I get so frustrated!!!!! I work hard to build a good RV-9a. I check almost all rivets. I replace many. I measure and re measure constantly, BUT some areas (like HS nose ribs and rudder top and bottom) consistently defeat me. I have a tungsten bar and a nice pneumatic squeezer with several yokes, but some of these spaces are extremely marginal. Example: the top and bottom of the rudder spars (ribs) don't allow enough space to rivet on the skin at the last four holes (especially once rivets are already installed on the opposite side)........BUT this (OCD) idiot seems to be compelled to force the issue. Soooooo......I have managed to dent up the edge at the top of my rudder and my attempts to make it look better have made it worse of course. The installation of the fiberglass tip with perhaps a couple of extra strategically placed rivets will hopefully improve it and then, with luck, the painter may be able to hide it with bonds, but I get sooooo discouraged!
The plans make no mention of substituting pop rivets in this particular area, so that is why I struggled to make solid rivets work. I think I am going to have to start using pop rivets in these areas to avoid making crappy looking parts. I worry that I am "compromising", but what is a guy to do?
This post is mostly a rant of course, but does anyone have a suggestion? How do you guys handle these tight spots? Wrapping the bar doesn't help as I don't even have enough room for the bar alone! I am very discouraged right now. My rudder is structurally fine, but cosmetically disgraceful.
The plans make no mention of substituting pop rivets in this particular area, so that is why I struggled to make solid rivets work. I think I am going to have to start using pop rivets in these areas to avoid making crappy looking parts. I worry that I am "compromising", but what is a guy to do?
This post is mostly a rant of course, but does anyone have a suggestion? How do you guys handle these tight spots? Wrapping the bar doesn't help as I don't even have enough room for the bar alone! I am very discouraged right now. My rudder is structurally fine, but cosmetically disgraceful.