DATE: 2024-08-17 TIME: 1:30
I started the skin riveting on my own. I had originally purchased a flush mushroom set but after using it extensively for the practice kits I decided to invest in a rubber surrounded, swivel mushroom set.
This turned out to be a great move as I was able to flush rivet the vertical stabilizer skin on my own with the swivel set and the small tungsten bucking bar.
I had found a few things when assembling the practice kits:
- You have to really concentrate to hold the the gun as vertically as possible to avoid it bouncing off the skin and creating smilies.
- Pressing hard against the skin helps to keep it in close contact with the flange on the other side so as to avoid ending up with a gap between the skin and the rib or spar flange.
- Pressing too hard with the bucking bar will push the rivet out and you end up with the manufactured head not seated properly. This is prevented partly by pressing hard as mentioned above, but also giving a short shot with the riveter to trap the rivet in place and then pressing hard with the bucking bar against the rivet which will result in a much quicker riveting process.
- Less is more. Using less air and more short activations to set the rivets results in better set rivets and less likelihood of distorting the rivet head or part under the rivet set.
