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  1. JamesRussell

    Milling machine/lathe options

    Hi all: I am NOT a machinist! My good friend JJ is and he makes beautiful parts. And has a big lathe & Bridgeport. But, I bought a Smithy 1200XL all-in one for $500 with a stand & some tooling from an engineer at Bell, and it has saved me thousands of $ - even with all the scrap I've made...
  2. JamesRussell

    Part availability of jacobs r-755’s radials?

    Hi all: Boy, a "useless 78" project for $500! I would never live long enough - a multi-generational project, for sure. I hope it doesn't get scrapped - it looks like a good start, tho.... "Down that path is damnation" Stop looking, now, self! Regards, James
  3. JamesRussell

    Perfect Rivets

    Hi Kent: " Keep the bucking bar highly polished. It will normally jump around a bit when bucking a rivet and an unpolished bar will tend to walk the shop head in the direction the bucking bar jumps causing a clinched or off-center shop head. A polished bar will just slide over the shop head but...
  4. JamesRussell

    Drilling metal tube

    WOW! What a great thread on "just" drilling holes - thanks to all that contributed to this info dump. I knew generally the bigger the bit, the slower the RPM - but now I know that I have been over speeding the bits. I have finally adopted the practice of drilling undersize, then reaming...
  5. JamesRussell

    Advice Needed: Windscreen Hoop - Carbon Rod or Uni Cloth?

    I would certainly go with a weldment of 1.0 x 0.065 4130 tube because: "The reason many racing classes run steel tubes is because they have really good post yield capabilities, and so absorb lots of energy after yield. In composites, we have to suck up the whole hit within linear range of...
  6. JamesRussell

    Communication problems?

    Hi all: Yes, remember the bird strike lab that went to lunch, came back, fired, and the windshield failed terribly? It turns out that a cat crawled down the barrel to eat the chicken... It may be true, or not... I hope not, as I love cats. And mashed potatoes. Regards, James
  7. JamesRussell

    Parts For Sale Rivets and rivet gun, clecos, etc.

    Hi there: Just touching base - is this stuff still available? Regards, James
  8. JamesRussell

    Bill of Materials for my Fuel System Plumbing

    Hi wsimpso1: I'm late to this thread - but I vote for Al tubing w/ AN fittings, with aircraft Teflon hoses (w/ static dissipation). It takes awhile, but when you're done, you're done. Click Bond anchors with Adel clamps. I didn't see this mentioned, but you should have a large area filter in...
  9. JamesRussell

    Cowling design - preflight & maintenance access

    Hi all: I'm going for the Convair 240-ish slices of orange split cowls, hinged at the front for my Cozy. It's a pusher, so airflow is helping some to keep it closed. 2 hinges each, with Dzus EHF 1/4 turn fasteners, and a prop/gas strut to keep it open. Upper & lower cowls, split at the wing...
  10. JamesRussell

    Stallion

    Hi rsrguy3: I like "when the student is ready the teacher will arrive"! 1) Epoxies I remember using Shell Epon 862 & DETA/TETA building B-727 cockpit overhead panels - it took 4 of us to lay-up the part due to the viscosity & ambient temp (Texas in the summer). My Cozy Mk IV project was...
  11. JamesRussell

    Bf 109 Blueprints/Drawings Needed

    Hi all: I'm also looking for Bf 109 drawings: of the K model MLG strut assy (p/n 8-2787.16 & .15) and the MLG actuator p/n 8-2990A-1 or C-1. These are for my He 162A-2 build for the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Thanks for any help! Regards, James
  12. JamesRussell

    Parts For Sale Rivets and rivet gun, clecos, etc.

    Hi there Derswede: I'll buy it all - put it in flat rate USPS boxes - & I'll pay cash (mailed) or PayPal, your choice? Regards, James
  13. JamesRussell

    Horrible news from Vans Aircraft

    Fabulous write-up! Great details - thank you!
  14. JamesRussell

    Rivet Guns

    Hi Marc: "James, Living at Sequim, did you know Don Pridham? He was my intro into Aircraft repair and fab back in the '70's." No, I moved here about 7 years ago. Sad about the EAA deal - knowledge need to be shared! Regards, James
  15. JamesRussell

    Rivet Guns

    Hi Harvardiv: Sorry that I digressed. I would buy a used Souix, CP, Cleco, I/R 2x from eBay or better yet, the Yardstore.com. That way, if you don't like the trigger, you can return/exchange it. Never buy a new aircraft tool, they're so well built, good used will work for you the rest of your...
  16. JamesRussell

    Holy cow

    Hi all: I just relined C-172 pads and ran into that problem of the rivets being loose after using the roll flaring tool. So I had to use a punch and the die from the tool to upset the rivets some more. Dan, where did you find that tool? Very cool! Regards, James
  17. JamesRussell

    Rivet Guns

    +1 on bucking bars. I'm a complete beginner when it comes to sheetmetal - as a composites guy, I do it so rarely - I have to re-learn it. I get 1/2 way OK when I'm done, then forget it all. The triggers the thing on rivet guns + practice shooting 10,000 rivets - I only have another 9,992 to...
  18. JamesRussell

    Fastener Heads

    Hi all: Pulling panels off airplanes is much easier by: 1) Having a fresh proper bit 2) REALLY cleaning out the fastener recess 3) The before-mentioned fine valve grinding compound 4) Using a speed handle w/ a socket welded onto the handle to mount a palm rest to really lean on the speed...
  19. JamesRussell

    Piano Hinge Pin Retention

    Hi all: I sell aileron/rudder hinge repair kits - so I've collected from customers ways to safety the pins: 1) Drill small hole for safety wire/cotter pin thru last loop of the hinge on both ends. 2) Drill/tap for a Allen head small set screw (like post #30). Use blue Loc-Tite to safety the...
  20. JamesRussell

    Aviation Hoarding

    Someone on eBay sells floor sweepings from aircraft manufacturers - just think of all the cool stuff you'll get! I bought a couple of lbs... No one has mentioned the Zen-like quality of time spent sorting hardware - it really is relaxing.
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