How to rivet skins over curved fuse formers ?

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Larry DeCamp

Well Known Member

• May 25, 2017

• #1

The tail cone lower fuse skin on my RV4 is curved over formers. The mushroom rivet driver wants to put a flat on the skin at the rivet. Any suggestions how to keep the skin nice and curved over the former without flat spots ?

 

Ironflight

VAF Moderator / Line Boy

Mentor

• May 25, 2017

• #2

Back rivet them............

 

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PeterP

Member

• May 25, 2017

• #3

Hi Larry, if you're not happy with the look after you have driven them from outside you can use a back riveting tool from the inside with low pressure still with a dolly outside and bring them back if that makes sense.

 

az_gila

Well Known Member

• May 25, 2017

• #4

Perhaps the disappointment with the looks might be from an alignment/forming issue rather than a riveting issue.

Check to see if small square shims added between the skin and formers would make a tighter fit. This will always give you a better looking skin/rivet joint.

 

Arvey Fleur

Active Member

• May 25, 2017

• #5

Doctor Flox

Packaging tape on skin, flox on rib, cleco, let flox set, uncleco, remove tape, cleco, rivet!

But, the bottom of the fuse skin is hidden, I never look at it except when cleaning the belly. But the turtledeck maybe....