Aileron and Flap Rivets

[mmoyle]

I hate to show my ignorance, but this is all new to me. Good information as I have to extend my flaps. Is univair the only source for the AN455A3 rivets? Are there any substitutes that are safe to use in an experimental aircraft?

A couple of my go to books are Aircraft Sheet Meal Work...written in 1942 and the Aviation Mechanic Handbook first published in 1992. The latter doesn't give extra details. The aviation mechanic handbooks book also states not to use 1100 and 3003 on structural components....but the majority of the rivets in both the aileron and flap are in shear...so not a big deal and I'd bet there haven't been any failures due to soft rivets......some of the hinge brackets rivets are in tension...I'll be driving AD rivets in those holes.


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[Steve Pierce]

You can substitute AN470 rivets for AN455 and 456. I bought the rivet gun and squeeze sets from US Toll when I was working on a Lockheed Electra many years ago and more when I restored the Luscombe.

[mmoyle]

Picture of the rivet heat treating oven... it's an old dental oven capable of 2,000 degrees.. zero contamination from burning anything other than wax....and that's gone. Using a dual probe digital pyrometer to verify temperature. Has analog temperature controller maintains temperature within 6 degrees. I modified 40 gram fire assay crucibles for heat treating rivets...they were to tall. Set my shop stool in front of the oven with a bowl full of ice water. Dump into a strainer...then into a ziplock container...add ethanol..decant..have a swig...ha! Then into the ice cream freezer. System works like a champ!



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