Wings and spars

[astjp2]

Re: Wings and spars

I didnt use them on my airplane, but I wish I had, the brass ones kept coming loose. I didnt know about them till after I had recovered my wings...Tim

Please post the contact information for them if you have it....they are not easy to find....

[Dalton]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Tim,I have a good supply of the ring shanks, not sure of the gauge tho,where do you get yours from? I got mine from an outfit called precision or preferred hdwr.can't remember the exact name right now,anyway thanks for the help.....Mike

[astjp2]

Re: Wings and spars

Get the ring shank nails in 20ga, they are much better at holding the ribs in place. Tim

The nails used by Aeronca are much larger than the Taylorcraft nails. I talked to the people at Taylorcraft in Tx many years ago. They told me they bought the nails at the local hardware store! I have been told the standard aircraft nails are OK, you just need to use more per rib. I have never seen anything "official" on this. It would be nice to have some direction.

[Ray36048]

Re: Wings and spars

The nails used by Aeronca are much larger than the Taylorcraft nails. I talked to the people at Taylorcraft in Tx many years ago. They told me they bought the nails at the local hardware store! I have been told the standard aircraft nails are OK, you just need to use more per rib. I have never seen anything "official" on this. It would be nice to have some direction.

[mike lutz]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Dalton.I have yet to get the new spar stock.I have been in contact with Precision Aeromarine in Wi.,and haven't heard back from them yet.I,m not ready yet anyway.In talking with them a couple months ago,they were waiting on a new shipment of wood,as they were out.They should have it by now.As of now,I plan on using them for my supplier.When I talked to them,you could get the stock,or a complete glued and varnished,and drilled ready to install.They supply Wag-aero also.I talked to Mark Stamsta,who was buying the bussiness and employing Steve Krogg,publisher of the T-craft news.The phone # forMark is(262)490-8451.Web site is,www.precisionam.net.Hope this helps--Mike

[Dalton]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Ray,I have some nails that I bought awhile back from a supply outfit that I can't remember the name of right now,I'll be at the hanger later on and look at the package.I have rebuilt several sets of aeronca wings and its what was recommended for them.Seems like they are stainless ringshank tho. Too bad about the drawings,they would be most helpful.

[Ray36048]

Re: Wings and spars

For years we have been trying to get drawings, no luck. You have to measure everything before you take the wing apart. What do you plan to use for nails? The typical nails from Aircraft Spruce and others are smaller in diameter than the original nails.

[Dalton]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Mike ,thanks for the tip I will try that today.I read in an earlier post you were replacing your spars ,just wondering how that is going or went? We will be doing the same,and I've been trying for a set of dwgs.but haven't been successful yet. where did you end up for the new wood? thanks again,......

[mike lutz]

Re: Wings and spars

When I did my wings,I used a miniature tool called a "wonder bar".It would fit under the rib and slightly pry the nails out ever so slightly,then put the bar under the nail head and pry it right out.It worked very well.Also,once I had the nails out of the rib,I would slip a putty knife under the rib where the nails had pierced the alum. and took a tack hammer and flattened the sharp edge off.This allowed the rib to slide freely on the spar with out digging into the wood.

[Dalton]

Re: Wings and spars

What's the best way to get the old rib nails out,so as to remove the ribs from the old spar?Also do wing drawings exist for the assembly of the wings?

[Ryan]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Robert, and thanx for the welcome, as for history supporting your reason,you may be right after all as we had many stitches cut through when we stated disassembly.Do you know if the clips can be found for the stamped ribs,and is one rib preferred over the other?

Thank dalton for the complement. Unfortunately no I no longer have the ribs. I traded them for my current ribs and other parts. They had significant damage anyway. The trailing edge was bent down by loose cattle.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wings and spars

The ply can be replaced if the wood underneath is OK. When you do a clip wing you trim off the root end anyway and have a fresh root end. As for the aluminum stick and stamped ribs, I used to think the stick ones were lighter but was told that isn't true. The stamped ribs stand up to damage MUCH better (like when someone puts a gas can on the wing to refuel) and the only real reason to use the stick ribs is for originality. If the plane is post war there is NO reason to use them unless you like to rib stitch, in which case you might have more mental problems the the majority of us (I am one of the total nut cases who LIKES to rib stitch). If you plan to rebuild a wing save the stick ribs for the screwballs who have pre-wars and want to keep them factory original (like me) and you can get trades for stamped ribs to build up the new wing.

Hank

Re: Wings and spars

I have the wing wire for stamped ribs.

[Dalton]

Re: Wings and spars

Hi Hank, I won't trash them,understand the value .these spars have the Taylorcraft name plate on them so I know they are old,but the plywood doublers are delaminated from the butt and I suspect there me be some issue with the wood underneath. I'm not familiar with the clip wing mod,so would they still be of some use even if the butts are bad?Do you know where I can get some wing drawings?.......regards Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wings and spars

Don't trash those old spars, even if you don't plan to use them for your plane. The older Spruce was tighter grain, denser and stronger than what we can usually get now. If it is good shape, old stock is actually better than new. Even if it has bad spots it is still very valuable to make clip wing spars or aileron spars. I NEVER throw away old spar material. If nothing else I will rip it up to build furniture or models. I have seen people burn some really beautiful old wood, just because it was old.

Hank