Today I work with wood, so tommorow I work with Aluminium

I was busy with work  today so not much happened with the practice projects. I did run over to home depot and picked up materials so I could make a priming table and also made the table for the DRDT-2 dimpler. I modified the design a bit from the original plan. I made the table one piece that sat in the dimpler and is level with the frame holder. My dimple dies measure 3/8" high so I will just place my protective foam on the table and I will have the perfect height.

The priming frame is made up of 2"x3"s measuring 6'x3'. I then used my pneumatic stapler and stretched chicken wire over the frame. The idea is that I can prime most parts sitting on this frame and when I'm done I can put the frame up out of the way.

Just messing around

I ran the stiffeners for the practice project through the 3M wheel . Dimpled the skins and then got to work on back riveting. Everything went very well. I find back riveting very easy. I ran my back rivet set through the 3M wheel on the one side so that it wouldn't interfere with the radius on the stiffener. I tested out different methods of tape on the 470 rivets. I tried hockey shin tape, duct tape, etc. The best method I found was black gorilla tape in the rivet set. Works great and is super tough!! I'm waiting for some more tools to arrive so I can finish off the practice project.

I'm still waiting for a reply to my letter of intent so I can officially start my build.  So I started to read through the plans for the horizontal and vertical stabilizers.

A slow day

The new VS-707 rib arrived in the mail so I can rest easy that I don't have to used the scratched one. (Thanks Van's for sorting that out) I worked on the RV practice projects a bit and cut stiffners.

Third times a charm

Well...what can I say! I really messed up again! When I got home from work today I set off to finish toolbox #2. When I went to rivet the 4th (and last rivet) to attach the handle to the lid, the rivet gun slipped off the head and bent to toolbox cover!!!! AHHHHHH!!!Lesson learned! Do not have you wife hold the lid and you try to rivet. It's just not a good way to work.

Lucky for me, I had a third tool box. In no time at all I was back up to speed. This time around I clamped the lid in the vice and bucked the 4 rivets for the handle. I countersunk the bottom hinge and dimpled the top hinge. After that everything was moving like a Swiss Watch! Precision and Perfection!!

Toolbox #2

I ended up ordering two more tool boxes and practice projects from Vans on the weekend and they arrived today! Wow that's quick! I wanted to do another tool box and I really wanted to practice more setting rivets. I also wanted materials so that when I start the empennage, I can get some practice in again before I buck rivets on the real piece. Have the new tool box #2 almost done. I'm really pleased with it. I have countersunk the hinge instead of dimpling it with much better results. However I find it difficult to countersink the hinge when a dimpled aluminum sheet is placed overtop. I need to countersink a bit deeper but it's very difficult to get it right. I also find it difficult to countersink when the loops of the hinge are sticking up as it interferes with the countersink cage. I will have to find a better way to do this come build time.

The DRDT-2!

The DRDT-2 dimpler has arrived. Trip helped me set it up and I messed up the #6 screw dies. I bent the retention spring on the die shaft and cant get it bent back. Darn!