Breaking the edges of the skins

[scberry]

Someone posted in the recent past a thread on the breaking of the edges of the skins and recommended a tool for this purpose. Is this process really necessary, and what does it accomplish?

I have,nt done this yet on my RV-12 but I noticed that the tailcone kit calls for it on the skins. Kindly, agian recomend the tool for this purpose and the source.

 

[Andy J]

It is necessary if you want neat seams in those places specified in the plans as needing edge breaking. If you did not do it in those places you would likely have a gap where the skins overlap. I used the edge breaking tool by Cleveland Tool:

http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EF60

Very easy to use and gives a nice result. Adjust it very lightly, it doesn't take much. Practice on a scrap first to get the hang of it.

 

[Mark Henderson]

The Cleveland tool is well worth the $$. It does a great job on a highly visible area of the plane. Even if you never use it again, buy it.

 

[BigJohn]

Diito. Set it to light pressure, make multiple passes if necessary. Practice on scrap first.

 

[jte65]

YES for the tailcone

Just to reiterate what Andy states above- it is absolutely necessary on the tailcone where the plans direct due to the tight curvature of the overlapping skins. Otherwise, you will end up with a very ugly gap. The only other place where I wish I had done it but the plans did not specify it is on the aft lower edge of the wing walk doubler.

Jeff