17 March 2013

Practice: Project 1.

Time to learn how to rivet with the practice project.  What an experience.  Key takeaways:
  • Read, read, read.  Understand clearly what you're being asked to do!
  • Check, check and recheck every step before you do it.
I had a number of mistakes such as countersinking for round head rivets, using the wrong dill bit size and letting the (2x) rivet gun go for a walk when pounding.  As you can see from my work, it ain't very good.  Best to learn now rather than with an airplane part.

The rivet gun wouldn't work initially.  I spent some good time trying to get it to go.  Turns out I needed to operate it in different orientations.  Apparently, if it isn't used for a while it gets gummy inside.  Once it loosens up, it happily bangs away.  It's a pretty cool tool.

If you have a countersunk hole for a rivet that isn't made for such a hole, it will kindly fill up that (what should be) empty space and separate adjacent parts.  You can see how my seam didn't sit flush.

Total time spent 5 hours and 16 minutes.




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