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Screws in Fiberglass

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rwayne(at)gamewood.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:10 pm Post subject: Screws in Fiberglass

I need to mount a few things to the fiberglass top using screws (lights,

seatbelt holder, etc). What's the best way to do this? Thanks!



Wayne

N767W

pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject: Screws in Fiberglass

I have no idea what the best way is.  

What I do is embed a nut in milled fiber with the screw inserted.  coat 

the screw threads with petroleum jelly so you can get the screw out!!!

I do not like PK screws as they loosen up and if you insert/remove them 

enough the hole will get bigger.

Linn



On 10/16/2010 4:05 PM, Wayne Williams wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I need to mount a few things to the fiberglass top using screws (lights,

 seatbelt holder, etc). What's the best way to do this? Thanks!



 Wayne

 N767W

Mauledriver(at)nc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:52 pm Post subject: Screws in Fiberglass

I've been using Nutserts pretty successfully.  They work in aluminum 

too but only recommended there instead of a sheet metal screw (e.g. gear 

leg fairings into fuselage)

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/nutserts.php



the AAT916 expendable nutsert tool works fine for the number you'll need 

to do:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/nutserttools.php



I haven't used them in an operational aircraft yet



Bill "wondering why everyone isn't using PreKote" Watson



On 10/16/2010 4:05 PM, Wayne Williams wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I need to mount a few things to the fiberglass top using screws (lights,

 seatbelt holder, etc). What's the best way to do this? Thanks!



 Wayne

 N767W

Lew Gallagher

Joined: 04 Jan 2008
Posts: 402
Location: Greenville , SC

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Screws in Fiberglass

Hey Wayne,



It's not slick, but works.  For the seat belt and headphone holder, I used these T nuts from Lowes or Home Depot:  http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=t+nut



Drilled for the screw insert first, drilled tiny holes for the "ears" that keep it from turning, then glassed them in.  Cover with headliner and you can't tell they're there.



Later, - Lew

_________________
non-pilot
crazy about building
NOW OFICIALLY BUILDER #40549
Fly off completed !

ronrvbuilder(at)bigpond.c
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: Screws in Fiberglass

Rivnuts worked well for me on the cabin top.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/rivnuts.php



cheers,

Ron

VH-XRM flying in Oz



---

indigoonlatigo(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject: screws in fiberglass

I held my custom overhead console with eight to ten SS screws that went into SS threaded inserts which I epoxied into the cabin top. If you have access to a sandblaster to etch the insert surface even better.

  

 Here is only a link for showing what I am referring to:  [url=http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001048/1708/38-24-Brass-Threaded-Inserts-(10).aspx]http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001048/1708/38-24-Brass-Threaded-Inserts-(10).aspx[/url]

 		 	   		    [quote][b]

dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject: screws in fiberglass

There are lots of inserts you can use to put threads into a cored

structure.  If you look around (or call me), you can get specialty

inserts made just for bonding into panels.  For example, here's a

link:



http://www.gen-aircraft-hardware.com/viewImage.asp?item=NAS1832-3-3&folder=basic



T-nuts and other inserts work almost as well for a few screws here and

there.  They take a little more fiddling to get them into the core and

secure, but they cost pennies as opposed to dollars for the inserts

above.  Make sure the inserts are securely attached to the core and to

the skin, and test how well they attached by giving the insert a good

tug.



Keep in mind that inserts are for non-structural applications like

consoles, lights, belt and headset racks, etc.  Anything that takes a

load like shoulder belts, cargo tie downs, etc., need a much stronger,

tested, engineered solution.



My overhead light console is attached with five very small sheet-metal

screws.  It comes off very infrequently so I'm not too worried about

wearing out the holes.  I could always push a little epoxy into the

hole if it stripped.



FWIW, I tried to get Vans to sell my overhead console, but they were

worried about the tiny holes in the inner skin of the cabin top.  So

keep in mind that Vans isn't going to be happy about hearing that you

put holes in the cabin top.  Personally, I'm not worried about what I

did to mine.

Dave Saylor

AirCrafters

140 Aviation Way

Watsonville, CA 95076

831-722-9141 Shop

831-750-0284 Cell



On Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 4:43 PM, John Gonzalez <indigoonlatigo(at)msn.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I held my custom overhead console with eight to ten SS screws that went into

 SS threaded inserts which I epoxied into the cabin top. If you have access

 to a sandblaster to etch the insert surface even better.



 Here is only a link for showing what I am referring to:

 http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001048/1708/38-24-Brass-Threaded-Inserts-(10).aspx

rwwende

Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 23

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: screws in fiberglass

Dave,



Can you send me picures of how you attached your overhead console?  What 

does yours weigh?  I just glassed mine in, but may want to reinforce with 

screws.

Thanks



Ross

---

dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:56 am Post subject: screws in fiberglass

Ross,



Our console is basically a small pod that closes out the upper strut

attachment and gives you some room for lights, switches, etc.  Here's

a picture:



http://www.aircraftersllc.com/products.htm



It's custom made for the 10 so it fits really well.  I think it weighs

2 or 3 ounces.



If you glassed yours to the cabin I wouldn't worry about adding any screws.



Dave Saylor

AirCrafters

140 Aviation Way

Watsonville, CA 95076

831-722-9141 Shop

831-750-0284 Cell



On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:19 AM, Ross Wendell

<rwendell(at)hydro-splash.com> wrote:

[quote] 



 Dave,



 Can you send me picures of how you attached your overhead console? Â What

 does yours weigh? Â I just glassed mine in, but may want to reinforce with

 screws.

 Thanks



 Ross

 ---

rwayne(at)gamewood.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: screws in fiberglass

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I'm surprised of so many different

ideas.



Wayne

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