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Gary's RV8 Construction Log
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Date:  2-22-2010
Number of Hours:  4.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Ribs: Bending Flanges to 90 Deg.

I started trying to bend the rib flanges to 90 deg with the normal wide sheet metal pliers but quickly decided that this was gonna be waaay to much effort. I remembered seeing a homemade tool on the net somewhere (probably VAF) that now seemed to me to be the way to go.

I made one up using some of the wood from the wing kit crate - the thing that took the longest was waiting for the glue to dry properly - remember to leave place between the lever and the base for the thickest of the ribs (Fuel tank end ribs). I used a about a 12 deg angle in it to compensate for the spring back of the metal after bending.

Once I had this thing clamped to the workbench, it made very short work of all the flanges on all the ribs - the thicker ribs have more springback but it still worked like a charm.

I bent all 54 rib flanges to 90 deg. today.
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Flange bending tool made from wing kit crate frame

Flange bending tool made from wing kit crate frame

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Another view - definitely worth making on of these!

Another view - definitely worth making on of these!

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Clamped to the bench ready to bend the rib flanges - works a charm!

Clamped to the bench ready to bend the rib flanges - works a charm!

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