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Removing small dent/crease

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todd(at)toddtown.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

While handling the skin for my horizontal stabilizer tonight I  

managed to put a very small dent in the leading edge. Luckily, it is  

in the center and will probably be covered up and not visible anyway.  

I tried (gently) tapping on the dent with a mallet but that did  

nothing. I don't want to hit it too hard. Is there a good way to  

remove a shallow dent from .016? Thanks,



Todd Osborne

EMail: todd(at)toddtown.com

Web: www.toddtown.com

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Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Removing small dent/crease

I did the same thing in the same spot.   I suggest leaving it alone as there is a good possibility that you will only make it worse.



Tim

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_________________
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Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
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larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:26 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

Todd,

I did the same thing to my leading edge left wing and would have 

scrapped the piece right there, but decided to put the dent on a flat 

block of steel and bump it a little.

Within a couple of minutes, the dent was 90% removed.  I stopped there 

and sprayed a primer filler on it and sanded the surface smooth again. 

.016 is going to be considerably more sensitive, but I'd recommend you 

bump it out against something hard with a smooth round hammer face, but 

not all the way because you've stretched the metal in denting it.  Then 

fill it.  Go gently at it.......



Larry McFarland - 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com



Todd Osborne wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 While handling the skin for my horizontal stabilizer tonight I  

 managed to put a very small dent in the leading edge. Luckily, it is  

 in the center and will probably be covered up and not visible anyway.  

 I tried (gently) tapping on the dent with a mallet but that did  

 nothing. I don't want to hit it too hard. Is there a good way to  

 remove a shallow dent from .016? Thanks,



 Todd Osborne

 EMail: todd(at)toddtown.com

 Web: www.toddtown.com

 Yahoo Messenger: toddmosborne(at)yahoo.com

 MSN Messenger: todd(at)toddtown.com

 Skype: toddmosborne

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pacificpainting(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:46 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

Todd,



I use Super Fil. It's a blue, 2 to1 epoxy filler that you can get from 

Aircraft Spruce. It works on aluminum, steel, composites and wood. It is 

really light weight.



Dave in Salem



do not archive

---

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sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:29 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

Another trick I read is to press it out gently from the back with the curved back of a spoon. This takes a little practice, but I was able to get out a small "smile" in some .016 I used on my horizontal stabilizer.

   

  Debo



LarryMcFarland <larry(at)macsmachine.com> wrote:

  [quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: LarryMcFarland 



Todd,

I did the same thing to my leading edge left wing and would have 

scrapped the piece right there, but decided to put the dent on a flat 

block of steel and bump it a little.

Within a couple of minutes, the dent was 90% removed. I stopped there 

and sprayed a primer filler on it and sanded the surface smooth again. 

.016 is going to be considerably more sensitive, but I'd recommend you 

bump it out against something hard with a smooth  round hammer face, but 

not all the way because you've stretched the metal in denting it. Then 

fill it. Go gently at it.......



Larry McFarland - 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com



Todd Osborne wrote:



[quote] --> Zenith-List message posted by: Todd Osborne 



 While handling the skin for my horizontal stabilizer tonight I 

 managed to put a very small dent in the leading edge. Luckily, it is 

 in the center and will probably be covered up and not visible anyway. 

 I tried (gently) tapping on the dent with a mallet but that did 

 nothing. I don't want to hit it too hard. Is there a good way to 

 remove a shallow dent from .016? Thanks,



 Todd Osborne

 EMail: todd(at)toddtown.com

 Web: www.toddtown.com

 Yahoo Messenger: toddmosborne(at)yahoo.com

 MSN Messenger: todd(at)toddtown.com

 Skype: 		Get your email and more, right on the [url=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview] new Yahoo.com[/url]   [quote][b]

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dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

If you are addicted to cool tools like many of us, Harbor Freight has a set of body and fender hammers and dollys that are reasonably priced. The round dolly works well as the "spoon" in the technique you described, Debo.



Like others have said, "Don't ask me how I know this".



Ed Moody II



---- Debo Cox <sky_ranger161(at)yahoo.com> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Another trick I read is to press it out gently from the back with the curved back of a spoon. This takes a little practice, but I was able to get out a small "smile" in some .016 I used on my horizontal stabilizer.

    

   Debo

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vair601(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:32 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

Todd and all,

I have a solution for your dents, dings and other imperfections.  This will take a bit of explanation but be patient and I'll try.  The only question is do you have access to the inside of your leading edge.  If so I recommend that you purchase a spherical magnet and a polished piece of mild steel.  What you simply do is place the sphere magnet on the inside of your leading edge and run it around using the block of steel.

The magnet is attracted the the steel through the aluminum and will roll out any imperfection that it encounters.  It's sort of like having a portable english wheel.

Because of the small surface area of contact a sphere the pressure is concentrated and will roll out any damage.  These magnets can be obtained in varying sizes to accommodate whatever radius trying to be repaired.  As for the block of steel, a 3x3x0.5 should be adequate, just be sure that there are no sharp edges that could scratch the  surface of the aluminum.  I recommend using a polished piece of steel however this can be protected by using masking tape as long as you butt the edges of your tape rather than overlap the seams.  It doesn't take long at all to repair the damage just take your time in the prep work to prevent any further damage.  This method works equally well on painted surfaces.



The only reasonable source that I have found for the magnets is on the web at HTTP://www.unitednuclear.com.  The 1.5" sphere goes for $48 plus shipping.



Good luck on whatever route you choose,

Bill Jeffries, AP



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todd(at)toddtown.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:25 am Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

Thanks for your response, and all the others. I do have access to the  

inside of the skin right now, but when I pulled top skin down to  

rivet it, the dent almost completely disappears under the stress of  

the skin. So, I think I got lucky here, the damage is real slight and  

barely noticeable when the skin is tight, and will be under the  

rudder fairing, so in this case I think the best thing to do is  

nothing at all.



Todd Osborne

EMail: todd(at)toddtown.com

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rstone4(at)hot.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject: Removing small dent/crease

This comes under the heading of:



                    IF IT AINT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT



                                             DO NOT ARCHIVE



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