David Hall 9 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 I'm considering building a glider wing. I'd use a tube carbon fibre spar, but just at the moment I'm wondering just how to cut good clean holes in the ribs to fit the spar.... laser cutting isn't an option yet.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Brass tube sharpened on the INSIDE is the usual way. And I found that putting a sawcut in the tubing makes an easier cut. Old radio aerials provide a source of tubing of various sizes and copper heating pipes for larger sizes. Use with a rib template to ensure the holes line up. Actually it's all done at the same time as cutting the ribs by hand if using a template. A simple wooden handle allows the tube to be rotated by hand - just a quarter turn perhaps. A gadget for unblocking the tube is also shown here. Edited By kc on 13/02/2019 17:28:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SONNY MONKS Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Holesaw,with scrap balsa either side,use a low torque drill driver,and low speed,works for me david,regards sonny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callsign Tarnish Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 If you can find them buy a set of Brian Gaskin's Softbores.Edited By Callsign Tarnish on 13/02/2019 18:07:49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Wood 4 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 I'd second that they are brilliant in 4 different diameters, 😁 basically sharpened brass tubes. Regards Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Yes I still have mine, very useful for cutting holes in ribs for servo cables or generally adding lightness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hall 9 Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 Thanks guys... The point in the build that I had wondered about is where I have a sandwich of ribs for the tapered sections of the wing. I will have no individual templates for those ribs, so might need to drill a hole through a number of ribs in one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Perhaps cut the holes in the balsa blanks before shaping to airfoil. Line the holes up with a bit of the rod when shaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 If you are insisting on the sandwich approach, kc's suggestion seems the best route to happiness. Or, maybe, make some 1/32 ply doublers with a neat hole in them, whilst making a slightly slack hole in the ribs themselves, and place the ply doublers appropriately after the structure is started, to get the tube in the right place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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