Spar waffle nick

A place to chuckle at yourself and share lessons learned the hard way.
Post Reply
User avatar
cjensen
Whiskey Victor
Posts: 5275
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:36 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Spar waffle nick

Post by cjensen »

Opps! :o I managed to nick the spar waffle reinforcement while trying to buck a rivet by myself tonight. That's the exact damn reason I don't do it by myself. Anyway, here's the pic.

Image

The worst one is to the southwest of the nutplate where you can see a very small chunk has been moved. The other is to the south/southeast of the nutplate where I managed to make a few minor scratches.

What can I do about this? Should I do anything since it's the waffle webbing? It's just not very accessible between those inboard ribs. Suggestions???

Here's a cutie!!

Image
Chad Jensen
Missing my RV-7...
Vertical Power support
920.216.3699
http://verticalpower.com

tshort
Class C
Posts: 618
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:56 am
Location: Indianapolis, IN (KUMP)

Post by tshort »

Not sure how you're doing those, but a couple things I do:
1. Lots of tape around there to protect from misplaced bucking bars / rivet sets. A layer of duct tape will prevent a small nick as long as you realize you're off and stop quickly.

2. You can back rivet those rivets - use a heavy bucking bar on the front of the spar and the back rivet set inside - less likely to slip off that way.

I bet van's will tell you to buff it out and move on...

Thomas
-8 wings (we're in the same place...)

prestwich
Class D
Posts: 317
Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 8:36 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Post by prestwich »

Jeez, Chad, your daughter's gorgeous. Uh, I mean, I wouldn't worry about little tiny dings like that.

User avatar
cjensen
Whiskey Victor
Posts: 5275
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:36 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Post by cjensen »

prestwich wrote:Jeez, Chad, your daughter's gorgeous. Uh, I mean, I wouldn't worry about little tiny dings like that.
Daughter??? :o :o :o I know my wife looks young, but....sheesh! :lol:

Image
Last edited by cjensen on Thu May 11, 2006 9:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
Chad Jensen
Missing my RV-7...
Vertical Power support
920.216.3699
http://verticalpower.com

User avatar
cjensen
Whiskey Victor
Posts: 5275
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:36 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Post by cjensen »

tshort wrote:Not sure how you're doing those, but a couple things I do:
1. Lots of tape around there to protect from misplaced bucking bars / rivet sets. A layer of duct tape will prevent a small nick as long as you realize you're off and stop quickly.

2. You can back rivet those rivets - use a heavy bucking bar on the front of the spar and the back rivet set inside - less likely to slip off that way.

I bet van's will tell you to buff it out and move on...

Thomas
-8 wings (we're in the same place...)
DUH!! :bang: Backrivet!!! Man!! Now why didn't I even TRY to think of a better way! Bonehead. I'll backrivet the left side.

I started using tape AFTER I did that. :bang: Bonehead.

Now, since I'm clearly NOT thinking properly here...since it's nice and tight in there, what would be the best way of getting in there to buff and smooth it? I don't want to damage it further, or worse yet, damage the spar web...
Chad Jensen
Missing my RV-7...
Vertical Power support
920.216.3699
http://verticalpower.com

User avatar
Wicked Stick
Class B
Posts: 1000
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:00 pm
Location: KEWB

Post by Wicked Stick »

How about a dremel tool with a very fine sandpaper bit on the end ?

Or do it by hand, polish with scotchbrite, and prime the areas where the annodizing was removed.
Dave "WS" Rogers
RV-8 (125 hrs & counting)
N173DR

prestwich
Class D
Posts: 317
Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 8:36 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Post by prestwich »

cjensen wrote: Daughter??? :o :o :o I know my wife looks young, but....sheesh! :lol:
Ah, a couple of kids. I thought this hobby was just for old men. She looks about 15 in that first pic.

The advantage to maturity is, if I can't see the ding, scratch, clubbed head, crooked hole, etc., without my high-powered reading glasses, it doesn't need "fixing!" Seriously, I wouldn't spend two seconds thinking about a little tiny blemish like that.

User avatar
cjensen
Whiskey Victor
Posts: 5275
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:36 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Post by cjensen »

Yeah, she get's that a lot...don't tell her I told you this, but she'll be 27 in two weeks! She says "I'm getting soooo OLD!!!" :lol:

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I think the dremel would work best, but I'm afraid I'll slip with that thing. I guess if I tape around the area, if it slips, I'd have some protection. 'Nuff said, I'll do that...

THANK YA!! :good job:
Chad Jensen
Missing my RV-7...
Vertical Power support
920.216.3699
http://verticalpower.com

Post Reply