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Pete's RV-8 Web Site
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Date: 12-15-2009
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Number of Hours: 6.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Begin riveting left wing top skins
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I began riveting the inboard top skin on the port wing today. I decided to use the standard mushroom set and bucking bar on the rivets attaching the skin to the main spar. This allows the rivets and skin to be driven toward the spar thus ensuring the best possible butt joint where the tank and top skin meet (at least that's my thinking). I decided to back rivet all the other rivets where possible.
Now, I have to admit an error that cost me about three (3) hours but thankfully, no damage or cost beyond embarrassment. When about to rivet one of the ribs, I noticed that one flange had not been dimpled. How it's possible to miss a flange having handled the rib repeatedly for deburring, dimpling, assembly and fitting, I don't know but I did. The correction wasn't difficult but it took some time. I had to carefully drill out the five rivets at the front spar (after removing the tank), the three at the rear spar, and remove the rib. Once the holes were dimpled and the rib carefully inspected, the rib was reinserted and riveted. The tank was then temporarily reinstalled. I think there is a little danger inherent in doing very repetitive tasks. It pays to slow down a bit and carefully check your work (advice I plan to follow until next time).
In any event, I was able to complete the riveting of the inboard skin with good results and should be able to finish the outboard skin as soon as my bucking partner is available. There is one difficult series of rivets, however, that attaches the top skin to the rear spar at the wing root. These rivets are very close to the spar reinforcement bar. I will need to get some advice on how best to set these rivets. There is not much clearance for a squeezer and/or bucking bar but there is obviously a solution. I plan to post the question on a local builders forum and check out the responses.
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Wing Rib Corrected
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