outstanding pneumatic gunsmith with a little coaching! We installed the left inboard top wing panel today and since Mitchel's friend Kia was here we put him to work pulling clecos and putting in the rivets as I manned the bucking bar. (Kia's dad is a 767 driver for AA).
We drilled out a few, but no big deal. No gnarley dingles, abraisions, or proud rivets to report - GOOD! Mitchel was really proud. He hadn't been able to help me much in the last several weeks since I have been doing fuel tanks and I don't want him around the chemicals.
We used the ole' "masking tape on the rivet set trick" - thanks VAF and the internet!
I left the rear spar and inboard rib rivets to the hand squeezer which I will do tomorrow morning, if possible. About 2 hrs was enough for a couple of 12 yr olds especially with the heavy 3x gun. I am proud and excited that we have successfully crossed this bridge and hopefully he can enjoy the ultimate satisfaction of looking out over those beautiful surfaces in a few years and know that he drove each of those rivets that are holding use up in the air. This is why we build airplanes in our garages!
Well I debated with myself over the viability of having my 12 year old son Mitchel run the rivet gun on my wing skins over the last few months and today it was "do or die time." I knew that if it went well he would be on cloud nine and if it went terribly wrong we would both feel stressed. I have good news to report, a 12 year can be an outstanding pneumatic gunsmith with a little coaching! We installed the left inboard top wing panel today and since Mitchel's friend Kia was here we put him to work pulling clecos and putting in the rivets as I manned the bucking bar. (Kia's dad is a 767 driver for AA).
We drilled out a few, but no big deal. No gnarley dingles, abraisions, or proud rivets to report - GOOD! Mitchel was really proud. He hadn't been able to help me much in the last several weeks since I have been doing fuel tanks and I don't want him around the chemicals.
We used the ole' "masking tape on the rivet set trick" - thanks VAF and the internet!
I left the rear spar and inboard rib rivets to the hand squeezer which I will do tomorrow morning, if possible. About 2 hrs was enough for a couple of 12 yr olds especially with the heavy 3x gun. I am proud and excited that we have successfully crossed this bridge and hopefully he can enjoy the ultimate satisfaction of looking out over those beautiful surfaces in a few years and know that he drove each of those rivets that are holding use up in the air. This is why we build airplanes in our garages!
![FP09092007A00012.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kitlog.com%2Fphotos%2Fproject_236%2Ffull%2FFP09092007A00012.jpg&hash=ded86dcdecc84bedf0854d505359b7a3)