countersink error

glenn · Post by **glenn** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:23 pm

Day one, our one with my new wing kit and I screwed up! I was countersinking for the wing tank nut plates on the left bottom spar. on one of the last nut plate stations the countersink wasn't in the hole properly and ran about a half an inch and settled to a stop between the spar channel and the spar bar. It put a slight nick in the spar bar and slightly more on the radius of ths spar channel. If anyone can offer advice I would be greatful. I called van's and they said no problem from what I described But I would still like some other input. tnx

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:24 am

Hey Glenn,

Welcome aboard! Sorry you got your feet wet here with a screw-up, but I guess you know you aren't alone in that arena. If you could post a pic, when the more experienced east coasters get up tomorrow, I imagine they'll have some useful feedback for you...

Jon

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:59 am

Glenn, Welcome! Still would like to see a pic, but basically you need a spar. Any material that once was a spar... is good to have. Anything less than that, isn't spar.

That being said, these things are overbuilt for just this reason. I have a nickertoo in my spars. I am not stewing over them. I prime them and move on. If Van says it's okay, you can sleep well.

The next time you will have an opportunity to nick your spars is when you drill the tank skins to the spars. If the drill bit penetrates the hole too deeply, you will score the anodizing. Watch out for that when you get there!

If you have a pic, please post.

Build on!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:41 am

glenn!! sorry to hear of your wandering countersink. i too, would like to see pic of the affected area, but i would tend to agree that if van's says it's ok...it's ok. they've seen it all before.

Post by **Spike** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:50 am

Welcome Glenn!!

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:59 am

I did this to mine:

A piece of Al got caught in the single flute cutter and as it was spinning cut that groove ... Van's and several other knowledgeable sources said polish it out with an emery cloth and don't worry (build on!)

Thomas
-8 wings

Post by **Spike** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:14 am

Yipes. Thats a good one.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:18 pm

Oooooohhhh yahhhhh, Thomas!!!

That IS a good one!!!

Polishing and priming it is (as you know) just fine.

CJ

glenn · Post by **glenn** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:58 pm

Thanks for your help. http://www.fotothing.com/photos/ee5/ee5 ... a41331.jpg

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:20 pm

Glenn, You will be fine with just smoothing it out and shooting it with a bit of paint.

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:30 pm

yeah, that's no biggie. i had a small gouge in my wing flange when it came out of the box from shipping. i sanded and smoothed it, shot it with primer, and it's fine.