Author: "rv7pete" <RV10Pete@...> Time: Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:05 am PST Link
Hello,
There is a builders trick that has been floating around for a while
that I got to put to use yesterday. Some of you may not have heard
of it, so I'll post it for newbies to try.
I am priming parts...so when it comes time to etch and alumidyne the
longerons for the fuselage, it's tough to deal with the long parts.
I took a 10' piece of aluminum gutter, put solid endcaps on each
end, then drilled holes with my Unibit to allow me to put a garden
hose attachment on each end. The trick is in the connection for the
garden hose. The garden hose thread is hard to match when you want
to get a nut to make a tight fit. Go to the ELECTRICAL section and
get a conduit fitting. The conduit fitting has a pipe thread and a
nut and O ring already on it.
Once you get the conduit fittings in place, put a garden hose shut
off valve and put on each end. Use silicone to seal the endcaps and
around the fittings. Be SURE to use silcone. I ran out and then
suplemented with Latex with Silicone in it. The latex got eaten by
the acid so I developed a small leak before I was done. One end was
attached to the kitchen sink.....the other to a hose that ran out to
the street. I was able to run in warm water for my acid bath,
scotchbrite every thing....then open the drain end.....and turn on
the faucet and get a fresh water rinse.....then drain it all
out....close both ends and Alumidyne......then drain it out.....and
rinse again.......all WITHOUT having to move ANYTHING! It was great
except ONE thing. It was aobut 10 degrees here yesterday....and the
hose started to freeze....and when I went OUT.....I went
DOWN....right on my butt....and boy did it hurt! I had made a huge
skating rink at the bottom of my driveway!! In any case, it worked
great. I can't take credit for the idea, but I did use it and it
worked out very well. ....and we have a 2 hour school delay due to
snow today.....maybe I should use staying home with the kids as a
cheap excuse to stay home and work on the plane!
I had to delay my wings......so now I'm making parts for my extended
baggage compartment, doublers for the antenna mounts, drilling and
countersinking my static ports, and adding mounting brackets for my
cable runs. The price of T3 Aluminum is going down in a month or so
at Airparts. I got a 4 x 6 sheet of .025 and .032 shipped last week
and it arrived in great shape. Today I'm going to get a bending
brake from either Northern or Harbor Freight.
Cheers!
p.s. I sure wish others would post more of their tips and tricks!
Pete #100 - taking a little extra time finishing the cone