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Hi again all...
Just started on the 2-nd half of the nose ribs. Found another change in technique which seemed to help a lot.
For the first half of the nose ribs I just finished- after the rubber pressing--- I would bolt on the thick plywood
backup plate and finish folding the outer flange over with a little dead rubber blow hammer. Then I would take it back
to the bench and mash in the fluts. Then I would use the RV'ers corner bending tool in between the fluts. After that i
would bounce back and forth between fluting and cornering and checking for flatness on the table and running a small
machinist's square down the flange. I would cycle through those things 5 or 6 times before everything came in good.
Then on about half of the ribs- at the end o that cycle I would have some "potatoe chiping" left over on the flat surfaces
when I would lay it in its back on the table surface. I discovered I could work that out on a rubber pad using a rubber tipped punch.
Now- here is what I tried. Just for an experiment--- I tried switching the order of two of the steps. Once I was done folding the flange
with the dead blow-- removed out of the form-block---backup plate sandwich, then I took it to the bench. But THIS TIME---
I put the outer flange into the cornering tool and went down both sides- giving it a bump about every 1/2 inch with overlaping
hits--- WITHOUT having to only work between the fluts. This means I was able to over-bend 100% of the length now.
Then I used the pliers to flut it at the marked locations.
The difference seemed to be like night and day. It looked like in just those two steps I was able to get the thing to 90+% of
where it needed to be. -- as opposed to having to cycle through 5 or 6 times the other way. AND--- as an added bonus ! ----
this new way seems to be eliminating just about all the residual potato-chipping when I lay it down on its back to check for
flatness.
I am still seeing that little "S"-wave where the back-up plate isnt supporting it--- so before I continue I am going to make a new
backup plate that has less open unsupported margin there in that area. That should fix that problem.
I feel kind of stupid to just be figureing out how to do this when I am half way done---- but I guess thats what the journey is
all about. I tell myself I can incorporate that into all the other ribs. I am definately going to make a short video where I
show making a nose rib all the way through with no editing. If I can show perspective builders how easy it is and encourage
them to begin---- that would seem like a blessing to me. I remember one builder who gave up on his project because he couldnt
seem to master the flush riveting process. That kind of broke my heart to see that--- knowing if he had someone there to show
him how to do it and what parts of the technique to adjust-- im sure he could have been doing great flush heads in about 30 min.
If I can con my camera man to helping me I may have that done soon. If that could help someone or encourage them---
("well-- if HE can do it-- then I know I can...." ) that would be a blessing to me !
Tim
Just started on the 2-nd half of the nose ribs. Found another change in technique which seemed to help a lot.
For the first half of the nose ribs I just finished- after the rubber pressing--- I would bolt on the thick plywood
backup plate and finish folding the outer flange over with a little dead rubber blow hammer. Then I would take it back
to the bench and mash in the fluts. Then I would use the RV'ers corner bending tool in between the fluts. After that i
would bounce back and forth between fluting and cornering and checking for flatness on the table and running a small
machinist's square down the flange. I would cycle through those things 5 or 6 times before everything came in good.
Then on about half of the ribs- at the end o that cycle I would have some "potatoe chiping" left over on the flat surfaces
when I would lay it in its back on the table surface. I discovered I could work that out on a rubber pad using a rubber tipped punch.
Now- here is what I tried. Just for an experiment--- I tried switching the order of two of the steps. Once I was done folding the flange
with the dead blow-- removed out of the form-block---backup plate sandwich, then I took it to the bench. But THIS TIME---
I put the outer flange into the cornering tool and went down both sides- giving it a bump about every 1/2 inch with overlaping
hits--- WITHOUT having to only work between the fluts. This means I was able to over-bend 100% of the length now.
Then I used the pliers to flut it at the marked locations.
The difference seemed to be like night and day. It looked like in just those two steps I was able to get the thing to 90+% of
where it needed to be. -- as opposed to having to cycle through 5 or 6 times the other way. AND--- as an added bonus ! ----
this new way seems to be eliminating just about all the residual potato-chipping when I lay it down on its back to check for
flatness.
I am still seeing that little "S"-wave where the back-up plate isnt supporting it--- so before I continue I am going to make a new
backup plate that has less open unsupported margin there in that area. That should fix that problem.
I feel kind of stupid to just be figureing out how to do this when I am half way done---- but I guess thats what the journey is
all about. I tell myself I can incorporate that into all the other ribs. I am definately going to make a short video where I
show making a nose rib all the way through with no editing. If I can show perspective builders how easy it is and encourage
them to begin---- that would seem like a blessing to me. I remember one builder who gave up on his project because he couldnt
seem to master the flush riveting process. That kind of broke my heart to see that--- knowing if he had someone there to show
him how to do it and what parts of the technique to adjust-- im sure he could have been doing great flush heads in about 30 min.
If I can con my camera man to helping me I may have that done soon. If that could help someone or encourage them---
("well-- if HE can do it-- then I know I can...." ) that would be a blessing to me !
Tim
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