Brodhead Pietenpol Association

I really struggled with making the the empennage hinges per the plans. So I thougt I'd share the method (right or wrong) that finally worked for me. One of my biggest problems was trying to weld such tiny pieces successfully. To solve this issue I just made them bigger. Well not actually bigger. I made the components long enough to be cut into three finished hinges after welding. I also had trouble filling the gap between the two halves of the female hinge. The fillet would look alright but then when tested the weld was easily broken. So I wound up making a third piece, a thin strip to place between the two L pieces. The three were then welded with ease, even for a newbie such as myself. Lastly, since I am pretty good at making mistakes along the way, I bent enough pieces to make twice as many hinges as needed. I then picked out the nine best for my Piet and used the rest as test subjects.

gorgeous work!!

Wow, I've got to agree... those are compact, VERY attractive, and probably lighter than the cast aluminum ones since they appear to be smaller.

They are 0.58 ounces per set. Not counting any hardware.

I also would like to say nice work.

Dang it, Dan-! Your hinges beat my cast aluminum ones, which are 0.64 oz/set. Yours are 0.06 oz lighter (a U.S. dime weighs about 0.08 oz). I guess I need to start taking more material off the mounting bases to get them closer to what yours weigh ;o)

Oh, wait... next you're going to say that you weighed them *after* applying the green primer on yours. If that's the case, I'd better hit the mounting bases of the cast aluminum hinges even harder!

Beautiful craftsmanship.
Question, I have seen some builders use
I-Bolts. What is the opinion of the Group?
I know the gap would be wider but the use
of filler strips to close up the greater gap
could be easily made.