Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: fishin
After all the threads on rib jigs, I thought I would add what I am doingwith my Tailwind ribs. After building my piet ribs with the wooden blockjig using wax as a release agent, I came upon a better way.Lexan sheet.I built my rib jig on a lexan sheet with the plan underneath. Using lexancement glue small blocks of lexan in the right places for spars, then forcapstrip locations. I cut cross-sections of an old wood closet rod anddrilled a offset hole to make cams that hold the uprights in place. I useT-88 and a pnematic stapler with 1/4" staples. The staples can easily beremoved after the rib is cured if desired. I can glue up the first side andpull the rib out and gusset the other side in 30 minutes. Beats the pantsoff nails and waiting for the rib to cure overnight. It took me 30 days todo my Piet ribs, and so far I have spent 3 days and finished 20 ribs for theTailwind.SteveE.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 12:52:41 -0600

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
I counted up the nails in my Piet ribs and there were about 6000. I thinkAS$S says that a pound of 1/4" aircraft nails is about 9000 nails. I didn'ttake them out of the piet ribs... not practical, however removing staples ismuch easier since there is something to grab on to, and you pull two "leg"instead of one "nail" per motion. Still the net savings in weight is onlyabout 3/4 - 1 lb. Worth it? your mileage may vary, but if I get to a lullin the building process, I'll probably do it.the staples are 1/4" fine wire staples for a pneumatic stapler. -never splitthe wood.Steve e.-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Greggotone(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Rib Jig non-stick tricks.Don't wait for that "lull" too long, or you will never get your staples out. I try to yank all my staples within 24 hours. Ron________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "richard navratil"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Rib Jig non-stick tricks.Hello all, I have had my Piet plans for about 2 weeks now..and I noticed on the full size rib drawing the note "soak in boiling water to bend" do/did you do this get the rib sticks to conform to the jig in the nose area? Thanks for the replies! Gregg________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By:
I use a large pot and boil the ends of the cap for about an hour. You willhave flex for about 3-4 minutes. I leave them in the jig for about 10minutes and remove and repeat with another set. I have been doing about 8at a time. I have 2 jigs set up.Dick Navratil----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By:
gregg:I didnt do much more than soak my capstrips in the kiddie pool for about 30minutes or so before puttin em in the jig. 1/4 in stock bends pretty easy-my theory is that as long as those outer fibers are soft- not much troublewith bending. BUT! I live in a really humid area - North Fla/S. Georgia.Maybe the moisture content in my batch of spruce was already really high??So maybe this isnt good in Arizona.I built 28 of these things with no problem.Good luck, Bert----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Greg Cardinal"