Original Posted By: ZigoDan(at)aol.com
How is the best way to connect the rib to the spar. Plans show nailing down andup thru the rib into the spar caps. Other sources say don't do that, either glueor nail thru a rib upright into the side of the spar. What has been the mostsuccessful?Barry Davis________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Ribs to Spar Connection
Re: Pietenpol-List: Ribs to Spar Connection
Original Posted By: "Barry Davis"
Barry,I didn't use any nails to fasten ribs to spar. First, in making the ribs, Iused a trick shown in Fisher Flying Prod. plans for a 404 that I built,that I really liked. It was a way to use two sliding blocks to solidlyposition the uprights of the rib. This is where the rib mates up to theside of the spar. Since the uprights were all exactly in the same place ,they mated perfectly, for a good tight glue fit. They were glued andclamped only.The gussets that butt up to the spar anywhere, should be left off, and addedafter the ribs are glued. This is so that you don't have to try to slidethe perfectly fitting ribs down the spar without tearing your hair out.(get a rough trammel before you do first glueing)Then another whole step is to put in the little wedges under the top of thespar, where the rib angles past and has to rest on the spar.Glueing the wing is where those PVC clamp REALLY come in handy.Another hint to save yourself alot of grief,,,,take ALL the ribs on thebench up tight to each other. Put a piece of wood down both slots where thespars are going, and clamp. now all the ribs are a beautiful solid woodstructure. Now the trick is to even up exactly, the trailing edge and theleading edge,,,EXACTLY. Only takes a few minutes, and will save griefputting on the leading edge wood and trailing edge. Won't get any gaps, anda nice tight job without the LE looking like a wavey pretzel.I can send you any photos, if you'd like, or you can see the ribs/wing on myYahoo thing athttp://photos.yahoo.com/joepietwalt evans.----- Original Message -----
Barry,I didn't use any nails to fasten ribs to spar. First, in making the ribs, Iused a trick shown in Fisher Flying Prod. plans for a 404 that I built,that I really liked. It was a way to use two sliding blocks to solidlyposition the uprights of the rib. This is where the rib mates up to theside of the spar. Since the uprights were all exactly in the same place ,they mated perfectly, for a good tight glue fit. They were glued andclamped only.The gussets that butt up to the spar anywhere, should be left off, and addedafter the ribs are glued. This is so that you don't have to try to slidethe perfectly fitting ribs down the spar without tearing your hair out.(get a rough trammel before you do first glueing)Then another whole step is to put in the little wedges under the top of thespar, where the rib angles past and has to rest on the spar.Glueing the wing is where those PVC clamp REALLY come in handy.Another hint to save yourself alot of grief,,,,take ALL the ribs on thebench up tight to each other. Put a piece of wood down both slots where thespars are going, and clamp. now all the ribs are a beautiful solid woodstructure. Now the trick is to even up exactly, the trailing edge and theleading edge,,,EXACTLY. Only takes a few minutes, and will save griefputting on the leading edge wood and trailing edge. Won't get any gaps, anda nice tight job without the LE looking like a wavey pretzel.I can send you any photos, if you'd like, or you can see the ribs/wing on myYahoo thing athttp://photos.yahoo.com/joepietwalt evans.----- Original Message -----