As the economy slows we all need to be little more creative on how to stretch our building dollars.
I thought I would pass along a good building tip I picked up from browsing Tony Bingellis's book Firewall Forward.
I am just about finishing up working on my FAB and needed to install two Bowden cables. One for the carb heat and one for the alternate air. One has a few options for passing cables through the firewall. You can purchase some fixtures from many of the aircraft supply web sites. They do the job nicely and prices range from $7 - $38, plus shipping. Or, not my recommendation, use a nylon grommet with some RTV .
Here are some directions on how to make a steel fixture for less than $.50.
1. Take a trip to your local hardware store and purchase some zinc plated 1/2 x 1 inch bolts, washers and nuts. Find a friend with a lathe and drill a #11 hole through the center of the bolt. Slightly countersink the hole on both ends.
2. Cut a 1/2 inch hole in your firewall with a unibit and test fit your cable run.
3. You can leave the fixture unpainted or you can give it a light coat of zinc chromate. Before tightening the bolt add a thin layer of high temperature RTV or firewall sealant behind the washers.
The cable is now secure and the firewall remains sealed. All for less than the price of a cup of coffee!
Best Regards,
Mike Draper
N468RV
RV-8 TMX O360
Finishing.....
I thought I would pass along a good building tip I picked up from browsing Tony Bingellis's book Firewall Forward.
I am just about finishing up working on my FAB and needed to install two Bowden cables. One for the carb heat and one for the alternate air. One has a few options for passing cables through the firewall. You can purchase some fixtures from many of the aircraft supply web sites. They do the job nicely and prices range from $7 - $38, plus shipping. Or, not my recommendation, use a nylon grommet with some RTV .
Here are some directions on how to make a steel fixture for less than $.50.
1. Take a trip to your local hardware store and purchase some zinc plated 1/2 x 1 inch bolts, washers and nuts. Find a friend with a lathe and drill a #11 hole through the center of the bolt. Slightly countersink the hole on both ends.
![firewallshield.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg7.imageshack.us%2Fimg7%2F1831%2Ffirewallshield.jpg&hash=4d9e5f378c78b6f7bc7d9bfa2ef5dd0b)
2. Cut a 1/2 inch hole in your firewall with a unibit and test fit your cable run.
![fireeallshield1.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg38.imageshack.us%2Fimg38%2F4341%2Ffireeallshield1.jpg&hash=f1507e814d37aa8a32701629d758cca7)
3. You can leave the fixture unpainted or you can give it a light coat of zinc chromate. Before tightening the bolt add a thin layer of high temperature RTV or firewall sealant behind the washers.
![firewallshiled2.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg38.imageshack.us%2Fimg38%2F333%2Ffirewallshiled2.jpg&hash=1a37544fb61861a52115c2a3535bb9ea)
The cable is now secure and the firewall remains sealed. All for less than the price of a cup of coffee!
Best Regards,
Mike Draper
N468RV
RV-8 TMX O360
Finishing.....
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