Warped elevator
11-10-2008 | 05:37 PM
#1
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From: Woodhaven,
MI
Warped elevator
I am in the process of rehabbing a CG Ultimate Bipe. I have removed the elevators and have found that one is warped (w/o covering). Is there a way to straighten this built up surface? Everything else is pretty staight.
Regards,
Jerry
Regards,
Jerry
11-10-2008 | 06:01 PM
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From: Poolesville, MD
RE: Warped elevator
Lay the elevator on a flat surface.
With a heat gun, heat the covering on the side that bows OUT this will initially loosen the covering.
While still very warm, put something very heavy on the elevator to flatten it.
Now repeat on the other side...
Do this a few times hopefully adjusting the covering a bit.
Finally on the side that is bowed out, heat the covering again...
Initially it will loosen but with most normal coverings as you increase the heat, the covering begins to pull tight.
Make sure that the elevator is clamped to a flat surface as you do this final adjustment.
CAREFULLY use heat gun to tighten the covering causing the elevator to hold it's shape.
Remember that you may only be a few degrees away from ruining the covering at this point, so keep the gun in constant motion and moving to encompass as large of an area of the elevator as possible.
Take care NOT to get heat on the edges which will cause the covering to pull away from the underlying wood.
If you have an old crashed plane around, practice on it first... a few practice runs will teach you how to do this.
With a heat gun, heat the covering on the side that bows OUT this will initially loosen the covering.
While still very warm, put something very heavy on the elevator to flatten it.
Now repeat on the other side...
Do this a few times hopefully adjusting the covering a bit.
Finally on the side that is bowed out, heat the covering again...
Initially it will loosen but with most normal coverings as you increase the heat, the covering begins to pull tight.
Make sure that the elevator is clamped to a flat surface as you do this final adjustment.
CAREFULLY use heat gun to tighten the covering causing the elevator to hold it's shape.
Remember that you may only be a few degrees away from ruining the covering at this point, so keep the gun in constant motion and moving to encompass as large of an area of the elevator as possible.
Take care NOT to get heat on the edges which will cause the covering to pull away from the underlying wood.
If you have an old crashed plane around, practice on it first... a few practice runs will teach you how to do this.
11-10-2008 | 07:32 PM
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From: Nevada City ,
CA
RE: Warped elevator
Still bare wood? I would try getting it wet with some alcohol or ammonia and clamping or weighting it down flat to dry. if that doesnt get it all wthe way straight, I would use the process opjose reccomended during or after the covering process.
11-11-2008 | 02:24 AM
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From: Olathe, KS
RE: Warped elevator
Should neither one of those methods work, make a new one. This may be easier and should not take more than a couple of hours.
Best Regards,
Flak
Best Regards,
Flak
11-11-2008 | 04:30 PM
#5
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RE: Warped elevator
My take on this is the elev. is minus the monocote. You do not mention if this is a flat or airfoiled elev. Anyway since it is bare balso it should very easily be straightened. Fasten down to workbench by pinning, weighting. clamping whatever needed. Bend warp out and block it a bit over what may be required to get straight. Mist it with water to dampen. Let set there for several hours or dry it with heat gun. Should be fine and ready to monocote.
