Today's Message Index:
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1. 05:24 AM - Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (BritishJim)
2. 06:10 AM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (bdewenter)
3. 06:26 AM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Lorenzo)
4. 08:40 AM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (jarheadpilot82)
5. 10:00 AM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Bill Church)
6. 10:41 AM - Re: Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Jack Philips)
7. 12:22 PM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (gcardinal@comcast.net)
8. 02:19 PM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Jack Philips)
9. 06:12 PM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Steven Dortch)
10. 06:28 PM - Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? (Charles Burkholder)
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| Subject: | Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
I'm currently going through the plans in detail and am fairly comfortable with
the woodworking part of things. I've not got any more experience than balsa models,
but am sure I can learn some new skills as I go and manage it.
But...metal fabrication...that's another story! I've got absolutely no experience/tools
for it and, looking at the plans, it appears daunting to say the very
least.
Has anyone else accomplished the metal components without prior experience? I live
in the middle of nowhere so don't have any options for classes or finding
a mentor.
It's the only bit of the build that is making me have second thoughts. But perhaps
the plans are more daunting than the process actually is?
--------
Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451318#451318
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
YES. I had never done this before either. MANY of the fittings are made from
strip steel from 5/8" to 1" and are cut in seconds- yes seconds - using a high
quality hack saw blade. Order material from Aircraft spruce or any source of
metal.
You should really get Tony Bingelis books. It describes metal fitting fabrication,
the best tools to form the more complex shaped parts, etc.
Check out this FREE CAD tool at emachineshop.com I used their program to layout
the LG fitting, elevator and aileron horns, and dash panels. They will make
your parts for you with water jet cutting - or you can export to AutoCAD format
and send to any machine shop with a water jet cutter and you have instant fittings!
A simple jig saw with a variable speed control makes cutting aluminum a snap.
Find a power band saw on ebay or order from Harbor Freight
Stand tall Jim. If you cant make metal fittings you have no place in experimental
aviation and home building. Sorry if that sounded a bit harsh. If you want
to build an airplane you can.
I was guilty of turning mole hills into mountains when I started to tear down my
Corvair core. So many mysterious terms like "end play" and "Plasti-guage".
When I got off my but and began asking others for help I realized how dumb I
was being. I completed my corvair in 368 days - after letting it languise for
3 years in the corner of my garage.
Engage, ask questions, fail, learn, build fly!
--------
Bob 'Early Builder' Dewenter
Dayton OH
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Yes, you can do it. But it may take some effort.
I am a wood worker. The wood pieces go easily for me. I had the fuselage built,
and the ribs done, and the spars made in short order.
I am not a metal worker. I still have to force myself to think about proper sequences,
and then go out to the shop to get something done. Making all the fittings
has gone slowly for me, but I'm getting there. But like many have said here,
just do SOMETHING each day and you will be finished before you know it.
You CAN do it.
Lorenzo
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Bob said it best. If you want to build an airplane, you can.
You have asked plenty of questions, but your next step should be to START.
Pick something simple. Take your pick. Just make one of something. If it is done
well, then move on to another piece. If not, then redo it.
FWIW, I made my lift strut fittings three times. I just was not happy with the
work the first two times, so I redid them until they were acceptable. And no,
I had never even touched 4130 steel strips before building my airplane. But I
learned by doing, not by only reading and thinking and asking. By doing.
so get out there and get started.
--------
Semper Fi,
Terry Hand
Athens, GA
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451325#451325
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Ditto what's been said, Jim. It's all do-able. And if there are a few parts that
you can't seem to produce satisfactorily, you can always find a skilled person
to do it for you.
Seems as though, every time I read about a Piet that was built back in the 30s,
when the plans first became available, the aircraft were typically built in no
more than about a year and a half. When you think about the tools and technology
that were available back then, and the average person's education level,
it really is impressive. Today, with our fancy electric drills and saws and
laser levels and TIG welders and waterjet cutters and numerically controlled brake
available to us, a project is considered as being fast-tracked if construction
takes less than two or three years. If they could do it 80 years ago, I'm
sure you can do it today.
Bill C.
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total |
newbie?
I built about 1-2/3 Pietenpols, to get one acceptable one. Always buy more
material than you think you will need, because you'll likely make at least
one extra part. Never be afraid to remake a part if you are not totally
satisfied with it. As someone said, buy the Bingelis books. They will
cover 95% of what you need to know. The EAA's Aircraft Welding book shows
the rest.
Jack Phillips
NX899JP
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
jarheadpilot82
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 11:40 AM
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total
newbie?
--> <jarheadpilot82@hotmail.com>
Bob said it best. If you want to build an airplane, you can.
You have asked plenty of questions, but your next step should be to START.
Pick something simple. Take your pick. Just make one of something. If it is
done well, then move on to another piece. If not, then redo it.
FWIW, I made my lift strut fittings three times. I just was not happy with
the work the first two times, so I redid them until they were acceptable.
And no, I had never even touched 4130 steel strips before building my
airplane. But I learned by doing, not by only reading and thinking and
asking. By doing.
so get out there and get started.
--------
Semper Fi,
Terry Hand
Athens, GA
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451325#451325
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Others have given LOTS of good info.
I will add the following:
1. Buy a decent vise.
2. Buy an assortment of quality files.
3. Buy a 4 1/2 angle grinder with thin (.040) cut-off wheels. Buy lots of cut-off
wheels.
