SonexBuilders.net

Has anyone done any edge rolling on their Sonex? (slight bend at the edge of a skin overlap or on the inspection plate)

I was considering the inspection plates and where the leading edge skin overlaps the upper and lower wing panels.

Photos? Advice? Experiences?

Thanks
Robbie
Sonex 1517 - left wing ready for deburr and riveting

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I bought my kit from someone who rolled edged every overlapping joint on the wings and aft fuselage. Looks real nice. I tried on the forward fuse with mixed results. If you can figure out how to do it nicely, It really makes a difference.

Yes your right it does look nice. Van's calls for you to roll the edges of the overlapping wing skins, on their kits.
I have one in my toolbox, but it doesn't have a part number, and the company that I bought it from no longer exists (Leaven's). I also just looked through the Yard Store cataloge and I didn't see any. Maybe you can borrow one from a guy who build a Van's A/C.

My experience with it: Max thickness 0.025" and below, rolls good with a hand held edge roller. 0.032" and up, I would do in a sheetmetal break. Very important, Practice on scrap.....Trust me.

Have fun. Regards, Norm

I've used this hand held edge rolling tool with good results. It is round and fits nicely in your hand.

http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/menus/to/sheet_edge.html

So what does edge rolling actually get you? I didn't roll the edges of any skin on my airplane and everything sits very flat and tight. Usually at the edge of a skin there are a row of rivets 1/4 or so away from the edge that pulls everything flat and even. Can someone show me a picture of a sonex that does vs does not have the edges rolled?

Keith

Its purely cosmetic. It looks nice and finished. The guy that did mine had built an rv8 that won best craftsmanship at airventure. He told me its all in the details.

I posted because when I saw homebuilts with edge rolling, it really stands out.

I got a hand roller for Christmas last year and hope to do the inspection plates, wing overlap, and maybe elsewhere.

Any photos around? Would love to see it on a Sonex.

And this is purely cosmetic - a little personalized detail. I am also considering doing the firewall with those round burnishes on the surface.

Thanks for the replies.

Robbie


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This is the tool I got for Christmas.


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Like you, I also plan on doing machine turning to the firewall (http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=595068183001).

I would also be interested in seeing a photo of panels together where the top one had been edge rolled.

Kevin