Riveting baggage floors to the bulkhead

[ymc9]

Hey guys,

I'm in the early phase of fuselage, and the holes that attach the baggage floors to the bulkhead are in very tight locations. I have to flex the floors by A LOT to position the hand squeezer perpendicular. And if I do that, the flange tends to tip up. I suppose I can use clamps to help, but I was wondering if you have a better way to set them.

I'm also confused about why the KAI asks to use two flush sets, given that most rivets are dome-head . Am I missing something here?

 

[Baron71]

Hey guys,

I'm in the early phase of fuselage, and the holes that attach the baggage floors to the bulkhead are in very tight locations. I have to flex the floors by A LOT to position the hand squeezer perpendicular. And if I do that, the flange tends to tip up. I suppose I can use clamps to help, but I was wondering if you have a better way to set them.

I'm also confused about why the KAI asks to use two flush sets, given that most rivets are dome-head . Am I missing something here?

Setting those rivets is indeed very tight. I used a hydraulic squeezer and some of my rivets are cosmetically not very nice, but my DAR recommended to leave them as they are.

In the end I think with a manual squeeze you can work slower and somewhat more precise. But today I think I should have rather taken the pneumatic rivet hammer, because I could have gotten closer to the floor. Though I don’t know if, at that time, I had been skilled enough to do it (learned how to use it later at some way less obvious places).

Attached you find two pictures of my work. If you look closely to the four flat rivets you can see, that the holes from the sheet also did not exactly counter match.

 

[ymc9]

Setting those rivets is indeed very tight. I used a hydraulic squeezer and some of my rivets are cosmetically not very nice, but my DAR recommended to leave them as they are.

In the end I think with a manual squeeze you can work slower and somewhat more precise. But today I think I should have rather taken the pneumatic rivet hammer, because I could have gotten closer to the floor. Though I don’t know if, at that time, I had been skilled enough to do it (learned how to use it later at some way less obvious places).

Attached you find two pictures of my work. If you look closely to the four flat rivets you can see, that the holes from the sheet also did not exactly counter match.

Thanks for sharing your results! I feel better now know it’s indeed difficult . I’ll try with hand squeezer. I have a pneumatic one but it’s too bulky. I also don’t have rivet guns and bucking bars.

Also just found this wonderful log: http://www.dogaviation.com/2013/10/baggage-floors-riveted-to-aft-bulkhead.html?m=1

 

[DHeal]

Hey guys,

I'm in the early phase of fuselage, and the holes that attach the baggage floors to the bulkhead are in very tight locations. I have to flex the floors by A LOT to position the hand squeezer perpendicular. And if I do that, the flange tends to tip up. I suppose I can use clamps to help, but I was wondering if you have a better way to set them.

I'm also confused about why the KAI asks to use two flush sets, given that most rivets are dome-head . Am I missing something here?

As I recall Van's said that the rationale for use of two flush sets was to enable a slightly less precise alignment of the rivet squeezer when setting these "tough-to-reach" rivets. The resultant domed rivet heads may be slightly flattened by the flat set but that doesn't compromise the airworthiness of the final product.

 

[rvbuilder2002]

As I recall Van's said that the rationale for use of two flush sets was to enable a slightly less precise alignment of the rivet squeezer when setting these "tough-to-reach" rivets. The resultant domed rivet heads may be slightly flattened by the flat set but that doesn't compromise the airworthiness of the final product.

This is correct
With most all squeezers it is not possible to get a cupped rivet set centered on the manufactured head of the rivets. The flush set allows the tool to be offset slightly.
A slightly flattened head is actually allowed by the riveting Mil spec.

 

[ymc9]

Thanks, guys. Got it done with two flat sets and the result was not bad. Much easier with a helper.