Hi all,
A question for those who chose to squeeze their rudder trailing edge rivets.
I have followed the process outlined here:http://tasrv10.com/?p=556
The angle was drilled early on in the rudder build, and has been holding the trailing edge together (I used the VHB tape).
I drilled out just under half the holes in the angle to accept a flat die that was thick enough to stop the squeezer hitting the angle.
On the top side I ground down a die to match the angle of the skins - I checked the angle of the die with a square and it looks ok - see a photo here https://photos.app.goo.gl/3PWERZeZPMV2GmEf6
The question:
I am able to use the 2 flat dies ok to partially set the rivets - due to the dies not coming close enough together, and the short length of the rivets, some are a little loose in the holes (will pop out slightly if you push the shop head, but these push back in when I apply the squeezer). Most the the shop heads squeeze slightly toward the trailing edge - just can?t get them to squeeze straight (I assume due to the shank not being perpendicular to the squeezer set but perpendicular to the chord of the wedge).
The issue comes when I try and use the angled die. I would have thought that as the die comes down, the thicker part would hit the rivet first and push it toward the front of the rudder and into the centre of the dimple - but the opposite is happening. All of the rivets are falling over toward the aft edge of the dimple. I got maybe 1 out of 25 in the centre. It feels like the squeezer it sliding toward the trailing edge as it comes together.
I ended up drilling all of them out and am seriously thinking this is just too hard and hoping for the best with the back riveting technique.
The reason I decided to try and squeeze them was that on the practice kit i found a the back riveting a bit difficult - I thought it was very hard to partially set the rivets without denting the skin as the collar of the back rivet set was in the way and it was hard to see what was going on. Also I had to place the trailing edge right on the very edge of my plate so the mushroom set could hang over the edge - was very worried if bending the trailing edge this way!)
Anyway I would appreciate any advice anyone has who has perfected the squeezing method - otherwise I?ll have a crack at the method Van?s suggests.
Thanks in advance.
A question for those who chose to squeeze their rudder trailing edge rivets.
I have followed the process outlined here:http://tasrv10.com/?p=556
The angle was drilled early on in the rudder build, and has been holding the trailing edge together (I used the VHB tape).
I drilled out just under half the holes in the angle to accept a flat die that was thick enough to stop the squeezer hitting the angle.
On the top side I ground down a die to match the angle of the skins - I checked the angle of the die with a square and it looks ok - see a photo here https://photos.app.goo.gl/3PWERZeZPMV2GmEf6
The question:
I am able to use the 2 flat dies ok to partially set the rivets - due to the dies not coming close enough together, and the short length of the rivets, some are a little loose in the holes (will pop out slightly if you push the shop head, but these push back in when I apply the squeezer). Most the the shop heads squeeze slightly toward the trailing edge - just can?t get them to squeeze straight (I assume due to the shank not being perpendicular to the squeezer set but perpendicular to the chord of the wedge).
The issue comes when I try and use the angled die. I would have thought that as the die comes down, the thicker part would hit the rivet first and push it toward the front of the rudder and into the centre of the dimple - but the opposite is happening. All of the rivets are falling over toward the aft edge of the dimple. I got maybe 1 out of 25 in the centre. It feels like the squeezer it sliding toward the trailing edge as it comes together.
I ended up drilling all of them out and am seriously thinking this is just too hard and hoping for the best with the back riveting technique.
The reason I decided to try and squeeze them was that on the practice kit i found a the back riveting a bit difficult - I thought it was very hard to partially set the rivets without denting the skin as the collar of the back rivet set was in the way and it was hard to see what was going on. Also I had to place the trailing edge right on the very edge of my plate so the mushroom set could hang over the edge - was very worried if bending the trailing edge this way!)
Anyway I would appreciate any advice anyone has who has perfected the squeezing method - otherwise I?ll have a crack at the method Van?s suggests.
Thanks in advance.