RV7Factory.com - Builder's Log

Let the Dimpling Begin!

After the past two deburring sessions I decided there has got to be a better way. So after reading some posts on the RV-List(s) I broke down and ordered a Burraway from Cogsdill Tools. The Burraway is a little tool that is used in a drill and inserted into a hole. It deburrs one side on the way in, and the other side on the way out. At $46 it wasn't cheap, but if it cuts down on the deburring time it will be well worth it. I will post a review and pictures here on the site when I get it and have used it.

Anywhoooo, I managed to squeeze in some dimpling tonight. Get it? Squeeze in some dimpling... oh never mind. I used my DRDT-2 from Exerimental Aero for the first time, and when I got in some tight spots I used my hand squeezer mounted in a vice. I also used my new Tank Dimple Die set from Cleveland Aircraft Tool. The Tank Dimple Dies are a little deeper than your standard dimple die and I have heard a few builders say they use them for the understrcture (ribs and spars) so that the regular dimples in the skin fit better in the dimples in the understructure.

The regular -3 die is on the left and the tank die on the right (both from Cleveland Tool). You can just barely see the difference with the tank die being somewhat larger/deeper. In playing with some scrap last week I found it hard to get two dimpled pieces to fit together well, so after do some research, I found that there are many builders that use these to dimple the understructure so that the dimples in the skins fit better in the underlying dimples, so I ordered myslef a set. Normally these dimples are used to make a slightly deeper dimple in the fuel tank skins as Pro-Seal has a tendency to keep the rivet heads from fitting flush, and the deeper dimple compensates for the Pro-Seal, or so I read.

The DRDT-2 clamped to the bench (clamp cannot be seen). I used a step stool to get more leverage.

For those few tight spots where the DRDT-2 wouldn't fit (noses of ribs and outerholes in spars), I used my squeezer mounted in a vice. This actually worked pretty well.