makin' stuff is fun!

A place to chuckle at yourself and share lessons learned the hard way.
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tmbg
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makin' stuff is fun!

Post by tmbg »

Especially makin' it for the third time around!


Specifically, the blasted Z-brackets for the tank. I drilled the first set wrong, so I drilled the other seven that were earmarked for the right wing, and got those right, but I figured I'd be clever and use 5/16" clecos to hold the nutplates on while I drilled the #40 holes for them (3/8" clecos don't fit in the nutplate threads), but of course I'm a moron and the extra slop between the cleco and the hole made the nutplates locate all wrong. So, I ordered 14 new brackets from vans, and third time was the charm!


Now I'm wishing I'd sprung for the nutplate jigs at cleaveland's booth at OSH. They're so blasted expensive though!
Ian
RV-7 SB, chugging toward final assembly
IO-360-C1C 200hp obtained.
Hartzell BA prop received.
James Cowl ordered.
N773WW reserved!

tmbg
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Post by tmbg »

oh and why the heck does this forum seem to be dominated by MY posts? Come on folks, are y'all not screwing up ever? :cry:
Ian
RV-7 SB, chugging toward final assembly
IO-360-C1C 200hp obtained.
Hartzell BA prop received.
James Cowl ordered.
N773WW reserved!

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Brantel
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Re: makin' stuff is fun!

Post by Brantel »

tmbg wrote: Now I'm wishing I'd sprung for the nutplate jigs at cleaveland's booth at OSH. They're so blasted expensive though!
Just use a tapped out nutplate and an old screw... Instant nutplate jig....
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
RV12-IS, #121606, N912BC - Building Now!
RV10, #41942, N????? - Project Sold
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB - SOLD

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cjensen
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Post by cjensen »

tmbg wrote:oh and why the heck does this forum seem to be dominated by MY posts? Come on folks, are y'all not screwing up ever? :cry:
Nah, we're all pretty much perfect! :P :wink: I think I've posted quite a few here as well... :)
Chad Jensen
Missing my RV-7...
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920.216.3699
http://verticalpower.com

tmbg
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Re: makin' stuff is fun!

Post by tmbg »

Brantel wrote:
tmbg wrote: Now I'm wishing I'd sprung for the nutplate jigs at cleaveland's booth at OSH. They're so blasted expensive though!
Just use a tapped out nutplate and an old screw... Instant nutplate jig....
That's how I did it the third time around :D

I'd rather have the jigs though. I may invest in them soon.
Ian
RV-7 SB, chugging toward final assembly
IO-360-C1C 200hp obtained.
Hartzell BA prop received.
James Cowl ordered.
N773WW reserved!

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jim_geo
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Post by jim_geo »

Nut plate jigs are great. Also as time rolls by you'll come to realize that RV's are held together by nut plates. There are almost as many nutplates as there are rivets (not really). They may seem expensive now but they're as usefull as your C-frame is for dimpleing.

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captain_john
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Post by captain_john »

I was using the "old nut plate as a template" trick for much of my project.

When I was at OSH 2005, I picked up a jig. MAN, those things are GREAT!

I don't know how I got along without it!

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

tmbg
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Post by tmbg »

I spoil myself.

I ordered #6, #8, #10, and 1/4" nutplate jigs from cleaveland, as well as two more 1/4" quickchange collets and a 100 bag of #40 clecos :D


I was gonna snag the #4 jig too, but I dunno how many #4 nutplates there are on the bird (I think the tip lens screws might be #4?) and the #4 jig was twice as much as the others!
Ian
RV-7 SB, chugging toward final assembly
IO-360-C1C 200hp obtained.
Hartzell BA prop received.
James Cowl ordered.
N773WW reserved!

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captain_john
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Post by captain_john »

Sounds like you do!

You will like the jigs!

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

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