Month: March 2017

RV10 Kit Ordered

Brian 0 Comment RV10

I submitted my order to VANS for my RV10 Empennage Kit last night.  While I was trying to wait until after I did a demo flight, I realized that honestly I had already decided last year that I was building the -10.  I also attended my local EAA chapter meeting and spoke with a number of really interesting people.  The one that really stuck in my head was from another local RV10 builder.  He is pretty far along in the build process (recently got his fuselage delivered) and so far he has not taken a flight in the RV10.  Do you really need to fly in a -10 before you build one?  Honestly you really don’t.

My current thought is this.  I’ve already completed my practice kit, and just about finished my toolbox.  Do I really want to wait another two weeks to order a  kit I already know I want to purchase, then wait even longer for it to be delivered?  NOPE!  I went ahead and ordered it and hopefully it arrives just after I get back from Sun n Fun.  Then I can get started and take my demo flight since it’s really getting beginning to be great weather outside.

Cleaning tools (rust removal)

Brian 0 Comment Shop and Tools

So while looking for a way to clean some of the rust off the steel bucking bars that came in the tools I purchased of the VAF forums, I came across a post talking about Evaporust.  After a few internet searches and videos, I started to see if it was something carried locally and was willing to give it a shot.

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Setup and cleanup was actually pretty easy.  Fill a container with the Evaporust product and insert the rusty items.  Granted most of my tools only had what I would call slight or light surface rust, I still wanted my tools to be in excellent shape.  I let them soak for about 2 hours, then pulled them out to see how they looked.  Rinse them off in fresh water, then dry them off and they are looking great!

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Realized I forgot a few bucking bars and figured I would throw some of my used clecos in the bucket to see how much of an improvement it would be.  The result is WOW.  For very little effort, the clecos look so much better, and actually are a bit easier to operate.

I’m letting everything dry off completely and will be spraying them all down with the Evapo-Rust rust block product to hopefully keep them from rusting up again.  This makes my initial purchase an even better value, and can’t wait till I have a few hours to take additional pictures / clean the remainder of my nasty used clecos!

 

UPDATE:  While this worked well for most of my clecos, I don’t think my copper clecos (1/8″) liked this process (or I just didn’t do a good job of rinsing them afterwards).  Something to keep in mind.

UPDATE 2:  While this did clean my silver clecos, they did re-rust. Honestly this was great to clean my bucking bars and other tools but probably not worth the time for the clecos unless you are aggressive with the rust block after. 

Practice Project completed

Brian 0 Comment RV Training Kit

Yesterday with the assistance of my daughters, I was able to complete the control surface practice project.   I love how it went together, and all the little mistakes I made along the way.  Honestly this was exactly what I was expecting with a practice project to help figure out where I needed some additional tooling, education, or simple practice!

I continue to buy an additional tool here and there, and the most recent that I’m thrilled with are my scotch bright disks for my air die grinder.  I have been more inclined to use them than my scotch bright wheel in my bench grinder.  I feel like I have more control on the pads vs the bench grinder, but that may change as I get more experience and begin to work with more parts.

I ended up mangling a bunch of rivets as I attached the skins to the spars.  This required me to drill out a few rivets and use some “Oops” rivets.  Luckily that worked out perfectly.

Bending the radius in the leading edge wasn’t as clean as I really wanted it to be.  Honestly I just couldn’t bend it enough that there wasn’t pillowing.  I even attempted to use the edge forming tool, but that didn’t seem to help much.  Finally I just went with it and with the help of my youngest daughter, started to blind-rivet the leading edge together.  Daddy and daughter did a great job on 4/5 rivets, however one didn’t seat very well.

Not a huge deal, but I’m planning to drill out all 5 of the blind rivets when my removal tool arrives and install all new blind rivets.  (also debating drilling additional holes and adding more rivets to make a better seam.).  This is the time to experiment and get better right?

 

Practice project. Step 8 completed

Brian 0 Comment RV Training Kit

Ok, so family visits and lots going on mean I really didn’t have much time to “play” in the garage. I did get the blind rivet dimple tool, but it wouldn’t work on the ribs. Quick trip to Home Depot for some steel and I made the custom dimple bucking bar.

At this point I have the skin, spars, and ribs dimpled. (Didn’t seem like the spar needed to also be countersunk but will have to verify before I begin to rivet.  The squeezer and substructure die combo looks like it was perfect).

Also countersunk the trailing edge. Again need to verify they were deep enough as I test-fit everything prior to riveting.

Maybe tomorrow night I may have time to do some more work.

Progress on Practice Project #2

Brian 0 Comment RV Training Kit

Ok, so I think I got just about as far as I can at the moment.  Skeleton of the control surface is riveted.  Had a small issue with a slightly folded over rivet so I drilled it out a few times.  (Guess it was good practice for me, so not too upset).

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Got the trailing edge drilled and the skins dimpled.  Also dimpled the Skeleton structure with the exception of the tight areas at the tip of the ribs.  Decided to order the pop-rivet dimple tool to see if that will work, or if I need to make the dimple die tool that was part of the project.  (I may make it anyway just to see the difference.  Maybe dimple each rib with a different method?)

Only thing I’m not thrilled with is my edges.  I tried to use my bench grinder to smooth my skin edges, but honestly that didn’t work very well.  Not sure what the “recommended method” is, but I have a feeling this is something I’m going to be asking about when I go to the workshops at Sun n Fun.  I have had mixed success using my bench grinder with the Scotch Brite wheel.  Think I’m just not using it right, or need to work on my technique.

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Looks like I’m at a holding spot on my projects for the next week until I get some things in the mail.  Decided to get a new Hinge, as well as two more toolbox kits for my girls to build.