Martin Fabric Clip Question

[Robert Lees]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Don't hold back, Dan, just say it how you mean! I guess you've had bad experience?

I confess that I like the fact that I wired my two wings in one hour per wing...a lot quicker than stitching.

Rob

[crispy critter]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Yeah but most of the time the wires won't lay down,then after a short time the ones sticking up will start to cut threw your finish tapes which also will not bond as well around the wire. I too would rather stitch and that's what I've done with Crispy.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

If there is an approval for using pop rivets or screws in the stamped ribs.... imagine how sexy it would look of you dimpled them and used countersunk rivets or Tinnerman CSK washers and had a totally flush rib.

IF and I say IF the method could be field approved or STC'd, it would in my opinion be a very worthwile improvement. No rib stitching to get cut, or mouse-eaten, or bird-eaten. No rib stitching cord to interfere with putting your hands inside a wing for inspection or adjustment. Huge savings in overall covering time. No problems with gluing the fabric and tapes down securely... no bulges from voids in the fabric around the knots.

The ideal solution would be a 1/2 inch wide strip of ,020 aluminum that was drilled and diimpled to match the holes in the ribs. Put this strip over the first layer of fabric instead of the T-craft wire, flush rivet or CSK screw thru the strip, the fabric and the rib. Better fabric retention than the wire, and almost completely flush.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Hi Dan "Martin" "clips" are used on a Cessna, thought you had a Taylorcraft? They use Taylorcraft rib lacing wires. Sounds like you and "little" Dan have been out to Saloon night again....strange how about 4000 Taylorcrafts were built that way and if installed "properly" I never have seen the problem. My BC12D was done in 1972 and it still works good.

[crispy critter]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Forrest,
I have used the Taylorcraft wires and they didn't work worth a shit and the supposed Taylorcraft wire from ACS is even worse. Maybe you can show me something I've over looked sometime.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Original wires seem to fit, the replacements are a different story. The last set I used didn't. I hate them as much as several other people on here. All that is required to rib stitch stamped ribs is mention it on the 337 with the cover job. We have done several this way withhout a kickback from the FAA. Like they would know the difference anymore.

Mike

[N96337]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

According to my ATP registry, there is an STC for the BC series (TC# A-696) to use screws and washers. STC# SA1-217 Capital Air Service, Inc. PO Box 467, Dover, DE 19901. I prefer the screws/washers any day over rivets, and waaaay more than the wire!! The lacing is a bit labor intensive, but not a biggie once you learn how to do it quickly and run about a half dozen needles at one time. I had a set of Stinson wings come in with fresh cover (and I use that term loosely) that had used the aluminum strips under screws, and it looked awful!!! The plane had the 0-470, so they figured they were doing a good job and really making the fabric secure, but the lousy job they did amounted to me cutting all the fabric off and starting over. We did lay the strips in through the propwash area, but did them the way the STC called for, and the didn't look as bad then. Out further, where you only use screws/washers, it really looked nice!
First two pics are of the messed up strips..you can see that they didn't fit at all nice. Third and 4th pics are of the screws/washers that are standard for the Stinson.
We did a set of Champ wings about a month before these last Stinson wings, that were pop riveted, and they looked nice too, but you still wound up going over a second time with a die grinder to make sure the little burr was off the stem of the rivet and all was smooth. It was a good system as well...but I didn't have the digital camera then...
JH

[Pearson]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

The STC to use PK screws or pop rivits is on Rob Lees website. It is there for anyone to use.

My 1946 BC12D has pop rivits holding the fabric on. I like them.

[mhorowit]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

As I recall, there is rib stitching on the tailfeathers.
Does this STC apply there also? - Mike

[Pearson]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

No, it is only for the wing ribs.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Martin Fabric Clip Question

Screws are good too! I do not like the pop rivets when you have to take them out.