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Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

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Andrewlieser

Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Chicagoland

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:48 am Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

So I've been reading this board for over a year now and several other homebuilders boards for that matter.  The most common piece of advice given to new builders seems to be measure twice cut once.  A great piece of advice for this expensive hobby I think.  Yet time after time I would see posts from new builders that would indicate that they were not paying attention and cut wrong somewhere in the initial stages of their project.  I would read these and think that will never happen to me because I have read these posts time and time again and I definitely will measure twice and cut only once.

Well I started work on my rudder kit this weekend after 2 weeks worth of building an excellent workbench and creating a very functional workspace.  All my tools are in and I had inventoried every piece.  I opened the plans for the 3rd or 4th time to look over them yet again and decided it was time to make the first cut.  I marked off my 10mm on the double angle and drew the lines down to the corner of each piece.  I measured them twice and made sure they were perfect.  Then after a couple of practice snips with my new shears I made the cut....perfection.  So I did it again and again and again until I got what I thought was a perfect 27 degrees on my double angle.  Sitting back and admiring my work I noticed a difference in what my piece looked like and what the pictures in front of me showed on the next page.  Panic set in.  Not on the very first piece I thought so I checked my piece again and sure enough WRONG.  My measurements were perfect my cuts perfect my interpretation of what I read WRONG.  I now have 2 pieces of scrap angle fashioned into 27 degree points on the ends of each.  I had made the cut on both sides of the double angle so it now looks like a freakin spear.  But the lessoned has been learned and I will reorder my parts on monday from Zenith and start fresh by the end of this week.  My advice to new builders like myself is for each piece....READ twice..ENVISION twice..Measure twice..CUT once!

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_________________
Andrew Lieser
S/N 6-7045
http://websites.expercraft.com/andrewlieser

larry(at)macsmachine.com
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

Welcome Andrew,

I'd recommend you go to the drawings and remake the part you mess up. As 

you become proficient at this, you'll find it's easier to not repeat 

mistakes by

reading the drawings.  You'll save a lot of money in the end and know a 

lot more of the build processes. This is only the first of many parts 

you'll

wait for, so you might as well get some tools that will save you a lot 

of time and their cost ten times over.

Don't feel badly because we all have had do-overs, ,,,,,, and in time, 

you could even become a scratch-builder.



Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com

do not archive

Andrewlieser wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



  Sitting back and admiring my work I noticed a difference in what my piece looked like and what the pictures in front of me showed on the next page.  Panic set in.  Not on the very first piece I thought so I checked my piece again and sure enough WRONG.  My measurements were perfect my cuts perfect my interpretation!

   of what I read WRONG.  I now have 2 pieces of scrap angle fashioned into 27 degree points on the ends of each.  I had made the cut on both sides of the double angle so it now looks like a freakin spear.  But the lessoned has been learned and I will reorder my parts on monday from Zenith and start fresh by the end of this week.  My advice to new builders like myself is for each piece....READ twice..ENVISION twice..Measure twice..CUT once!



 --------

 Andrew Lieser





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=173684#173684

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Ron Lendon

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 685
Location: Clinton Twp., MI

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

Andrew,



Larry has given you good advice, it seems the only kind he has, to try making the part yourself.  Persistence and patience are what makes these dreams come true.



I am building an XL but the methods are probably the same for the rudder skin.  Here is a link to where I started with a rectangle of aluminum.  Made the skin then trimmed it to the frame.



http://mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rlendon&project=113&category=0&log=9949&row=463



Enjoy,

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_________________
Ron Lendon
WW Corvair with Roy's Garage 5th bearing
CH 601 XLB
N601LT - Flying
http://www.mykitlog.com/rlendon
Corvair Engine Prints:
https://sites.google.com/site/corvairenginedata/

ter_turn(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

Sometimes it helps to make a "part" out of paper or thin cardboard, fit it and than 

you'll have a true visual picture of what it should look like. Mirror images can be very confusing at times, too. Especially for those of us conceptually challenged!

Good Luck.



