Wing Jigs - How much space between?

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:53 pm

I spent the day setting up the ship for the wings (more like cleaning and organizing) and should be getting my jigs back from the welder on Wednesday. Before I make them one with the floor, how much space do you guys think I need between the two sets? (building both wings at once)

I don't want to struggle when working between them!

THANKS! - Peter

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:27 pm

I'll measure mine when I'm down at the shop tomorrow and let you know.

Thomas

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:19 pm

I had 24" between wing skins. I think that made my posts 26" apart. I thought this was going to be tight, but I was actually very comfortable between them, and never felt cramped.

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:22 pm

Thanks Thomas! I'll be interested to see where yours are in relation to Chad's.

Chad that seems tight but that's why I'm asking!

- Peter

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:27 pm

Oops!! That 24" should've been 34"!!

24" WOULD be TIGHT!!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:30 pm

This might give you some idea of what that 34" looks like...

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:56 pm

Peter -

I have 32" from the inside of one spar to the inside of the other.
Seems like lots of room so far but I'm just finishing the tanks & leading edge lights - so I can't tell you from personal experience.
Other builders have seen it and said it's more than enough....

Also consider the height. You don't want to be bending over more than you have to when setting all those rivets.
My spars are ~ 52 inches off the floor.

Good luck!

Lorin D
9A Wings

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:58 pm

Hi Peter, I was in the shop so checked my post. They are 57 inches apart and that gives me 40 inches between the wings. (My wings are on the inside of the post.) You might get away with the 34 Chad had, I'm not quite that skinny.

This setup has worked well for me. I use an old office chair and can roll right down between the wings for things like backriveting on the skins. I had enough room I didn't have to worry about bumping the other wing.

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:44 pm

I think I'll need about 60 inches between them based on my plans to stretch a hamock between the jigs rather than roll an office chair. I don't want to strain myself on this ya know!

Thanks for all the help on this guys! 40" will space everything about right and being 5'9" I'm going to set them up with the top of the spar at 48" even. I'll let you know what my othopedist says a year in to it when my back is the same shape as the rudder horn!

- Peter

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:21 am

Peter-
Finally made it down here to measure mine:
Distance between the spars is 29" from inside to inside.
The top of the spar web (not the doublers) is 46.5" off the floor.

This works great for me - I have a little rolling stool (Menards, 15$) that sits in there and I roll around on it to work. I feel like there is more than enough space, but I am 5'9" 150lbs.

Good luck!

Thomas

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:59 am

Both my previous basement shop and my current single-car garage shop are pretty space limited. My jig posts are on 22" centers, that translates to a distance between lower skins of 34-36". Plenty of space for my not-so-skinny butt!

Dave

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:53 am

Gottcha!!! t-short you and I are about the same size so I think I'll bring them in a bit.

Did you feel like the bottom of the work was too low with the top of the spar at 46.5? That's my main fear. I don't want to have the break out the crawler to work on the bottom half of the wings...

- Peter

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:28 am

I'll take a picture of me sitting on the stool this afternoon and you can see what it looks like.
I have not spent much time working on the bottom 1/2 of the wings ... mainly deburring and dimpling the ribs but that went fast. I think the riveting should go fast, too, so there is not a lot of time spent. I didn't feel hunched over at all.
Keep in mind that there is some stuff to be done on the LE of the wing / tank that is easier if it is not too high - the joiner plate, etc has to be fit and drilled. Iguess you could stand on something for that.

Thomas

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:29 am

tshort wrote:I'll take a picture of me sitting on the stool this afternoon and you can see what it looks like.

Boy, I just read that after posting ... not quite what I meant!!!

I mean the rolling shop stool next to the wing in the shop!

Thomas

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:31 pm

TOO FUNNY!!!!

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:49 am

Thanks Thomas!!! I was hoping that's what you meant!

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:48 pm

OK you can stop measuring! I picked up the jigs from the welder tonight and have decided to go END TO END. (How 'bout dat!)

The actual "working area" in my basement shop is 40 feet long by 16 feet wide and it just seems to fit better! I don't think I'll need to sit between the wings and work on them both...or will I? Anyone?

Am I nuts or do you think this will work?

- Peter

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:56 pm

With that shape of working space, I think I would've done the same thing! Good thinkin!

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:26 pm

I think that should work well. I always work on one wing, figure out what I screw up on or could do easier and then go do the other one. You also won't have to worry about backing in to the one behind you with them setup that way.

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:05 pm

GREAT! ...I'm drilling the holes in the floor today!

- Peter