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Who can cut an -8 panel?

N941WR

Legacy Member
A friend recently bought a flying -8 and wants to redo the panel.

Who would you recommend to cut his future panel?

Thanks!
 
A friend recently bought a flying -8 and wants to redo the panel.

Who would you recommend to cut his future panel?

Thanks!

I still use Stein to cut my panels, easy to work with and they know the RV's.
 
I?ve cut every one of my panels for 20 years. This is not rocket science. Considering my panels typically are got modified within a couple of years, $26, some time cutting holes and a little paint is an easy way to do those mods you will find you need after you start flying.

Round holes can be done with a fly cutter, but a real instrument hole cutter makes life simple. After glass came out I started to use a scroll saw for all the square holes. Not hard. Cut the holes a little proud and finish with a file. I paint the panels with PPG single stage paint. Very durable.

Carl
 
I am extremely pleased with the bare panel cut for me by Aerotronics. They worked with me using their CADD system to turn my sketches into accurate panel layouts, pointing out some spacing issues that didn't work in my original sketches. Once we agreed on the final design, they used the CADD design to do the CNC cutting of my panel, and delivered a perfectly fitting, accurately cut panel to me.

I also had them paint the panel, and I purchased my Garmin avionics from them, but did all the wiring design and fabrication myself. I believe they will do anything from simply cutting a panel to providing a completely wired and tested panel, depending on what you want (similar to Stein Air in that regard).

Just another quality shop as an option for your consideration.

Regards,
 
A friend recently bought a flying -8 and wants to redo the panel.

Who would you recommend to cut his future panel?

Thanks!

Try Bill at Upnorth Aviation in Vermont. Fast and 1/2 the price of Stein when I checked a year or two ago. A friend recently used them for a new -8 panel and he did a terrific job. You can have Vans drop ship the new panel to his shop. Word of caution, there are two panel part numbers, so make sure you get the right one.

Kits made from 09/2006 till the present - P/N is F803A-1

Kits made prior to 09/2006 - P/N is F-803APP

http://www.upnorthaviation.com/vans-rv-8.html

http://www.upnorthaviation.com/
 
Up North!

Another recommendation for Bill at Up North Aviation.

Upgraded my 9A panel to all glass. Bill cut my panel and did an excellent, accurate job.
 
+1 with Carl and Kyle.

If I ever start mumbling and drooling and talking about hiring somebody to cut a panel...
 
Another recommendation for Bill at Up North Aviation.

Upgraded my 9A panel to all glass. Bill cut my panel and did an excellent, accurate job.

BTW, if you haven't tried it, eHangar has a simple little *free* panel design tool. It also prices out the design with a BOM for all the avionics.

https://www.ehangar.org/ehangar/designer

I've been tinkering with a new layout.


This looks like a great tool however they want a tremendous amount of personal information to register. It seems like they are data mining to sell the information.
 
My Partner Steve at Aircraft Specialty does them. He has one of those laser cutters that is really cool----you can check his website at aircraftspecialty.com to see video of do them. Dont remember if its the old machine or the new one--
Tom
 
This looks like a great tool however they want a tremendous amount of personal information to register. It seems like they are data mining to sell the information.

Good point. XPanel does the same for an $80 license fee. I've used both and they are very similar.

I admire folks that cut their own. Not impossible at all, but it just comes down to where you want spend your time and money. Perfection is a limiter to progress (at least for me) and if I want to get things down , there is some outsourcing necessary. Quick build, slow build? Cut your own, farm it out... it never ends.
 
Call Bill

Try Bill at Upnorth Aviation in Vermont. Fast and 1/2 the price of Stein when I checked a year or two ago. A friend recently used them for a new -8 panel and he did a terrific job. You can have Vans drop ship the new panel to his shop. Word of caution, there are two panel part numbers, so make sure you get the right one.

Kits made from 09/2006 till the present - P/N is F803A-1

Kits made prior to 09/2006 - P/N is F-803APP

http://www.upnorthaviation.com/vans-rv-8.html

http://www.upnorthaviation.com/
I cut a couple myself, and didn't like the result. Used Bill, and it was perfect.

http://www.rv8.ch/panel-received/
 
Nope...Not data mining.

This looks like a great tool however they want a tremendous amount of personal information to register. It seems like they are data mining to sell the information.

Actually the only data that is required to sign up for the eHangar is your name, email address, country and a password...everything else is voluntary and I would never sell users information.

I have been involved with experimental aviation since the late 90's when I designed and ran the ePanel Builder...and have known Doug for about as long. I've built a Sonex and an RV-8A, and now own another RV-8A.

Hope you all are enjoying the site...and please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns! :D
 
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