PIERP: EAA SportAir Workshop

Tarheel Pilot

Line Up and Wait
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Jan 1, 2007
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Tarheel Pilot
I just finished the first day of a two day SportAir workshop & I gotta say, I LOVE IT! I'm having a lot of fun & I'm learning so much! I signed up for sheet metal basic & it's the most fun I had in a classroom since Movie days.

Today I did a practice project to familiarize myself with the tools & how tonuse them. Which went very well, however I do need more time with the X-3 Rivet gun. Whenever I used it on the practice project, it bent the metal out of shape. I don't know if it's because I was using small, thin strips of metal or I wasn't using the rivet gun right.

I will say though, this workshop gives me a much needed confidence boost to tackle the RV-12.

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Is that in Chesapeake VA? I tried to register for that but the class was full. I was wait listed but apparently no one cancelled.

So now I'm signed up for the RV assembly class in March :thumbsup:
 
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Good for you!

Try the 2x gun. The 3x is just a tad too heavy for the work you will be doing. The RV-12 kit is amazing.
 
Is that in Chesapeake VA? I tried to register for that but the class was full. I was wait listed but apparently no one cancelled.

So now I'm signed up for the RV assembly class in March :thumbsup:

Yep that's the one.






Good for you!

Try the 2x gun. The 3x is just a tad too heavy for the work you will be doing. The RV-12 kit is amazing.

What PSI do you recommend for thw 2x? EAA has the 3x at 40 psi.


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Yep that's the one.








What PSI do you recommend for thw 2x? EAA has the 3x at 40 psi.


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The 3x just hits too hard IMHO. You won't need it for the -12. Just get a good squeezer with a 3" yoke. Cheap ones will work, but they will not produce good results. Spend a few bucks and get a pneumatic squeezer also. It will save your wrists, and produces very consistent results. You can sell it when you are done and get back 90% of what you spent. Well worth the money.

40 psi sounds right.

If I sell mine I'll build another.
 
Finished my second & last day of the EAA workshop. It was a bit of a humbling experince. I had to make parts out of a piece of aluminum & I was horrible at it lol. Scratch-building is not in my future.

However building kits IS in my future. I've gotten more comfortable with the x3 rivet gun.

I think my -12 project is going to take longer than normal though, I lagged behind everyone else, I guess it's because it was my first time working with these tools & aluminum.

I had a GREAT time though & I highly recommend the EAA's SportAir workshop to anyone & everyone. 10/10.

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I ran 37psi for up to 3-5's. The 3x is fine, just don't hold the trigger down for more than a couple of seconds. For AN426 flush rivets, a swivel flush set is more forgiving of less than perfect technique. For AN470 universal head rivets, a little piece of masking tape over the tip of the rivet set will help prevent "smileys" and dings in the skin. Also watch your gun position-keep it as perpendicular to the work as possible. Riveting isn't hard, after some more practice you'll get it.
 
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