I got started making the replacement wing tip bow today. I still had the form from when they were originally built so that helped a lot.
I needed a way to form the wood. Before, I had soaked the 1/8" thick strips for a day or more so they would bend but I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to clamp them in the form so I was looking around the shop and found this Wagner Wall Paper Steamer. Along with that I had some 2" PVC pipe and a couple of tops from spray cans to cover the ends.The caps just sort of fit over the ends of the pipe close enough to not seal but let some of the steam escape. I cut a hole in one of the caps and stuck the steamer hose in there.
Once the steamer was up to heat it only took about an hour to soften the wood to the point where it could be placed in the form.
Many years ago I found a wing and fuselage from a Travel-Air Speed Wing in a shed. I really liked the shape of the tips so I adopted that shape for my Acro Sport.
I needed a way to form the wood. Before, I had soaked the 1/8" thick strips for a day or more so they would bend but I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to clamp them in the form so I was looking around the shop and found this Wagner Wall Paper Steamer. Along with that I had some 2" PVC pipe and a couple of tops from spray cans to cover the ends.The caps just sort of fit over the ends of the pipe close enough to not seal but let some of the steam escape. I cut a hole in one of the caps and stuck the steamer hose in there.
Once the steamer was up to heat it only took about an hour to soften the wood to the point where it could be placed in the form.
Many years ago I found a wing and fuselage from a Travel-Air Speed Wing in a shed. I really liked the shape of the tips so I adopted that shape for my Acro Sport.