Hi there

[Chris In Milwaukee]

For routing patterns? Masonite may do the trick. The thing you have to ensure is that you have enough surface to run a trim router bit bearing against. You'll be making a lot of ribs, and it will see a lot of use. So you'll want to be sure Masonite is durable enough for that. In my experience, Masonite freys easily on its edges when worked. Perhaps if you brushed the edges with some polyurethane varnish to toughen them up a bit?

That looks like particle board shelf material, though, not what I would expect Masonite to look like. Should be thick enough to be a decent routing pattern. I wouldn't use it as a form board for pounding aluminum around when shaping. But for routing it ought to be okay. Make sure your cutting tools are sharp since particle board gets "flaky" when you cut it.

[Bcone1381]

Masonite Patterns also worked well for me. I found that if they get damaged, they were easy to repair with Bondo. I validate what Chris said about toughening up the edges. I did not try polyurethane, but spread some 5 minute epoxy on the edges with a putty knife and had satisfactory results.

[Chewie]

I could never afford to go. Oshkosh from St. Cloud, MN is 8hrs away

ONLY 8 hours away!

[Deftone]

ONLY 8 hours away!

If I can drive to Airventure every year from Louisiana then you can get there too! The workshops travel around, have you checked the schedule to see if they are coming any closer than Oshkosh?

[MNBenny]

No I haven't.

[MNBenny]

Outch! $350!! That costs a bit.

[Chris In Milwaukee]

I don't think any of us need to make a counter argument for how much money you'll save in wasted parts and effort

[Deftone]

Outch! $350!! That costs a bit.

Well why not come to Airventure and you can hit several classes at once without the cost?

[MNBenny]

That's what I would like to do

[Bcone1381]

You won't get a weekend long two day class with 12 or 14 hours of hands on training for 'free' at AirVenture.

The AirVenture classes are very enjoyable, hands on, and in a one hour to 1.5 hour space of time introduce the pupil to a topic. Like Welding, Sheet Metal, Riveting, Rib Building, Fabric Covering. When one walks away they should have the feeling of "I would like to learn more about how to do that." I sat in a couple of different AIrVenture welding classes at the 2015 AIrVenture. I like them, and wanted to know more about welding.

The Sport Air Work Shop is a Saturday/Sunday event focused just on that one topic. Last January I took the Welding Class. When I walked away from that, I was welding clusters, ready to buy my tanks/torch and start refining my welding skills at home. It would have been very risky to take that step after Air Venture introduction without someone at home mentoring me.

[JimParker256]

You won't get a weekend long two day class with 12 or 14 hours of hands on training for 'free' at AirVenture.

The AirVenture classes are very enjoyable, hands on, and in a one hour to 1.5 hour space of time introduce the pupil to a topic. Like Welding, Sheet Metal, Riveting, Rib Building, Fabric Covering. When one walks away they should have the feeling of "I would like to learn more about how to do that." I sat in a couple of different AIrVenture welding classes at the 2015 AIrVenture. I like them, and wanted to know more about welding.

The Sport Air Work Shop is a Saturday/Sunday event focused just on that one topic. Last January I took the Welding Class. When I walked away from that, I was welding clusters, ready to buy my tanks/torch and start refining my welding skills at home. It would have been very risky to take that step after Air Venture introduction without someone at home mentoring me.

I completely agree with Bcone1381. I took the welding seminar (1.5 hours) at OSH - twice. It was fun and a learned a lot, but I realized that it would take a lot more instruction for me to become comfortable flying in something that I had welded... I also took the sheet-metal construction class at OSH. Fun, but it only scratched the surface. I think both classes are designed to either increase your desire to learn more, or close the door on that idea for you. Both classes piqued my curiosity and interest further.

I took the SportAir Workshop on sheet metal construction a few years ago when it came to a nearby airport, and left there 100% convinced I could build a sheet metal airplane (RV-8, Panther, Sonex/Xenos). But then I decided the Patrol was more in line with my "fun-flying, explore the country-side, land almost anywhere, but occasionally be able to comfortably take a 'real' cross-country trip" mission. I will eventually take the SportAir Welding Workshop, when it comes back to my part of the country. I just didn't want to hold up the start of my Patrol project for that. And besides, the AviPro guys who build the kits are absolutely incredibly good welders. I've had several EAA friends look at my fuselage kit and comment on the amazing quality of their welds.

Someday I'll take the EAA weekend welding course, or maybe something through the local community college, because I'd really like to learn to do it. Mostly, though, I'll be welding stuff around the farm, where the welds are not nearly as critical... Not sure I'd want to fly something I welded together, until my skills increase pretty dramatically!