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  1. birdus

    Bronze vs. sealed precision bearings for control surface hinges

    Great! I'll check it out. I've watched all your design videos and got your design spreadsheet. Thanks!
  2. birdus

    Bronze vs. sealed precision bearings for control surface hinges

    Thanks for the great discussion, folks. I appreciate it!
  3. birdus

    Bronze vs. sealed precision bearings for control surface hinges

    I had no idea so many planes used bearings, but your thoughts about why one might want to avoid them are good. Thanks!
  4. birdus

    Bronze vs. sealed precision bearings for control surface hinges

    Are sealed precision bearings ever used for control surface hinges? If not, why not? Seems like they ought to provide the smoothest, lowest drag movement.
  5. birdus

    Transferring Drawings to the Table

    How does one transfer from the plans to the work bench without destroying the original plans? Obviously, this is for the full-size bits in the drawings.
  6. birdus

    Broken drag wire

    I'm going to redo them in stainless. Which alloy would you use?
  7. birdus

    Broken drag wire

    Yeah, I'm going to plan on replacing all of them with 4130. If one broke while just sitting on the ground, I would always be on edge while flying. Pun, but no fun. Irritating, but better to just get it done and have confidence in the plane. I can't fathom why Barney Oldfield would've specified...
  8. birdus

    Broken drag wire

    While building the wings for my Baby Great Lakes, one of the drag/anti-drag wires broke at the end of the thread (not a shock as far as location). They are made of 5052 aluminum (as called out in the plans). Should I be worried? If I'm going to redo all of them in steel, now is the time, before...
  9. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    You are correct on all counts: this is only for a handful of rivets (32, I think), and they are 3/32", and it's not structural. That would certainly be the simplest, cheapest, and probably quickest. Lots of great suggestions here! Thanks, everyone!
  10. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    Now that's interesting, and I already have a pop rivet gun. Hmmm. I think I could pretty easily make a set of those dies, too. Did I say hmmm? Hmmm.
  11. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    Seems like a few suggestions require a set of dies without the pins sticking of them. Not a bad idea, though.
  12. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    The dies have pins sticking out of them, and I'm not sure I could fit my airplane in a vise. :)
  13. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    Ooh! Good idea! It's exactly .032"! Guess I need to get one of those adjustable countersinks. Just watched a video on one the other day (that's how I know of that tool). I borrowed the dimpler from our local EAA chapter. I'll have to see if they have an adjustable countersink. Thanks! Jay
  14. birdus

    How to dimple in a small hole

    I've got a 3 1/8" hole. A normal (I think) dimpler is too big to dimple the rivets around the hole, as the "C" part of it bumps into the opposite side of the hole and/or the rivet holes are too close to the hole perimeter (I have one of these, by the way, and it has worked well for some other...
  15. birdus

    Rivet size and spacing

    Thanks, guys. That's about what I was thinking, but wasn't sure.
  16. birdus

    Rivet size and spacing

    I'm going to patch up some fuselage damage. I'm planning on using a 3 1/8" instrument panel punch to eliminate the damaged area (that's just barely big enough, just about perfect), then using a backer, along with plug to fill that hole for aesthetic reasons. To add a backer to non-structural...
  17. birdus

    Sealant between aluminum

    It's about a 2-inch hole. I imagine there'll be an inch of overlap between the backer and the fuselage.
  18. birdus

    Sealant between aluminum

    I need to create a patch with a filler piece riveted to a backer with the backer riveted to the fuselage. The material will be .032" 2024. Should I use some kind of sealant between the pieces, or will the (flush) rivets prevent the ingress of rain? Thanks, Jay
  19. birdus

    Wing design for lightest possible wing

    Although I may not end up doing this project, this has been an interesting thread and I've learned some things. Thanks for all the input.
  20. birdus

    Decalage angle

    Have you thought about the Osprey 2? George Pereira's designs are fantastic. https://www.ospreyaircraft.com/osprey.htm
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