• Welcome aboard HomebuiltAirplanes.com, your destination for connecting with a thriving community of more than 10,000 active members, all passionate about home-built aviation. Dive into our comprehensive repository of knowledge, exchange technical insights, arrange get-togethers, and trade aircrafts/parts with like-minded enthusiasts. Unearth a wide-ranging collection of general and kit plane aviation subjects, enriched with engaging imagery, in-depth technical manuals, and rare archives.

    For a nominal fee of $99.99/year or $12.99/month, you can immerse yourself in this dynamic community and unparalleled treasure-trove of aviation knowledge.

    Embark on your journey now!

    Click Here to Become a Premium Member and Experience Homebuilt Airplanes to the Fullest!

Search results

Find deals on ebay
Advertise with us
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. Jonny C

    How do Manufacturers Prep Aluminum?

    I just tested PreKote on a sheet of 6061-T6 which was already clean and degreased. Before using PreKote, water formed a continuous film on the aluminum surface (as in the picture on the right). I applied the PreKote by spraying it and rubbing with Scotch-Brite as instructed. It's a slightly...
  2. Jonny C

    Motorcycles of HBA.com

    I wanted to show my bike, not because it's remotely interesting, but because of what's happened to the fuel tank. Since they started putting 10% ethanol in fuel here in the UK (which I think is a bad idea on just about every level), the fumes from the tank have ruined the clear lacquer - it went...
  3. Jonny C

    Pneumatic Rivet Squeezer Pressure

    Thanks - I didn’t know the cam mechanism increased the squeezing force as extension increases. The ram stroke can be adjusted by twisting but I it looks like I’ll still need a washer or two for the shortest rivets. I’ll keep reminding myself to hold the thing with both hands so no fingers...
  4. Jonny C

    Pneumatic Rivet Squeezer Pressure

    Great, thanks.
  5. Jonny C

    Pneumatic Rivet Squeezer Pressure

    Hi, I got this rivet squeezer years ago but not yet used it. I think its pretty much the same as other models branded by different manufacturers. I’m going to be squeezing solid 1/8” AN470 rivets. Can anyone give an idea of the air pressure I should be setting on the compressor? My...
  6. Jonny C

    How do Manufacturers Prep Aluminum?

    That's a good point. I'm using the bare aluminum because everything is being fully epoxy primed - it's v wet where I live.
  7. Jonny C

    How do Manufacturers Prep Aluminum?

    Thanks. I guess there are no shortcuts for a homebuilder. My process has worked well; I just have to accept it takes a while. My steps: 1. remove any residue left by the protective film, stickers etc. with acetone 2. wash the aluminum parts with degreaser and a green dish scrubber then rinse...
  8. Jonny C

    How do Manufacturers Prep Aluminum?

    I just spent 3 days on my knees Scotch-Brite scrubbing aluminum parts with Deoxidine (a mixture of phosphoric acid & solvent for removing oxide and oil residue). It's wasn't fun. Formed parts like ribs and L angles aren't easy - it takes time and it's sometimes difficult to get in all the...
  9. Jonny C

    Aluminum wing spar to cabin floor attachment

    Hi everyone, I'm doing some drawings for a conventional aluminum low-wing single seat plane that could be easily made with my CNC router. For simplicity, I would like the center section of the wing to sit on top of the lower longerons. The issue of restraining the L angle of the lower spar cap...
  10. Jonny C

    Plexiglass + holesaw = broken plexiglass?

    Thanks for all your helpful tips. I've just tested a new (cheap) unibit in plexiglass and it worked perfectly. My drill press on its slowest setting of 600 RPM and a battery drill at about 300 RPM both drilled through it very easily in seconds. I was never worried about cracking - with the...
  11. Jonny C

    Plexiglass + holesaw = broken plexiglass?

    Yes, this one is 1/8 inch plexiglass. I'm going to try a few of the methods suggested and see which seems least likely to shatter my canopy!
  12. Jonny C

    Plexiglass + holesaw = broken plexiglass?

    Brilliant responses, thank you. I've just bought a 2 inch unibit online - didn't know they were available that large. I'm also going to buy an abrasive hole saw to see which works better. I'll get some sheets of plexiglass too to practise on. Hopefully it'll be similar enough to the canopy...
  13. Jonny C

    Plexiglass + holesaw = broken plexiglass?

    Hi all, I need to cut a circular hole in a 1/8" thick plexiglass canopy in order to fit a latching mechanism. The hole diameter is 1.5". I've only got one chance at this and I don't have an offcut on which to practise! Has anybody tried this? Is it even possible? I can drill a pilot hole...
  14. Jonny C

    Aluminum Square Tube Gussets - what's the best fixing?

    My idea was to have the rivnuts set into a mounting plate that's freely floating inside the tube (the rivnuts wouldn't be in the tube wall).The mounting plate would simply be a strip of sheet aluminum with 3 rivnuts in it. That way the unthreaded part of the bolt shank would sit in the reamed...
  15. Jonny C

    Aluminum Square Tube Gussets - what's the best fixing?

    Re: Aluminum Square Tube Gussets - what's the best fastener? I’ll definitely prep the aluminium and epoxy bond the gusset to the tube in addition to using the fasteners – thanks for this suggestion. I like the idea of reaming the holes and using short AN3 bolts into nut plates inside the...
  16. Jonny C

    Aluminum Square Tube Gussets - what's the best fixing?

    Thanks, I had been considering some of the Huck transportation rivets which they say are vibration resistant for use in truck bodies etc. but I wasn’t sure about using non-aviation hardware in critical areas. But then I’ve seen an NTSB report where CherryMax vibrated loose. The tube sizes are...
  17. Jonny C

    Aluminum Square Tube Gussets - what's the best fixing?

    I’m designing a single seat airplane (that’s ended up quite similar to the Bede BD6). The fuselage is a basically a warren truss made from structural square 6082T6 tube (similar to 6061T6) with a non-structural composite fuselage shell that’s removable for inspection. I’ve built a Zenair 601...
Back
Top