July 20, 2004 - Wing Ribs

 

On to the next obstacle, I mean, building experience. Wing Ribs. Forty of them. All need to have their edges deburred, the lightening holes deburred, flanges bent to 90 degrees from the web, and be fluted so the holes in the flange are aligned in a straight line. This is going to be as exiting as countersinking the 120 wing spar holes.
But first, my employer was selling industrial strength workbenches for 25 bucks. So I got one. This picture doesn't do it justice; it is big and solid. The table top is over an inch thick and is 3 feet by six feet. I havn't put the light across the top yet. Good deal!
As you can see, I can use the tabletop space. Van's sends all the hardware for the RV in the brown paper bags you see in the picture.
First step, deburring the edges with my scraper tool
Then sanding the edges with emery cloth. My 6" inch scotchbrite wheel isn't much use here.
Now I'm using the hand seamer to make the flanges perpendicular to the web.

Finally, fluting the flanges. I use a two-foot straight edge to make sure all the flange holes are in a straight line. If you over-flute, you can use the hand seamer to flatten the flanges. Like most everything, with a little practice you get pretty good at it.

I did six ribs in over two hours. I still have 34 more more to go. This isn't going to work; life is too short to be spending that kind of time prepping ribs. There isn't much I can do about the bending and fluting, but I can do something about the deburring. Like, follow the instructions! Van's instructions recommends using a die grinder with a 1" scotchbrite wheel. That's what I'm going to do. Ordered the 1" wheels today. Gonna buy a die grinder Saturday.

 
 
Previous
Home
Next