Dimpling

[Oxley]

Curious to know from the Sling builders the preferred tool used in dimpling the skins and ribs. Are you using a rivet squeezer, dimpling/rivet tool (referred to as wack-a-mole), or the DRDT-2 Rivet Dimpler? Still trying to figure out the best way to get the job done.

[PhilipRueker]

For dimpling the skins you will need a C-Frame dimpler since you need to long reach.
Either the whack-a-mole or something more fancy like the DRDT-2.

Which one you chose is really a matter of price, since the DRDT is about twice that of the whack-a-mole type.

If it's just the ribs, then using the hand rivet sqeezer is fine.

[Oxley]

Thanks for your reply Phillip. Judging from the number of dimples and their location I'll probably have to go with a C-Frame dimple.

[ebrunye]

I have the DRDT-2 dimple tool, and I can't recommend it enough. There are soooo many dimples to do if you're doing the standard kit I can't imagine having to hammer the thing every time I need a dimple.

[Oxley]

Thanks very much for your comment on dimpling tools. I think the DRDT-2 is the gold standard of dimpling tools.

[huzilulu]

For a standard build, is the DRD2 enough? Or should I also get a hand squeezer/smaller tool for access to tight places like ribs?

[AaronG]

I have had to order a smaller hand squeezer also for dimpling. I have the DRDT-2, but have found that some of the small ribs on the HS you can't get positioned for clearance correctly on the DRDT-2.

[ebrunye]

For a standard build, is the DRD2 enough? Or should I also get a hand squeezer/smaller tool for access to tight places like ribs?

As Aaron said, you won't be able to get the DRDT-2 into a few of the tighter bend locations. I just take the dimple dies out of my DRDT2 and place them through the hole to be dimpled, and squeeze them with channel locks. Seems to work fine for me. For some reason I try to avoid buying extra tools that arent used often, but to be honest you're probably better off just getting the extra tool. Just wanted to offer an alternative option that works for me.

[PhilipRueker]

If you do want to buy a hand rivet squeezer (for solid rivets)/dimpler - this is the one I bought: https://aircraft-tool.com/shop/detail.aspx?id=ATSRS-KIT

[Montreal]

Through trial and error I learned that not all dimple dies are the same. When you receive a Sling kit, it will come with a small (3/32) and big (1/8) dimple die. Simply put, if the die fits in the hole without play, it's the correct die. If the die almost feels like it will fit, measure the die with a caliper to the 100th of a decimal. If the die is oversize by even a little bit, it will likely fail. I'm guessing a little sanding will get it to correct size. I have not had to deal with a 2.5mm pre-drilled hole yet but I would likely drill it to 2.75mm.

When the die is pressed into the pre-drilled hole it will expand hole to a larger diameter but still undersized to the rivet it receives. As outlined in the intro KIA, the dimpled hole "should be cleaned out" with drill bit e.g. If using 3.2mm rivet, clean hole with 3.3mm drill bit.

The 3/32 120º dimple die is not a common die and is hard to find outside of ordering from Sling. A 3/32 100º dimple die will not let pop rivet sit correctly. I spoke to a few aircraft tool suppliers (ATS, Yardstore, Cleveland Tool Supply) and no joy. The next best thing recommended was a pop rivet 3/32 dimpler, which I tested and the quality of the dimple wasn't great.

Sarah's Sling Build blog also goes into detail on similar subject.
https://slingtsi.rueker.com/category/em ... tabilizer/