RV-14A Dimpling and Riveting
Tyson "T-bone" Brown with his dimpler and squeezer, used for his RV 14-A project.
RV-14A Dimpling and Riveting
Tyson “T-bone” Brown is building an RV-14A project at home in Georgetown. He’s currently working on the empennage, and it’s coming along nicely. He demonstrated how he dimples the pre-drilled holes in the aluminum panels used to cover the tail section of the plane.
Tyson uses a compression dimpler with dies to manually make dimples in the pre-drilled holes. It squeezes the hole into a shallow little dish just deep enough to accommodate the head of a solid aluminum rivet with a tapered head. He also can use his pneumatic rivet squeezer with special dies to dimple holes. You can get these tools from Cleaveland Tool as part of a tool kit when you order a kitplane, saving money (they are each $300 to $600 retail).
https://www.cleavelandtool.com
There are two sizes of rivets, AD3 and AD4, in the RV-14A. They are small aluminum rivets that you squeeze or drive. Sometimes they are driven with a pneumatic rivet gun against a bucking bar, especially in tight places where the squeezer cannot reach. All of this makes for a beautifully smooth airplane. Sometimes pulled (pop) rivets are used in especially tight spots.
Photos and videos at Dimpling with Tyson Brown
Bill Elliott, April 19, 2023, renewed July 13, 2023.
RV-10 Fuselage Dimpling and Riveting
Ryan Gromfin in our chapter is building an RV-10. He has a YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/
Bill Elliott, 13 July 2023
Metal Brake
a6intruder myo-p.com <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Aug 17, 2023
to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hello all,
Working on my BD-4C project. I need to make a right angle bend on one piece of .018” SS. The piece is 42.5” long, about 2” each side of the bend.
Anyone have a metal brake that could do this?
This is not a precision bend. A ¼” radius would be nice but will take what I can get.
[Dan eventually used a piece of angle.]
Thanks,
Dan Nicoson
Cell: 512-906-9340
Deene Ogden <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Aug 17, 2023
Hi Dan. You will have to take some additional steps to get your approximate 1/4” radius with that type of brake and your thin material.
1. You can do the bend in small partial steps or
2. Use sacrificial aluminum layers on top of the ss material.
Do some experiments with some test samples of your SS material to see what works best. BTW, the shops that made the aluminum angles for your BD4 used press brake’s that had appropriately radius edged blades.
As a side note, I built a BD4 back in the 70’s. It was a great ship. I would love to see your project at a later time…
Deene Ogden
EAA Technical Counselor
Chapter 187 Tool Crib
William R. Elliott <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Thu, May 23, 2024
to eaa187mail, bcc: Gary, bcc: me
To EAA 187 members:
I revived the link to our Chapter 187 Tool Crib [tool chest] at https://www.eaa187.org/index.php/chapter-tools
Our chapter has various tools in our storage unit at GTU, including an engine hoist, aircraft scales, metal brake, metal shear, bandsaw, and many others. We can loan out tools to our paid members. The tool list is visible to the public as an enticement to join, but only paid members may borrow tools.
In addition, you will need to provide a deposit. Deposit is cash or checks only, and is $30 per tool unless otherwise noted. Tools are free to use, unless otherwise noted.
Please check with Gary Hamilton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange pick-up.
Some of the tools that are available [updated 5/23/24]:
Bandsaw
This monster has no instructions, but it has several types of saw blades and is ready to use. Don't get your fingers in the blade!!
Metal brake, 48" wide and Metal Shear, 30.5" wide
This 48" metal brake is sitting on top of the metal shear, which accepts sheet up to 30.5" wide and is operated by a foot treadle. The brake should be anchored to your workbench so it has a solid connection. The brake is activated with two handles, which can be unscrewed for storage. [The old metal brake was bad, and it was retired in 2020.]
William R. (Bill) Elliott
Secretary, EAA 187