Structural blind rivets?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:23 pm

I probably should know this by now, but which blind rivets are considered structural?

I'm not worried about the few places I've used them, but I did use a couple of CS4-4's and MK-319's today in places where I just could not get a bar in place inside the fuselage. The CS4's seem really strong, but the 319's not so much.

LP3's and 4's? ADH's? Which one's?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:30 pm

Chad, I am not sure but, I don't think that any of the ones you listed are structural.

I have some Cherrymax ones here and they all begin with CRxxxx.

Sooooo, I dunno the details but, ya might wanna look into it more. That is, depending on where ya used 'em.

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:41 pm

The more I think about it, the more I think maybe I should drill 'em and work on a better solution to getting solids in there. You know the little straps in the baggage area floor side ribs? The one's I remade after you pointed out making them out of thicker material...I used a CS 4-4 on both sides where it joins 705. This is a silly thing to do, only because I did it because the bolt and nut are in the way. Why didn't I just take the bolt and nut off momentarily?

The other one is the same deal, but on one side where that rear clip joins 706. Couldn't get a bar in there. Still not sure on that one.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:47 pm

If they are in a structural location I'd drill them out and use CherryMax rivets. They are perfectly acceptable substitutes for solid rivets. I used them to repair portions of my wing skin. They are just as strong, they just don't look as good.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:53 pm

...just looked at 'em.

Yah, take the bolt out and as for the other one at the 706, I know my tungsten bar could get in there.

If not, a long and slender hunk of metal would do it too.

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:19 am

captain_john wrote:...just looked at 'em.

Yah, take the bolt out and as for the other one at the 706, I know my tungsten bar could get in there.

If not, a long and slender hunk of metal would do it too.

CJ

Hmmm...I'll have to look at it again. We couldn't get the tungsten bar in there yesterday...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:39 pm

Chad, mebbe a longeron yoke could fit in there?

Longeron yokes make nice bucking bars!!!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:55 pm

Yeah, I've used my C yoke several times as a bucking bar. It's about as thick as the tungsten bar though.

I drilled 'em out today with no problems, but didn't have a bucking partner today. I'm gonna ask the guys at work tomorrow if we have any structural blind rivets I could have. If so, I'm just gonna use 'em. If not, I'll figure out how to buck the ones at 706. The one's at 705 are easy to buck now that the nut and bolt are removed.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:21 pm

Here a couple of pics of where I've been talking about. I ended up using Cherry Max rivets where the generic blind rivets were anyway. Reason being...I found out that when I drilled the blind rivets out, the strap bent away from the bulkhead and floor ribs from putting a little pressure on the drill. Trying to push the strap back in place while also holding a bucking bar in the correct position proved impossible, and another drilled rivet would've ensued. Cherry Max's are the strongest blind rivet you can get according to all our mechanics at work, so these'll do just fine.

This is in the area of the 706 bulkhead strap-

And this is the 705 bulkhead strap-

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Tue May 29, 2007 10:59 pm

Chad,

That looks great, and I'm sure it will hold for many many years to come.
It looks like you are starting to creep ahead of CJ on the fuse project.
Where do you find the time ?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:58 am

Looks great, Chad!

Dave, it is I.

I am falling behind with building due to life getting in the way.

Wait 'til school lets out, though!

My hair will be ON FIRE!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:29 am

Wicked Stick wrote:Chad,

That looks great, and I'm sure it will hold for many many years to come.
It looks like you are starting to creep ahead of CJ on the fuse project.
Where do you find the time ?

Yeah, those Cherry Max's are supposed to be just the ticket for these things.

As far as where I find my time...well, Brit is the reason I have time. With all the dog training she does (typically four nights a week, and at least one day over the weekend), I get two hours a day on average to work on it during the week, and 4 hours average per day on the weekend. Things come together quick when I get that much time in!

CJ will catch up to me this summer though. As soon as my fuselage is flipped, I plan to take a break and spend a bunch of time on the boat this summer (I hope). I'll still work on it regularly, just not so many hours each day. My pace will slow over the next few months...