larrynew
Well Known Member
I haven't seen this technique for narrow rib dimpling so I thought I'd share it. This is the tip of the upper rib in the RV-7 Rudder. I first tried my visegrip dimpler but the access for the last hole was just too narrow. Then I tried going through the opposite hole with the pop-rivet dimpler but the head of the nail was too big to fit through the hole and I didn't want to make the hole any bigger.
What the picture shows from the top is the head of the nail for the pop-rivet dimpler then the male die, then through the rib, the female die, several spacers to keep the flange square during squeezing, then through the opposite hole in the rib, then another spacer, then the pop-riveter.
I used some electrical connectors for spacers because I didn't have washers handy plus they had handles which made it easier. Be sure the hole in your spacer is big enough so that it doesn't smash the opposite dimple. I used a female dimple die on the outside of the rib as spacer to keep from scratching the rib but any washer would do.
Worked just fine:
What the picture shows from the top is the head of the nail for the pop-rivet dimpler then the male die, then through the rib, the female die, several spacers to keep the flange square during squeezing, then through the opposite hole in the rib, then another spacer, then the pop-riveter.
I used some electrical connectors for spacers because I didn't have washers handy plus they had handles which made it easier. Be sure the hole in your spacer is big enough so that it doesn't smash the opposite dimple. I used a female dimple die on the outside of the rib as spacer to keep from scratching the rib but any washer would do.
Worked just fine:
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