Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Does anyone have some wisdom to impart on stainless firewall fabrication?
I'm considering making one, but expect it to be challenging.
Or would someone have an extra one they would consider unloading?
Thanks,
Bruce

Dr. Scott Stine has the floor!

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Been so long ago that I made mine, i have forgotten some of the details. But here goes. First make a form block allowing a little over bend . Memory serves me, it was made from .032 1/4 hard SS. Form the flange and the radius corners will need to be flutted. The bottom corners is notched. Scott, we still have two form blocks.

Didn't mean to confuse things ... I only mentioned Dr. Stine because he has a form block and made one for me a while back .. as with the rest of his airplane it was a work of art!

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

It is .018 stainless. As with anything stainless, work with high pressure and slow speed. It cuts and bends very easy. Drilling the relief notches takes huge patience.
Cubes

<Drilling the relief notches takes huge patience.
Cubes>

COBALT bits on stainless.

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

I used a "Whitney" punch for the corners and flanges Driiled a pilot hole for the big stuff and used a Greenlee punch
Drill SS with a slow speed drill

Thanks for the replies!

Have made one out of 025 and one out of 018. Be prepared to make some large flutes in the upper corners. The whitney punch is great on the stainless. If planning on polishing it.....do it before you start. DOnt leave too much overhang past the form block it is just more trouble. If using a glass cowling make sure and place a spacer sheet of 032 under the skin and on top of the attach flange to give you some thickness for the cowling to match up to. Lee's 018 Stainless was much harder than the 025 stainless from AS......typical Texan.....Bigger and Harder

Thanks for the tips!