Jeff R
Well Known Member
Though I have already started on the wings, I still had a few things to do on the empennage pieces, but that is done now. Today I wrapped them up for storage (I used the brown paper that came with the wing kit) and am now devoted 100% on the wings. I almost feel like I went from being a lowly Freshman to a becoming a Sophomore in the Van's correspondance school of airplane building.
I did my first screw thread tapping this evening which turned out fine, finishing up the tie down attachment plates. I was a little apprehensive of tapping the holes but it was no problem. I used a cheap tap and die set I picked up at Harbor Freight for $15 on sale, and it did the job, though the second hole went a lot slower than the first. I assume the bit was already getting dull. I will probably take it back for that reason.
After making sure I knew which end was which with the main spars, things are proceeding a lot faster than with the tail.
Oh, my main spar countersinking of the platenut screw holes went off great. What I did was to rivet the platenuts, then I set up the countersink tool with a #30 countersinking bit, just as Van's says. I cut off a screwhead of a #8 screw to set the depth of the countersink, and I used the cordless drill rather than the air drill, as recommended here. I did find, however, that I got excellent results by ending each countersink using a higher speed. I got nearly perfect countersinks without any chatter this way. I was surprised how well it all came. out.
Thanks to all who helped.
I did my first screw thread tapping this evening which turned out fine, finishing up the tie down attachment plates. I was a little apprehensive of tapping the holes but it was no problem. I used a cheap tap and die set I picked up at Harbor Freight for $15 on sale, and it did the job, though the second hole went a lot slower than the first. I assume the bit was already getting dull. I will probably take it back for that reason.
After making sure I knew which end was which with the main spars, things are proceeding a lot faster than with the tail.
Oh, my main spar countersinking of the platenut screw holes went off great. What I did was to rivet the platenuts, then I set up the countersink tool with a #30 countersinking bit, just as Van's says. I cut off a screwhead of a #8 screw to set the depth of the countersink, and I used the cordless drill rather than the air drill, as recommended here. I did find, however, that I got excellent results by ending each countersink using a higher speed. I got nearly perfect countersinks without any chatter this way. I was surprised how well it all came. out.
Thanks to all who helped.
