Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: W Meier
Hey folks,Anyone on the list building a Piet in Upstate NY? I just moved toCroghan (near Watertown) and am setting up shop to start building verysoon. I'd love to meet with / converse with local builders if possible.On another note; my detached rough lumber 3.5 car garage is notinsulated and as you can imagine it gets VERY cold in there. I kickedthe snow off my boots inside the threshold of the door on the day Imoved in and the same clumps of snow are right were I left them 2 weekslater. What are some ways I can deal with the cold and still makeprogress on the structure? I thought of building a thermostaticallycontrolled heat box made of Styrofoam insulation to set over the worktable and whatever part I'm working on while it cures. Not difficult tobuild and I imagine much easier than trying to heat the entire space.How long would the glue joints need to be maintained in the room temprange before they can be allowed to be returned to the sub-zero temps?Is it a bad Idea to let finished parts of the structure be exposed tosuch temps? FYI right now my plans are to use either T-88 or the Westsystem. Is there a better glue for these cold conditions? Thanks inadvance! Jake Crausewww.homebuiltairplanes.com________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 09:00:05 -0600

Original Posted By: Jake Crause
JakeThe answer to that question has a direct relationship to the tolerance level ofthe wife. Winter is a great time for making wing ribs or the tail feathers.You can make the jig for either and set it up on a dining room table or a washingmachine while working and prop it up in the corner when not working. Winteris also good for making controll horns and other steel parts. T-88 will cureat 50 deg. so you can work in the basement also. Also, check out the localEAA chapter, they may let you set up a work area in the chapter hangar.Dick N. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy

Original Posted By: Galen Hutcheson
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Upstate NY / Cold ConditionsJakeI am in cambridge about 1 hour n of albany, but the real expert is Ed Snyder hes maybe 1/2 hour n of albany, in Clifton Park. He has a for sale ad in thecurrent newsletterHenry Williams ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 15:06:48 -0800 (PST)

Original Posted By:
Dick: Thanks for the reply. I have given some thought to building theribs in the house because it would be very convenient to do so.However, the reason I'm holding off on building the ribs is kind of astrange one. I know that being an Army Helicopter Pilot I will bedeployed to the Middle East very soon. Probably within a year or so.Because of this I have been trying to come up with ways to maintainprogress on the aircraft even though I'll be out of the country. Oneway to do that will be to become the first Pietenpol builder (I assume)to finish all of the wing ribs and metal fittings for the aircraft whiledeployed to a war zone. I'll definitely spend some money in shippingthe completed ribs back, but it would give me something to enjoy anddistress with. Don't laugh, having deployed numerous times, I reallythink it can be done . Mike: Brockport is quite a hike but not an unrealistic day trip.Thanks for the tip. **Mr. Bowdler, are you on the list?** Henry: Cambridge is a bit of hike as well but, if you don't mind, I'dlove to swing over and say hello. How far along are you?Does anyone know the affects of storing completed parts in very coldtemps will have on the integrity of the wood and glue? Will themoisture freeze and damage the fibers somehow? Thanks.Jake ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Jake Crause
Jake,Wooden airplanes are stored in unheated hangars everywhere.I've never heard of a problem.Greg CardinalMinneapolis (my hangar is unheated.....) ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Galen Hutcheson

Original Posted By: Rick Holland
Jake:More power to you as to being deployed and building at the same time. I'm on myway to Kuwait to fly the C-12 there so if you are passing through stop by opsand say Hi. I'm trying to finish a project someone else started. But that willhave to wait a few months.Chet.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 08:08:00 -0700

Original Posted By: FTLovley(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Upstate NY / Cold ConditionsJakeI am on LI for a bit, I wont get up to Cambridge probably till the end of March, If that works for you I will call Ed and its only another hour to see him. My body is nearly done, working on controls. ribs done , tail done( on LIon the winter).Many Pieters in the past have made the observation, that some of the metal tabsneed to be made 1/4 inch longer or so, If you try to make these ahead of time ( rather then fitting them on the job ) it would be nice to know which brackets and how much-- I'm not there yet so cant help with thisHenry Williams ( L I 631 423 1813, Cambridge 518 677 5485 ) ( in Cambridge no internet )________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: alexms1(at)comcast.net
My landlord came over today and we came up with a plan to insulate thegarage and set up an oil furnace. He already has the furnace and hewill pay for all the materials. Henry: Thanks for the invite. You can be sure I will take you up onit. Expect an email in early April .Chet: It's good to know there are other Army Aviators out therebuilding. I've run into a couple on my website atwww.homebuiltairplanes.com but I'm surprised to find that most peoplewho fly for the Army don't seem to have a big interest in recreationalflying, let alone building. Best of luck on your trip and be safe!DOC and Greg: Thanks for the input. I guess it makes sense that woodenairplanes are subjected to the same climates as other aircraft and fairjust as well. I'm going to stop worrying about it too much.Thanks for your help. Time to get building!Jake________________________________________________________________________________