billy's plans built sonex 1735

[Rofomoto]

All great ideas. Thanx guys... think I extend my tabs out farther to limit funky leading edge bends at ends. I’ll post pics when set up.

[vernd]

Are you using steel pipe or plastic pipe? I'm close to bending my leading edges as well. Look forward to photos and updates.
Thanks.

[Rofomoto]

Are you using steel pipe or plastic pipe? I'm close to bending my leading edges as well. Look forward to photos and updates.
Thanks.

1 1/2" pvc......is your skin cut and drilled? Billy

[Rick524]

Its been a while since I folded the leading edge, but I remember leaving .75" on one side so the bend line
was centered, then after it was vacuum formed, cutting the skin to final size.
Also used a steel schedule 40 or 80 gas pipe as the form and had it lagged down to the bench solid.

Rick

[Area 51%]

Straight from the for what it's worth dept., I used 1 1/4PVC. There is a lot of spring-back.

[Rick524]

I went out back to the scrap pile and found the pipe I used. Approx, 1.66" od, 1.33" id, steel. Smaller diam
would probably be better. There is a lot of spring back, as Area 51 says.

Rick

[Rofomoto]

Thanx everyone... I’ll try 1 1/4 schedule 40. So you guys don’t think the tabs in the skin with holes in them to bolt the tube to the bend line is enough to get it straight with uneven sides? Billy

[Area 51%]

Didn't work for me, no matter how hard I clamped the pipe down. Nature has it's way of evening things out.

[Rofomoto]

Didn't work for me, no matter how hard I clamped the pipe down. Nature has it's way of evening things out.

But if you look at my drawings there are holes at each end of the skin on tabs that Are on the bend line. Pipe will be bolted... through pipe center, through hole in skin, and bolted to table. Maybe I’m not thinking thoroughly but can’t see how it can move off line. The reason the skin wants to form to even is because the skin can move under the pipe. With pipe bolted to skin and table not sure how that could happen. I know I’m spending to much time thinking about this should just go for it. Billy

[Area 51%]

Give me a day to find the picture, but the skin will wrap around the pipe and point in a direction, that if followed back to it's origin, will still be the center of the panel.

Not saying it's an unacceptable bend line, just not as good as it could be.