HS Dimpling/Riveting

Back from my business trip to Chicago.  Glad to be home!

Started tonight by squeeze dimpling all the holes on the HS skins I could reach with the squeezer.

Then I used the DRDT-2 to finish all the HS dimples.

Next I cleco'ed in the nose ribs and started riveting them in.

The inboard and outboard nose ribs can be squeezed.

The rest of the nose rib rivets must be shot with the gun and bar.  The front most ones can be a challenge.

To get the front most nose rib rivets, I used a reamer tube to space the tungsten bucking bar up just the right amount.

The spacer keeps the bar somewhat centered on the rivet.

I used a wire and some cleco side grips to pull the skin tight to the aft side of the nose ribs.

Locked the wire on one side.

Then pulled the skin tight and clamped the wire on the other.  It worked like a dream to keep the skin pulled tight.

These nose ribs can be a challenge since the skin tends to pull away from the rib flange.

I used a small piece of plastic tube stuck over the rivet shank to act as a pusher between the bucking bar and the rib flange.  This eliminates the gap as you drive the rivet.  I usually just hit it a time or two and then remove the tube to finish the rivet off.

Does a great job at bringing the flange and the skin together.

Tonight I got all of the nose ribs riveted in.  Tomorrow I will start on the rest....