Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "chase143"
I just cut pieces out of a plastic grocery bag and put them under each joint inmy jig. The jig was made of two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood screwed togetherwith drywall screws. The grocery bag plastic peels off very easily and was free.BenI just cut pieces out of a plastic grocery bag and put them under each jointin my jig.  The jig was made of two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood screwedtogether with drywall screws.   The grocery bag plastic peels offvery easily and was free. Ben________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Capstrip steaming

Original Posted By: Owen Davies
Hello all. This my first posting. I am presently building my rib jigs, but I amthinking ahead to the steaming process and building the jig for bending the topcapstrip. However I don't find anything written about the bottom. My questionis this: Is there a need to steam and form the bottom capstrips? My guess isyes, because there is substantial curve, especially in the front portion. Anyguidance would be greatly apprecaited.Thanks all.SteveRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:24:36 -0500

Original Posted By: "carson"
SteveI have only built my ribs and tail so far but I did bend the bottom cap first Thefirst rib I built popped at the front so after that I bent the bottom onesfirst,all I did was to use the same bending jig but not bend them all the waythe pic attached shows bending for top cap for the bottom ones I didn't clampthem down I just used the clamp to weight them down to about 8 inches off thetail of the jig,It worked well for me as only the front needs a little bending.Hope this helps it is the first time that I have been able to give back to thelist.CarsonRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/peit ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Capstrip steaming

Original Posted By: "Rick Holland"
Sorry Steve Here is also a pic of the way I softened my timber I used a 1 1/2 inch pvc pipecaped at one end filled with boiling water for 45 minRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/peit ... ______Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:07:33 -0700

Original Posted By:

Original Posted By: Ryan Mueller

Original Posted By: HelsperSew(at)aol.com
Excellent! Thanks all for the replies. I am hooked on Matronics....I can see this is going to be a great community to build with!Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: AMsafetyC(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Capstrip steamingRyan,My Piet is progressing although at a slower pace that desired. I am currently bogged down with a dreaded master bath remodel project. I have my fuellines done, some cowl patterns done, and am currently working on a fuel gauge (Strearman type) as recently discussed on this site. Have outside hopes to flyin 2009. Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL.**************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Ben Charvet

Original Posted By: John Woods

Original Posted By: bcharvet(at)bellsouth.net
chase143 wrote:> Excellent! Thanks all for the replies. I am hooked on Matronics....> I can see this is going to be a great community to build with!I've never seen reference to this with regards to full scale aircraft building,but an old tip for forming wood strips used by model boat and airplane buildersis to use ammonia water. Ammonia softens the lignin in the wood, the stuffthat binds the cellulose tubes/bits together, and allows the wood to be bent moreeasily, and when it dries out the ammonia evaps leaving the wood in more stressfree condition, i.e. the bends more permanent, than water alone. Laminatedwing tips, hull planking that requires sharp bends, that sort of thing allwork well with this technique. But I am sure steam or hot water does a reasonablejob. I have done both and can attest to the ammonia technique - curved partsfor wing tips for example barely spring back after drying. I cannot attestto it's use in homebuilding aircraft, but someday I will build a rib using thistechnique and bend and twist it to see if it is sound.Mike--------Piet-builder-who-hopes-to-be-flying-next-summerRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: "ALAN LYSCARS"
I bought mine for $20 at a fly-mart. Watch e-bay, I seem them a lot when I'm searchingfor mags.Ben-------------- Original message from "KMHeide, BA, CPO, FAAOP" :-------------- Members of the list:Anyone have information as to where I could purchase a Keyed Mag Switch? I viewedsome of these mag switches in Brodhead, WI last year and would like to purchaseone.......if one can be had! I like the style and design.......Ken HKenneth M. Heide, BA, CPO, FAAOP"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, there you long to return,to break the surly bonds of earth and touch the face of God!" -da Vinci/John Gillespie Magee I bought mine for $20 at a fly-mart.  Watch e-bay, I seem them a lot whenI'm searching for mags. Ben-------------- Original message from "KMHeide, BA, CPO, FAAOP" <kmheidecpo(at)yahoo.com>:-------------- Members of the list: Anyone have information as to where I could purchase a Keyed Mag Switch? Iviewed some of these mag switches in Brodhead, WI last year and would like topurchase one.......if one can be had! I like the style and design....... Ken HKenneth M. Heide,BA, CPO, FAAOP "Once you have flown, you will walkthe earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there youhave been, there you long to return,to break the surly bonds of earth andtouch the face of God!" -da Vinci/John Gillespie Magee   ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:05:22 -0500

Original Posted By: shad bell

Original Posted By: "Rick Holland"

Original Posted By: "MikeD"
Peter, Just wondering why are you thinking of changing away from spoked wheels?I have 8.00 X 4 on Felix the GN-1 which I like, but going to use 21" spokes wheelson the Piet I'm building.SkipHi Guys,I am thinking of changing my wire spoked wheels for normal aircraft type wheels.What tires sizes are you guys using? 15-6.00x6 or 8.00x6?CheersPeterWonthaggi Australiahttp://www.cpc-world.com________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Capstrip steaming

Original Posted By: "gcardinal"
alyscars(at)verizon.net wrote:> Gents,> > With regard to the "ammonia treatment" can anyone give a ratio of household > ammonia to water to me?> > Thanks,> > Al> ---1. I recall reading advice to use somewhere around 2:1 to 3:1.2. Oddly, bringing this subject up today caused me to google it, having never doneso in the past - it's been a while since I used this technique (ammonia waterfor those that don't know is an ammonium hydroxide solution, very alkaline,which is created by when ammonia is dissolved in water: H2O + NH3 NH4OH).I found references sugesting it does nothing more than water and that you hadto use anhydrous ammonia to have any effect. Yet.. when I've used ammonia waterwith strip balsa and light hardwoods, I swear it made a whole pile of difference.I guess when I have a half hour with nothing else to do, and I remember to do so,I should do some side by side comparisons under controlled conditions, or ascontrolled as I can practically make them.Anything I have read on ammonia and wood, indicates that there is no sacrificein properties once the extra water and ammonia has dried/evaporated out - it softensthe lignin and has an effect on the cellulose as well, allowing them tobe deformed like hot plastic. When it is gone, the wood is back to what it was,albeit in a different shape.Mike--------Piet-builder-who-hopes-to-be-flying-next-summerRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: Skip Gadd
Skip,That is a good question. I find the wire spoke wheels do more than anything else to add to the "ramp appeal" of the Pietenpol. Peter must have a good reason.Greg ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright

Original Posted By: "Gary Boothe"
>> Subject: Pietenpol-List: Question for Grega buliders/owners>>>>>> The Grega landing gear has steel channels on the that run across the>> bottom side of the fuselage from longeron to longeron. These channels>> are welded to the wing strut fittings.>>>> Does anyone know if bolts run vertically through this channel and up>> through the wooden crossmembers on the top side of the fuselage>> floor? That is, how are the steel channels held to the fuselage?>>>> Thanks,>>>> Jeff>> --> > ---________________________________________________________________________________