28 Vol.4 No.4 / April 2015
HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS
Replacing Control Cables
In this 400th EAA Hints for Homebuilders video, Earl Luce demonstrates a great way to attach an old cable that is being removed
with a new replacement cable by fi shing it through bulkheads and around pulleys.
How to Make a Hot-Wire Bow
EAA Technical Counselor Mike Busch shows how to assemble a homebuilt hot-wire bow to cut foam for composite layups.
Cutting Plywood
Achieving a clean cut line without splintering can be a challenge when using a jigsaw. Timm Bogenhagen from the EAA staff gives
a couple tips that can minimize wood splintering on your cut line.
Air/Oil Separator
Dick Koehler discusses the design and use for an air/oil separator. Dick is a Technical Counselor for EAA Chapter 186, A&P; aircraft
mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), and SportAir Workshop instructor.
HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS VIDEOS
HERE ARE SOME OF THE LATEST HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS ADDED TO THE MORE THAN 450 HINTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE HERE:
MOST OF US KNOW that the Wright brothers had a bicycle shop
to support their aviation experiments. How many of us use
common motor oil or one of the packaged aerosol lubricants
for the pivot points on our plane—ailerons, fl aps, elevators,
etc.—even though those lubricants run of the application
point, attract dirt and dust, and make a mess of things? But we
need some sort of lube to keep things turning freely and easily
and to prevent binding and corrosion.
Enter a solution from the bike shop. Drive chains and
cables on bikes work in a constant dirty environment as a
bike rider forges through rain, dirt, and sand. Any lubrica-
tion has to penetrate down a cable and into the rollers of
a chain. It won't remain liquid where it will be thrown off
the chain nor hold dirt, water, and abrasives. It has to
be dry after application and still repel moisture and
prevent corrosion.
Bike shops have several synthetic lubrication products for
chains; these products are thin during application but leave
behind a high-strength lubricating fi lm when they dry. This
works great for chains and cables as the lubricants penetrate
deep down into cable housings and into the interior of chain
rollers. The product that I use is in a squeeze bottle with a nice
spout for precise application. Just stay away from any products
that are silicone-based as they can create painting problems
later, just like silicone-based waxes.
Who knew that bike shops still support aviation?
A 'Wright' Tip
More help from the bicycle world
BY CY GALLE Y