One wing at a time, or both simultaneously ?

Post by **Spike** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:17 am

Getting ready to dive into the wings (yeah I know, about time) and am debating with myself if I should do one at a time or both simulataneously. Shop space is somewhat at a premium. The question is how much, if any, time is saved by doing both at the same time?

I know lots of you guys are doing both at the same time. Anyone doing one at a time?

-- John

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:00 pm

Here's my .02...
I think it would be harder to do all the steps on one and then realize you have to do all the same stuff again ... it makes it seem faster to have everything going at once. On the other hand, it might be a good motivator to get one done... I think if you build the jig right it shouldn't be too much more space - maybe 2.5-3' of width?
DC did his one at a time and seemed fine with it...

Thomas

rv8or · Post by **rv8or** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:10 pm

My $.02...

A lot of the wing work is a beat down...boring & repetitive. You will most likely want to do as much of the tedious stuff as you can to get it done, and not have to look at doing it all over again, like Tom said.

Since you're in that place anyway, the only difference between one at a time and two, is the space/jig. You have to store either the second wing's parts, or the 1st wing you complete. I was going to hijack the second bay of the garage either way.

All this led me to do them both "simultaneously". All that really means is they are jigged at the same time. In my case, I tend to complete something on one wing, then do the same item on the other...mainly so my little brain doesn't mix up the parts or lose track of what I'm doing!

Joe

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:23 pm

Once one is done, where are you going to store it while the other is in the jig? My point is, building one at a time might not save you as much space as you think. Just food for thought.

Edit: Ooops, looks like Joe already mentioned this.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:28 pm

One more thought...

It seems to me that being able to learn something from one and immediately apply it to the other (wing) is valuable. I finished my first tank a week ago, and my second tank is going soooo much quicker because of the experienced gained from the first. If it were months later, I doubt that experience would be fresh enough to be as valuable.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:37 pm

Well, you know how I did mine. As Joe said, there are parts of the wings (ribs, fuel tanks, skins...well pretty much all of it) that are repetitive, and quite frankly the prep stuff sucks. I'm really glad I did them together to get ALL the wing rib deburring and fuel tank sealant stuff done at the same time. I'd hate to be looking forward to another set of ribs or sealant sessions...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:45 pm

I am glad I did both at the same time. With my ADHD, I could never have done the right one without the left one staring me in the face!

Wicked Stick is much smarter than me. He did each one individually.

I needed the left one in order to figure out the right one!

CJ

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:05 am

RV7Factory wrote:It seems to me that being able to learn something from one and immediately apply it to the other (wing) is valuable.

I'll second that opinion. Plus, with my glacial building pace, if I did my wings one at a time I'd forget everything l learned on the first wing panel!

Dave

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:03 am

I did my wings one at a time. I suppose I could have made enough space to do them both at once, but I figured by the time I got one done, the 2nd one would go much faster, and it did.

If your tight on space, doing one at a time is better than having to squeeze between the two stations and bump or dent something.

One at a time is a little less boring since your cutting the process into two seperate sessions for debur, flute, and priming all those ribs.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:53 am

I did lost of measurements last night and I am going to have to do one at a time. My space is only 10 feet wide and I dont see being able to do both at the same time and easily operate around each one. That will also give me an intermediate goal that I can reach easier. Im goal oriented so that should make it a bit easier on me.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:10 pm

I've been working on mine for about a week now and I am nowhere near putting them in the jigs. (in fact I haven't fabbed them yet) My point is that a lot of work can be done outside the jigs. I've seen where builders even put on the ribs with the spar on the bench.

What do you all think about that?? This would eliminate the ol' boucning spar in the jig.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:47 pm

Nuttin' wrong with nailing the mains onto the spars on a table.

The jig is best for making sure the skins will line up correctly and to ensure there is no twist (warpage) during the skin drilling & riveting process.

It would be possible to build a twist into the product if it were done on a table.

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:04 pm

captain_john wrote:Nuttin' wrong with nailing the mains onto the spars on a table.

Huh?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:59 pm

Spike wrote:
captain_john wrote:Nuttin' wrong with nailing the mains onto the spars on a table.
Huh?

What?

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:11 pm

What does that mean? "Nailing the mains to the spars" ?

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:17 pm

Since my shop is only 4' 11" wide, I think I'll build one wing at a time.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:20 pm

Spike wrote:What does that mean? "Nailing the mains to the spars" ?

Riveting the main ribs to the spar...
I did that on the bench.

T.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:22 pm

Thanx tshort. Ya would have thought he could have just said that. Guess its the north east influence on him. One day he will learn English.

dons · Post by **dons** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:32 pm

This is one reason I decided to start posting in this place, there is more to ribbing than just putting them between skins.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:50 pm

This definately a place to have fun.