Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset plates

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 3:26 pm

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
I am getting ready to try and start making my wing ribs again. Last time schoolinterfered. I am having trouble finding plywood thin enough to make gussetplates. The plans call for 1/16 inch plates and nobody sells plywood that tin.I am also having trouble finding Douglas fir to make the caps strips. I havetried home depot and Lowe's and neither carry Douglas fir. The reason thatI haven't ordered spruce from aircraft spruce or wicks is because I will onlybe able to afford to do this a little at a time until I am out of college. Anysuggestions?Will________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:13 pm

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
For the plywood, you might try a hobby shop. Many of them carry aircraftgrade thin plywood for building model airplanes. As for the douglas fir,you can get it at home depot. Ask for it, and be prepared to be veryselective in choosing you pieces. If using Douglas Fir, I would make thecapstrips smaller than the plans call for. Most planes using spruce onlymake the ribs 1/4" thick - The Piet is the only small plane I know of with1/2" wide capstrips. DOuglas Fir is substantially heavier than spruce, andalso stronger, but the extra strength is of no advantage if you make thepieces the same size.Good Luck,Jack Phillips -----Original Message-----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:48 pm

Original Posted By: "William Rives Young"
WOAH!! Don't go to Home Depot or Lowe's for your wood unless you knowexactly what you are looking for and can insure it's what you want withouthelp from them. I tried to get some Doug Fir at Home Quarters (or one ofthose places anyway) and the guy in the lumber section told me they didn'tsell fir there, that I would have to go to a sewing place to get it!!! Iasked to speak to the lumber manager and found out he was! These guys DON'TKNOW SQUAT about wood. Your best bet is to talk to some of the local boator furniture builders and find out where there is a REAL lumber yard. Asfor 1/16 ply you will probably be best off to get that at the same place.There are places you can mail order but the shipping is pretty steep. Readup on the grain requirements for the wood you will need on the internet andyou might want to get some cheap stuff and build a couple of ribs from it tostart. Might as well learn to rip the strips and make good glue joints onsome cheap pine while you are looking for the good wood.Where are you located? Maybe somebody is close enough to point you to agood source of raw material. Are you anywhere in the South East VA area?Hank J----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:50 pm

Original Posted By: Kip & Beth Gardner

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:52 pm

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Re; Douglas FirI have found that Home Depot and Lowe's do carry a limited stock of 'clear'fir trim stock; it usually 1" stuff though and fairly high priced.Try a lumber yard that caters to contractors and ask to see their clear fir.I found a good selection at a couple of yards. 84 Lumber has it in thisarea.When you find some fir , pick out the clear, straight grained pieces andthen "heft" them. There is a wide variation in the densities of fir stock.Using this method I have found some fir pieces that are only about 10%heavier than the nominal spruce density. I prefer to buy 2" sticks, givesmore flexibility in utilizing to best advantage.I have built my piet using all fir for structural members and some red cedarand white pine for the rest .Putting the last color coat on the fuselage and when thats done, I'm donepainting!!Lou Larsen----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:30 pm

Original Posted By: "Richard Navratil"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset platesFor 1/16" plywood for gussets you might try a place that sells plywood for doors. Here in Dallas there is a place called Plywood Door that sells just whatyou need. Since it isn't labeled "Airplane" the price is reasonable too.________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:42 pm

Original Posted By: "William Rives Young"
It would be very helpful to know where you are located.Dick----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:22 pm

Original Posted By: Kip & Beth Gardner

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:57 pm

Original Posted By:
Tom,Is the door skin waterproof?Chris Bobka----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:09 pm

Original Posted By: "hjarrett"
Hank,That is as funny as it comes.I remember looking to "cut my own" capstrips but when you look at how LITTLEit costs for the stuff, you can't do it for less.Even a Stearman uses capstrips smaller than the Piet at 3/8 x 3/8 and theStearman is a real clunker i.e. heavy and way overbuilt.So you use 3/8 x 3/8 in the piet and that is .27 a foot at wicks. Figurethree 5 foot sticks per rib and you are at 5 bucks per rib, You can't dobetter than that at Home Depot.You need a planer to plane down the 3/4 to a 1/2, etc.Chris----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:51 pm

Original Posted By: "Christian Bobka"
I'm not saying don't buy your material at a home improvement place, I'msaying don't trust the employees to give you the right stuff. If you aregoing to buy wood there you need to know enough about how to inspect andgrade it to choose what you need. You also can't count on the labels on thebins. It's all just wood to the kid working after school. Know what youneed, know what it looks, smells and even tastes like, and know what thegrain is supposed to be. The Piet is way overbuilt (in most places) butthat is why so few people kill themselves in them. I don't rememberanything ever failing that was put together like it was designed if thepilot didn't do something dumb (not many planes survive encounters with"Cumulo Granitus").I'll stand by my statement "Don't go to Home Depot or Lowe's for your woodunless you know exactly what you are looking for and can insure it's whatyou want without help from them."Hank JShould have heard his answer to "Got any Ash?"----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:59 pm

Original Posted By: del magsam

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 7:02 am

Original Posted By: "Jim Markle"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset platesIn a message dated 12/18/2003 9:01:37 PM Central Standard Time, bobka(at)compuserve.com writes:> > Tom,> > Is the door skin waterproof?> > Chris Bobka> Hi Chris,The specs all looked right so I got some and did a water soak test and there was no delamination. Tom ________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 8:02 am

Original Posted By:
The plywood Tom and I have used from this source is "marine type to BritishStandards 1088".....I'm pretty sure that makes it about as close to waterproof as you canget.... Good stuff.....Jim in Plano....wishing I was done with beadblasting and powdercoating andcould get back to using the aforementioned (dang, I love those big words!)materials.......----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 8:50 am

Original Posted By: "hjarrett"
I get my 1/16 ply at www.balsausa.com they have excellent quality 1/16 plyand a VERY good price.DJ VeghN74DVMesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:25 am

Original Posted By: dan john

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:43 am

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:03 am

Original Posted By: "catdesign(at)intergate.com"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 2:58 pm

Original Posted By: wry22(at)drexel.edu

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:00 pm

Original Posted By: Dave and Connie
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset platesHi Chris, good point on the price of the wood from wicks. If its that cheap then save the time milling it yourself. I did have fun doing it though.How are you coming now on your Piet? Cheers, Jim________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:58:28 -0500

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:22 pm

Original Posted By: "Ellie & Jim Sheen"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset platesPieters,young and old. Several times I've entered the discussions of wood sources.All I will say is: If you buy from a NW source in 2X6- 16ft lengths. Pay a little freight charge you will come out way ahead ie For my Piet I used Doug Fir@ $ 4.45 per bd ft. Of course I had to mill it but that was part of the building fun. On Repiet I am going totally with select sitka spruce @ $8.50 perbd ft bought as 2X6-16 ft long. Again I had to mill it. I'm building Repiet out of fine spruce. Entire plane will be less than than $900 in spruce. Calculate Wicks and ASS and it will figure between $25 and $28 per bd ft. It's your money.Corky, the ole tight wad in LaIf anyone is interested contact me direct for my source of materials________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:32 pm

Original Posted By: john e fay
Hi Pieters,I have changed my domain name on the web site to http://www.cpc-world.com. Iwould be grateful if anybody could have a look and see if its working OK.Many thanksPeterWonthaggi, Australia.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 09:09:17 -0600Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: capstrip and Gusset plates

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:58 am

Original Posted By: "Kent Hallsten"

Brodhead Pietenpol Association