Set up for match drilling reinforcements to skins. These rivets are best done by backriveting. because the skins are so thin they recomend drilling through the skin into a piece of wood, then colecoing into the wood to hold it all together. I made wood strips the same height of the backrivet plate and drilled and colecoed into the strips. Then when it came time to do the rivets I could remove each strip and slide the backrivet plate underneath so the whole mess would be level. After drilling and marking the positions so I could reassemble again later I disassembled everything and debured the holes in the skin and reinforcements. I dimpled the skin and reinforcements. Then riveted everything together. Completed both the left and right skins today. The strips worked like a charm, everything stayed flat.
I originally thought that the most used tool would be the rivet gun, or maybe the drill but I now know that the shop vac is the most used tool I own. The amount of shavings generated is not to be believed. Cleanup time is not counted in the log time but it seems I am ALWAYS cleaning the bench or the floor. I know that if I start to track aluminum shaving throughout the house my wife will put a stop to the project. Besides I don't want to risk scratching those pretty skins all shiny and new.
