[APilot4Fun]

I've come to the point in the empennage construction where I cut out the stiffeners for the rudder and cleaned them up, matched drilled them and dimpled all of the new holes. My observation is that the holes in the .020 alclad of the R801PP open up quite a bit during dimpling, much more than the stiffeners did or any other part I've worked with so far. A rivet will not go thru the hole in a PP part unless it's drilled correctly and then the rivet just goes thru. After dimpling most parts up till now, the hole gets slightly larger as a rivet set in the hole has some room to move. I stoped work on the rudder after dimpling a few holes when I noticed how much more than usual the holes opened. Is this normal or am I fine here?
Thanks.

Craig Ward
Morris Plains, NJ
RV-8A QB

 

[G-force]

Its normal, all holes strech bigger when you dimple them.

 

[AntiGravity]

Build on

Yep; keep on keeping on. The rivets will expand nicely into the holes.

 

[JohnR]

Just make sure you are using the correct dimple dies. It is normal for the holes to enlarge a little.