Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

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planecrazzzy
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Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
Save your money... These are easy to make...

I made this one with a 308 Stainless Steel welding rod ( TIG )

First , I flattened one end... I used a Ball peen hammer and a Vise.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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Next , I used a center punch.... Then drilled a 5/64" hole into the 3/32" rod
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PS Now that I've made more... After I drill the Hole...
I take a slightly bigger bit...and touch the hole.... (Both Sides)
It bevels the edges and takes off the sharp edge.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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After I drilled it.... I went back to the vise and Ball peen hammer...

Slightly tapping it "BACK" to the round rod....

Which elongated the hole...

Then smoothed it out , removing burrs
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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Smoothing it with scuff pad... I also checked it with a drill bit guide to make

sure the needle went completely through the hole...
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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After... I cut the needle 12 inches long... and semi pointed the other end...

and polishing it smooth with a scuff pad...
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Later, I might bend the end , Like the ones you buy...
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Also, I'll make the curved ones... or what ever I might need...
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Once I use it... I'll see if I need to hollow the thread area...

I should be able to do that with a skinny cut-off wheel...

But I think it'll have enough clearance now...
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Gotta Fly...
JAM
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Posts: 1154
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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These are working great...

I made a 6 inch straight one for working the Tail easier...

and I'm going to need a 6 inch curved one...
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Gotta Fly...
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You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Posts: 1154
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

Something a store bought needle ain't gonna do...

I had to turn my curved needle into something more like a Cork Screw...

It needed to go around a "V" Stringer...
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The Temper in those you buy... won't take this kind of bending...
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Gotta Fly...
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PS...note to self , stitch this BEFORE enclosing the fuselage fully ...(3 sides)
Then a straight 6" needle would have worked
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
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Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
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Re: Rib Stitch Needle - Homemade

Post by planecrazzzy »

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Hey Guys,
In this picture you can see the needle takes the Flat Lacing just fine.
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Gotta Fly...
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You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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