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Fin Match Drilling 10-28

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Quite exciting this bit, since it actually looks like a real plane! Vans say cleco, clamp and line up using a #30 drill bit. This all seemed to work, but I also propped up the front on blocks of wood.

Drill Perpendicular!

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A big BOLD note in the manual says:

 

NOTE: It is critical to drill the holes perpendicular to the Vertical Stabiliser Spar.

 

So I taped on a protractor with an edge aligned with the spar face. I also stuck a set square on with some double sided sticky tape. I was able to drill 90º horizontally by aligning the drill bit with the set square, and Coral helped by checking the vertical 90º as I drilled. I decided to drill in two stages, starting off with a smaller drill. There are several layers of metal to drill through, and I applied some BoeLube to help things along through the steel layers.

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As holes were drilled AN4 & AN3 bolts are inserted to ensure alignment. I nipped them up with some wing nuts I had bought for the purpose. Amazon did a nice little set which included 3/16-32 and 1/4-28 wing nuts.

2 comments on Fin Match Drilling 10-28
  1. Chris Cooper

    That protractor must be a few years old!

    1. Steve

      Well recognised! Yes a treasured possession, many a nav planned with this device in the olden days!

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