Elevator/Rudder Leading Edges

RobDob · Post by **RobDob** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:10 am

Hi all

After some advice again please from all you knowledgeable folk!

I need to roll the leading edges of the elevators & rudder to rivet together, is there a fairly easy way to do this getting a nice finish? It's giving me trouble at the moment and I don't want to wreck it if there is a good way of doing it.

Any suggestions are gratefully received!

Thanks guys.

Rob

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:15 am

Rob,
I used round dowels duct-taped to the leading edge to roll them until the proper curvature was achieved. I would only do one small section at a time, rather than try to bend the whole thing at once. Go slowly, take your time, and bend them a little at a time until you get them just right. I also used an edge-roller before starting to put the slight bend in the aluminum. It makes a tighter and better fit. You can see it if you look close in this photo:

RobDob · Post by **RobDob** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:17 am

Thanks Bruce, I appreciate your help!

Post by **Spike** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:17 am

I never found an easy way to do it, or got to a point of real perfection. It was one of those things I just had to wrestle with it for a while until I was satisfied.

Spicer

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:50 pm

A good, old-fashioned broom handle works good also.
Dan

Mike Balzer · Post by **Mike Balzer** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:25 pm

I recommend that you have a helper and double up the duct tape so that it does not tear. The rudder was much harder than the elevator.
Take your time, this is a PITA.

Mike Balzer

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:15 pm

I used 3/4" galvanized pipe. Duct tape stuck to it better and then my pipe wrenches really helped! My Brother also was there and I believe we had a pipe wrench on each end of the pipe.

RobDob · Post by **RobDob** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:43 am

Thanks Guys, keep you posted!!!