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  • Need advice

    Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Hope your christmas was a good one.

    My ribs keep turning out crappy. Does anyone have any ideas that might help me? A BH builder near me has suggested that I not close the snips all the way. I can post photos in case any one wants to see my crappy job.

    take care

    Ben
    Plans #1227

  • #2
    My favorite tin snips are....... The aluminum specific files I use to true an edge......sneaking up to the finish line.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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    • #3
      Take a look at this quarters BearTracks. There is a description of cutting the ribs with a router. That is how I did all my ribs. Takes time to make all the patterns but I was able to cut ribs 3 at a time and it took just a few minutes to do each set of three.. Time to a finished rib is way less and a ton easier than snipping them out. Plus they are all exactly the same.

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      • #4
        If you have access to a router, then +1 on S Lathrop 's comment. The article I wrote for this quarter BearTracks will give you some quick insight into the process. For more detailed accounts of my rib-building adventures, take a look at these two posts:

        BBQ ribs are great, but wing ribs are pretty cool, too. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/05/d3428b6c9b82131199d7085d5e61be25.jpg Getting the aft ribs

        So I thought it was time for a title change. I routed the slots in the edges of the bending form and rounded off the edges so the metal doesn't split. Also routed
        Christopher Owens
        Bearhawk 4-Place Scratch Built, Plans 991
        Bearhawk Patrol Scratch Built, Plans P313
        Germantown, Wisconsin, USA

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        • #5
          My opinion is that Chris' method of making ribs brings together a number of different methods and achieves what I believe is a Best Practice. Keep the bend radius on the flange generous. I set mine to something near the FAA's minimum recommended radius and did not like it.
          Brooks Cone
          Southeast Michigan
          Patrol #303, Kit build

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          • #6
            I everyone. For some reason I'm not getting them anymore I don't think. Does it describe how to set it up?

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            • #7
              Hey Chris how did you set that up? Dang wish I had the recent bear tracks. So I need a router for sure. What else do I need

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              • #8
                Did you buy the electric snips from harbor freight?

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                • #9
                  Yes, those are Harbor Freight snips. They worked quite well. I built a router table into my bench and used a long trim bit with the rough cut aluminum sandwiched in between. The forum posts referenced above cover everything in great detail. I don't recall if I created a post that talked about how I built the routing forms. I have plenty of pictures on my computer, however.

                  Do you have Eric Newton's Bearhawk construction manuals? The process of creating the routing forms is identical to what's presented in his books.
                  Christopher Owens
                  Bearhawk 4-Place Scratch Built, Plans 991
                  Bearhawk Patrol Scratch Built, Plans P313
                  Germantown, Wisconsin, USA

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                  • #10
                    I just realized something. My dad does have a router. What kind of a bit do I need for it? Would I need a special table for it. Harbor Frieght wants only $50 for an electric shears.

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                    • #11
                      I do remember buying them. But I haven't printed them out because it would cost way to much.

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                      • #12
                        No need to print them out They're in a PDF format, so you can read them on your computer, tablet, smart phone, or other electronical gizmo. But please do yourself a favor and read it! The Introduction and Chapter 1 are absolutely priceless and will get you through this tough startup phase. With a few exceptions, which I noted in the two referenced posts above, I followed Eric's lead with the creation of form boards and cutting/forming of ribs. Where my technique differed should be pretty obvious. If not, feel free to ask more questions. We've all been through it, and you can get through it, too!
                        Christopher Owens
                        Bearhawk 4-Place Scratch Built, Plans 991
                        Bearhawk Patrol Scratch Built, Plans P313
                        Germantown, Wisconsin, USA

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                        • #13
                          Ah, I found another reference for you. Check out my KitLog site from my previous (but sold) Bearhawk project:

                          homebuilt aircraft, builders log, experimental, experimental aircraft, 51% rule, fifty-one percent rule, 51% percent rule, aircraft homebuilt kit, aircraft homebuilt plan, aircraft composite homebuilt, aircraft experimental homebuilt, aircraft experimental kit


                          Start at the bottom. I have pretty detailed steps on how I created my routing forms up through and including the routing/deburring of the ribs.
                          Christopher Owens
                          Bearhawk 4-Place Scratch Built, Plans 991
                          Bearhawk Patrol Scratch Built, Plans P313
                          Germantown, Wisconsin, USA

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                          • #14
                            Chris,

                            Thanks for taking the time to help the new builders. Those posts and on the other thread are some of the most helpful responses I've seen on any forum in a long time. Nice to see, and great pics

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                            • #15
                              My pleasure, sir. Glad to be of help!
                              Christopher Owens
                              Bearhawk 4-Place Scratch Built, Plans 991
                              Bearhawk Patrol Scratch Built, Plans P313
                              Germantown, Wisconsin, USA

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