4. Buy a grinder.
5. Buy a Scotchbrite wheel for your grinder to polish the edges of the steel parts
prior to bending.
6. Drill undersize and ream to final size. 3/16, 1/4 and 5/16 reamers will likely
be all you need.
This is a good start, making the steel parts isn't as daunting as you might think.
Greg Cardinal
Minneapolis
----- Original Message -----
From: "BritishJim" <james@pieceofcakepr.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 7:24:00 AM
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie?
I'm currently going through the plans in detail and am fairly comfortable with
the woodworking part of things. I've not got any more experience than balsa models,
but am sure I can learn some new skills as I go and manage it.
But...metal fabrication...that's another story! I've got absolutely no experience/tools
for it and, looking at the plans, it appears daunting to say the very
least.
Has anyone else accomplished the metal components without prior experience? I live
in the middle of nowhere so don't have any options for classes or finding
a mentor.
It's the only bit of the build that is making me have second thoughts. But perhaps
the plans are more daunting than the process actually is?
--------
Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451318#451318
Message 8
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| Subject: | Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Good advice from Greg. I would add that you should buy some
=C2=BC=9D thick steel that you can then grind a different radius
on each edge for use in forming the metal pieces by persuading
(hammering) them to shape over the radius block. This is all spelled
out in the first two Bingelis books, =9CThe Sportplane
Builder=9D and =9CSportplane Construction
Techniques=9D. These two books are essential in building a
Pietenpol (or any other scratch-built airplane).
Jack Phillips
NX899JP
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
gcardinal@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a
total newbie?
Others have given LOTS of good info.
I will add the following:
1. Buy a decent vise.
2. Buy an assortment of quality files.
3. Buy a 4 1/2 angle grinder with thin (.040) cut-off wheels. Buy lots
of cut-off wheels.
4. Buy a grinder.
5. Buy a Scotchbrite wheel for your grinder to polish the edges of the
steel parts prior to bending.
6. Drill undersize and ream to final size. 3/16, 1/4 and 5/16 reamers
will likely be all you need.
This is a good start, making the steel parts isn't as daunting as you
might think.
Greg Cardinal
Minneapolis
_____
From: "BritishJim" <james@pieceofcakepr.com
<mailto:james@pieceofcakepr.com> >
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 7:24:00 AM
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total
newbie?
<james@pieceofcakepr.com <mailto:james@pieceofcakepr.com> >
I'm currently going through the plans in detail and am fairly
comfortable with the woodworking part of things. I've not got any more
experience than balsa models, but am sure I can learn some new skills as
I go and manage it.
But...metal fabrication...that's another story! I've got absolutely no
experience/tools for it and, looking at the plans, it appears daunting
to say the very least.
Has anyone else accomplished the metal components without prior
experience? I live in the middle of nowhere so don't have any options
for classes or finding a mentor.
It's the only bit of the build that is making me have second thoughts.
But perhaps the plans are more daunting than the process actually is?
--------
Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit
the ground....
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451318#451318
<  sp; -Matt Dralle,
Li-========================
Message 9
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Seek help from your eaa chapter. I had experienced fabricators hand lead me
through the steps. And they loaned tools.
I also felt like it was a bigger issue than it was and I am "only"
finishing a restoration.
Blue Skies,
Steve D
On Dec 22, 2015 7:27 AM, "BritishJim" <james@pieceofcakepr.com> wrote:
> james@pieceofcakepr.com>
>
> I'm currently going through the plans in detail and am fairly comfortable
> with the woodworking part of things. I've not got any more experience than
> balsa models, but am sure I can learn some new skills as I go and manage it.
>
> But...metal fabrication...that's another story! I've got absolutely no
> experience/tools for it and, looking at the plans, it appears daunting to
> say the very least.
>
> Has anyone else accomplished the metal components without prior
> experience? I live in the middle of nowhere so don't have any options for
> classes or finding a mentor.
>
> It's the only bit of the build that is making me have second thoughts. But
> perhaps the plans are more daunting than the process actually is?
>
> --------
> Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the
> ground....
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451318#451318
>
>
Message 10
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| Subject: | Re: Is the metal fabrication realistic for a total newbie? |
Hi Jim. It is indeed possible. I was in the same boat as you with not
having any experience, tools, classes or mentors nearby and I just got
done fabricating my steel landing gear today. A friend who is an
aircraft mechanic coached me one afternoon on how to torch weld and I am
tack welding with that and then taking everything to a professional TIG
welder to complete. Like others said, plan on making more then one
piece. Some parts I made 3 or 4 times before I had it right.
Charles
On 12/22/2015 8:24 AM, BritishJim wrote:
>
> I'm currently going through the plans in detail and am fairly comfortable with
the woodworking part of things. I've not got any more experience than balsa
models, but am sure I can learn some new skills as I go and manage it.
>
> But...metal fabrication...that's another story! I've got absolutely no experience/tools
for it and, looking at the plans, it appears daunting to say the very
least.
>
> Has anyone else accomplished the metal components without prior experience? I
live in the middle of nowhere so don't have any options for classes or finding
a mentor.
>
> It's the only bit of the build that is making me have second thoughts. But perhaps
the plans are more daunting than the process actually is?
>
> --------
> Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451318#451318
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>
>
--
Charles Burkholder
Visit my blog @ http://missionmechfund.blogspot.ca/
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