04Sep21 - Practice Kit Part Deux
Well, I know now what I need to practise....
So heard yesterday that my empennage kit will be finished crating by the end of the month, so now I need to start practising the skills I lack (most of them) highlighted by the aerofoil kit....So I spent an afternoon watching Metal Magic videos by Paul Dye on Kitplanes.com. They are very informative, and he recommends setting 100 rivets & then drilling them out again.....I also learned I need to drill out the rivet with a smaller drill bit then the hole. Obvious now you think about it, but sometimes you get tunnel vision... `So ordered some aluminium, tracked down some #31 & #41 drill bits, and got working....
I cut some aluminum sheet into strips, drilled a selection of #30 & #40 holes, and set about with the gun & bucking bar. Pretty sure some of the rivets were too long, but that was useful as I could see the difference on the shop head (the side you batter with the bucking bar). And then you drill them out. I see lots of youtube builders using an cordless electric drill, but I much prefer the air drill...plus I like the sound :). Also make sure you pay up for a decent automatic centre punch. My £6.99 amazon special lasted about 5 minutes....Back to the web, and actually found a review of the best ones(!), and the Starret 18c was soon in action. Takes a fair bit of pressure, so I fashioned an old champagne cork to protect the palm....
Not sure I did 100, but definitely quite a few... Now I have to build the second practice kit and make a better job of it this time

Strips, matched drilled #30 & #40 ready for riveting

This is a nifty debur from Cleaveland tools, that fits neatly into an electri screwdriver. makes de burring quick, tho have to be careful not to debur and countersink the hole

all the rivets set with the gun....air pressure makes a much bigger difference then i would have thought...but again kinda obvious when you think about it...

Now I have a proper centre punch, drilling out rivets is much easy...old champagne cork helps protect your palm...

and the rivets all drilled out with the #41 drill bit

rivet heads collected on the drill bit.....
This post is from David's RV-14