Terry Turnquist

601XL-Plans

St. peters, MO



Andrewlieser <Andrewlieser(at)gmail.com> wrote:[quote] --> Zenith-List message posted by: "Andrewlieser" 



So I've been reading this board for over a year now and several other homebuilders boards for that matter.  The most common piece of advice given to new builders seems to be measure twice cut once.  A great piece of advice for this expensive hobby I think.  Yet time after time I would see posts from new builders that would indicate that they were not paying attention and cut wrong somewhere  in the initial stages of their project.  I would read these and think that will never happen to me because I have read these posts time and time again and I definitely will measure twice and cut only once.

Well I started work on my rudder kit this weekend after 2 weeks worth of building an excellent workbench and creating a very functional workspace.  All my tools are in and I had inventoried every piece.  I opened the plans for the 3rd or 4th time to look over them yet again and decided it was time to make the first cut.  I marked off my 10mm on the double angle and drew the lines down to the corner of each piece.  I measured them twice and made sure they were perfect.  Then after a couple of practice snips with my new shears I made the cut....perfection.  So I did it again and again and again until I got what I thought was a perfect 27 degrees on my double angle.  Sitting back and admiring my work I noticed a difference in what my piece looked like and what the  [quote][b]

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rsteele(at)rjsit.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

And mark everything with name orientation rib number etc.  And keep some "eraser" (alcohol etc) handy to removed "typos". I only mention this because I'm terrible about it.  But everything goes smoother with proper markings.  Don't ask how I know this, the answer would take way too long!



Ron

601XL wings

do not archive



On Mar 30, 2008, at 9:18 PM, Terry Turnquist wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		  Sometimes it helps to make a "part" out of paper or thin cardboard, fit it and than 

you'll have a true visual picture of what it should look like. Mirror images can be very confusing at times, too. Especially for those of us conceptually challenged!

Good Luck.



Terry Turnquist

601XL-Plans

St. peters, MO



Andrewlieser <Andrewlieser(at)gmail.com (Andrewlieser(at)gmail.com)> wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		    href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution  [/b] 	
	
[b]

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Andrewlieser

Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Chicagoland

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

Thanks to everyone!  I do intend to eventually make some parts myself and also think that it would help my understanding of the part but I decided to go with the rudder as a kit as kind of a baby step.  The cardboard is a great idea, I have a lot of that laying around to.  I will replace the alcohol I have around with the kind that I can use as an eraser (probably a better idea anyway).  I appreciate all of the responses with advice both as posts and personal messages.  I tried not to let it bug me, the fact that it was the very first part, but it was a little discouraging initially.  Hearing that others have made similar mistakes is very comforting though.  I will be back in the saddle again in the middle of this week hopefully with better result and will post some pictures of the miscut pieces on my website to help others avoid the same mistake.  All these responses only solidify in my mind that I chose the right project with a great network of experienced builders that I WILL need advice from to finish my aircraft!  Thanks again to everyone!



Andrew Lieser

601XL Builder (and aluminum scrap collecter)

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Andrew Lieser
S/N 6-7045
http://websites.expercraft.com/andrewlieser

paulrod36(at)msn.com
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:38 am Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->      WELCOME!  Welcome to the Brotherhood of the  Terminally Confused. Know this, Grasshopper, you will build at least two  airplanes, one of which will go to the airport, the others to the recycling  center, a piece at a time.  And you will learn the Zen arts of serene  patience, and the ability to withhold thine screams of frustration, and the  ability to bandage your fingertips while saying, "I meant to do that".

  

 Paul Rodriguez

 DO NOT ARCHIVE

 [quote]   ---

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bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:34 pm Post subject: Measure twice cut twice........ awgh *#!%

And if anybody ever steals your plane and obliterates the identifying 

markings, the police will still be able to trace ownership by all the 

DNA samples you left in various parts of the structure. 



paulrod36(at)msn.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		       WELCOME!  Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Terminally Confused. 

 Know this, Grasshopper, you will build at least two airplanes, one of 

 which will go to the airport, the others to the recycling center, a 

 piece at a time.  And you will learn the Zen arts of serene patience, 

 and the ability to withhold thine screams of frustration, and the 

 ability to bandage your fingertips while saying, "I meant to do that".

  

 Paul Rodriguez

-- 
	


Bryan Martin

Zenith 601XL N61BM

Ram Subaru, Stratus redrive

Do Not Archive

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_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
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