Tuesday 5 hrs, 66 rivets
Lost sleep thinking about the Proseal task. Realized I didn't have anything to measure with. So after coffee and breakfast, drove to Walgreens and Randalls to pickup a scale, butcher paper, measuring spoons. Stopped at the pharmacy to see if they had any syringes. When you say you don't need the needles, they instantly relax! They gave me 5 each of medium and larger syringes. Score! The syringes go nicely with the 500g scale purchased at Walgreens....
Mixed up the proseal, measuring by weight as best as I could. The scale isn't really good enough to get it perfect, but the end result seems to be OK. Mixed way more than I needed, but even that was just a tiny bit of the quart kit purchased from Van's. Had a perfect day, 60's in the garage, so the proseal didn't start setting up until I was done with all of the easy stuff.
Lost sleep thinking about the Proseal task. Realized I didn't have anything to measure with. So after coffee and breakfast, drove to Walgreens and Randalls to pickup a scale, butcher paper, measuring spoons. Stopped at the pharmacy to see if they had any syringes. When you say you don't need the needles, they instantly relax! They gave me 5 each of medium and larger syringes. Score! The syringes go nicely with the 500g scale purchased at Walgreens....
Mixed up the proseal, measuring by weight as best as I could. The scale isn't really good enough to get it perfect, but the end result seems to be OK. Mixed way more than I needed, but even that was just a tiny bit of the quart kit purchased from Van's. Had a perfect day, 60's in the garage, so the proseal didn't start setting up until I was done with all of the easy stuff.
Prosealed and back riveted stiffeners to left tank skin.
Prosealed and rivet fuel filler flange and drain flange
Wow, what a mess! Went through latex gloves like crazy. Need to get another 100!
That all took 3 hours. Took a break to eat and ride the bike.
After the bike ride and dinner, it was dark, and I didn't want to start back up with the proseal
Prepped for tomorrow by clecoing all ribs into the tank skin.
The order from Avery arrived today. They sure do provide good service! A new flaring tool, wire terminal crimpers, assorted squeezer dies, and a SafeAir pitot/static kit.
Crimped and soldered the capacitive fuel sender wires with the new crimper.
Used new flaring tool to flare vent and fuel pickup tubes. Bent the vent line to rough shape by hand. Will have to trim to length after the inner ribs are riveted in. Thought I had a bending tool with the order, but apparently not.
Monday 5 hrs
Roughed up all surfaces to be prosealed. For the ribs, used a stripping wheel purchased at Home and Aircraft Depot. It was a bit aggressive, but it was fast and it'll work fine. For the skin, masked off with painters tape. But didn't want to mount the stripping wheel in a drill and then go after the skin. Instead, used the maroon Scotchbrite pads and the palm sander. This took about as long as just scrubbing by hand, but the results are probably better. And my triceps don't ache, and I don't have blisters.
After roughing, dimpled all tank parts. Used the DRDT-2 as much as possible. The Avery die set is doing a good job, but there are fish eye rings. Dialed it back a bit to get rid of the rings, but then the skin isn't flush up to the dimple. Would rather have the fisheyes, so readjusted to the way it was. Used the tank die set for the ribs and stiffeners, but the regular die on the skin.
Then cleaned all surfaces that will be prosealed. No more delaying after this.
