X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:46:13 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m15.mx.aol.com ([64.12.138.205] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.0c3) with ESMTP id 740327 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:48:06 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.138.205; envelope-from=MikeEasley@aol.com Received: from MikeEasley@aol.com by imo-m15.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v38_r5.5.) id q.1ab.4072d1fe (4328) for ; Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:47:14 -0400 (EDT) From: MikeEasley@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <1ab.4072d1fe.306bf8e1@aol.com> X-Original-Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:47:13 EDT Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Rudder Balancing X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1127915233" X-Mailer: 9.0 Security Edition for Windows sub 5200 X-Spam-Flag: NO -------------------------------1127915233 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thanks for all the advice. I even had a great deal offered to me on some extra tungsten that someone had. It was 7/8" diameter, that made me nervous, drilling holes that large in my painted rudder. My local welding shops have only 1/8" diameter. Based on my preliminary weight calculations I needed about 30 ounces of tungsten. I only need 10 ounces of extra weight, but I need to drill out 20 ounces of lead and replace the lead with tungsten, which is about 55% heavier than lead. Doing the math, I would have needed about 24 7" rods (1/8") which would cost about $140 at the local welding shops. Cut in half I would have to drill about 48 1/8" holes, YIKES! So what I ended up doing is buying 2-3/8" diameter rods 12" long from _www.tungstenco.com_ (http://www.tungstenco.com) . The cost was about the same but now I'm looking at drilling 6-8 holes instead of 48, much easier. Some 20-20 hindsight. Build your rudder as light as possible. Don't get sloppy with flox, layups, wiring, etc. because it will be magnified when you work with the limited room in the rudder counterbalance arm. Probably the easiest place to save weight is in the trim tab construction, build the tab light! Another thing I would consider is buying some tungsten from the beginning and replacing some of the lead at the leading edge of the rudder counterbalance arm with tungsten. Then you will have plenty of room for any additional lead down the road. Thanks again for all your help, Mike Easley -------------------------------1127915233 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Thanks for all the advice. I even had a great deal offered to me=20= on=20 some extra tungsten that someone had. It was 7/8" diameter, that made=20= me=20 nervous, drilling holes that large in my painted rudder.

My local welding shops have only 1/8" diameter. Based on my=20 preliminary weight calculations I needed about 30 ounces of tungsten. =20= I=20 only need 10 ounces of extra weight, but I need to drill out 20 ounces of le= ad=20 and replace the lead with tungsten, which is about 55% heavier than lead.&nb= sp;=20 Doing the math, I would have needed about 24 7" rods (1/8") which would cost= =20 about $140 at the local welding shops. Cut in half I would have to dri= ll=20 about 48 1/8" holes, YIKES!

So what I ended up doing is buying 2-3/8" diameter rods 12" long from <= A=20 href=3D"http://www.tungstenco.com">www.tungstenco.com. The cost wa= s=20 about the same but now I'm looking at drilling 6-8 holes instead of 48, much= =20 easier.

Some 20-20 hindsight. Build your rudder as light as possible.&nbs= p;=20 Don't get sloppy with flox, layups, wiring, etc. because it will be magnifie= d=20 when you work with the limited room in the rudder counterbalance arm. =20 Probably the easiest place to save weight is in the trim tab construction, b= uild=20 the tab light!

Another thing I would consider is buying some tungsten from the=20 beginning and replacing some of the lead at the leading edge of the rudder=20 counterbalance arm with tungsten. Then you will have plenty of room fo= r=20 any additional lead down the road.

Thanks again for all your help,

Mike Easley

-------------------------------1127915233--