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Skin Rolling

mike newall

Well Known Member
Sponsor
Having rolled the aft skins last week and just today, the forward skins, I will offer some guidance.

The set up for the aft skin roll pretty much works OK, just so you understand - you will be expected to see almost 90* twist in the 1/8" angles as you are putting the roll in - do not be afraid. When you put the twist in, hold the position for a minute, it seems to help, the aluminium starts to adapt to the new position.

Give the tight end of the roll a clonk or two with a rubber mallet and then fit to the fuselage. As always - start at the tight end and put plenty of clecos in, work the skin towards the large radius.

Then break the edge before you dimple - plans don't say it but it settles waaaaay better.

Now for the forward skins - Hmmm

The plans suggest cutting down the block - not needed, plane the radius in, centre it as per their suggestion, but you may find that reversing the angle helps clear the block.

We used seaming grips at the tight end and various grips along the length. Roll, lean down onto it, bash the tight end and as above, hold the pressure on for a couple of minutes - that seems to me to be the key. Keep the pressure on, let the metal relax into its new position. Lots of pressure but don't kink the skin.

We got a pleasant conical curve which cleco'd on beautifully, provided you 'worked' it from the tight end outward with clecos in every hole. Pain, but worth it.

Break the edge again before dimpling.

Enjoy !
 
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