The Build Continues!
Building has been slow as of late. I've been dealing with the untimely death of my of my awesome brother-in-law. Also this March my 90 year old mother passed away. Their deaths and dealing with their estates as well as finally liquidating my dad's estate from 1998 has taken it's toll on my energy and time. Finally I'm not adding new clients but I'm still working with my existing client base. Investing since the election of DJT has been interesting to say the least.
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| Me, Darryl and Miss Mabel |
Recently it dawned on me that 20% (likely 5%) of rivets take up 80% of your time. Here is an example of a Rube Goldberg solution in action.
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| Getting at one #4 rivet at the firewall |
Squeezing #4 rivets (1/8 inch) with a squeezer best suited for #3 rivets (3/8 inch) is tough even if you're strong and have the leverage needed. I have a pneumatic and a hydraulic squeezer but they are too wide to get into locations like this.
Solution? Believe it or not the hand squeezed vice easily replaced my arms? Yep, it worked better that I thought possible. Another arrow in the builders quiver!
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| Prepping the skin for self etching primer |
I will fly the plane for a year before it's professionally painted. However, most builders will at least prime areas that will be semi exposed but still hidden. Scuffing the area and then carefully using acetone to prep the surface is a must.
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| Window fans and a paint rated respirator! |
It's crazy what you can do in your TV room/man cave. I've put the elevators, rudder and vertical stabilizer in my office upstairs but I'm absolutely running out of room.
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| 14 fuselage is 1/2 foot wider than a 172 |
