Rib stich or rivet

[Litecub]

My Cub has Schneider stamped ribs and the flanges were dimpled to make the rivets flush under the fabric. I have drilled them out twice and the ribs are no worse for it. Makes for a smooth wing.

[JP]

....... If they are not I'll buy two $1013 PA-ll rib kits from UNIVAR and be done with it.

Thanks for the responses.

George-

I have had several people tell me the way to go is a univair butt rib, and Dakota Cub for the rest of the ribs,FYI.

If it were my PA-11 I would probably just put my current wings up for sale, and buy brand new wings and cover them. It all comes down to what you plan on paying yourself or your IA to clean everything up, dissasemble/reassemble, you may come out close to equal with a new set of wings. Cub rebuilding is quite an economics lesson....

Tim

Yeah, much, much easier. I bought a Univair rib set for my -11 during my rebuild and have been very, very happy. I used the wing rivets, after first making sure they were easy to remove. They are.

[smitty172]

Just got done doing my first wing and my 11 yr. old son was my best helper!!!! we took about 20 min per rib and got the wing done in 1 after noon he is so proud of himself and so am I...
I would be a rib stitching fan...hope to be back in the air next summer?

[LMartin]

This has been discussed before but I can't find it at the moment. The problem I have had with pop rivets and screws is the next cover job. I also like the look of nice straight hidden rib stitches. It has been proven that the Piper truss rib is stronger when rib stitched. The whole rib is carrying the balloning effect of the fabric rather than just the cap strip. Call me old fashion but I like original Piper ribs and rib stitching.

In my two wings I have one stamped rib, the weird one in the center of the tank bay, and the fabric is riveted on. I'm going to be so glad to be finished with this airplane and really know what I have. Too much cheese ball work to fix! Anyway, am I understanding correctly that because the fabric is riveted on the rib is ruined for recover? Do I just dremel them off? I've never seen fabric rivets before.

[bob turner]

This is indeed an old thread.

Most Cubs with 18 gal tanks have just a doubled up capstrip under the tank. Carefully drill the rivets out, inspect it real good, then stitch it on recover. The tank goes in after covering. The load on that rib is minimal, except for slipstream vibration. It should hold unless the holes have serious cracks emanating.

In the last 15 years I have changed the way I stitch. I personally think that Stitts lady who speaks of the island, palm tree, rabbit approach describes the only way to attach fabric. She is easy to look at, and her method is truly easy to follow.

Like the original Seine knot, you need to review each time you stitch, unless you do a wing every month.

I just finished a Stearman wing. I have done quite a few Cub wings, but never a Stearman. It is a giant task. Cover the bottom, stitch the two inboard ribs, then cover the top. Even then, there are some tricks I was unaware of. Even the aileron cove gets stitched.

[LMartin]

That’s good news! Thank you


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[Steve Pierce]

Is it a Piper rib or a Univair rib? Pictures?

[frequent_flyer]

I've never seen fabric rivets before.

Take a look at any CubCrafters aircraft. Not a single stitch but hundreds of fabric rivets. I assume it's a lot quicker. Don't know of any downside except offending the purists.

[behindpropellers]

Take a look at any CubCrafters aircraft. Not a single stitch but hundreds of fabric rivets. I assume it's a lot quicker. Don't know of any downside except offending the purists.

I suspect it is a pain to remove the rivets when it is time to recover. The vero beach supercubs all had rivets installed.

[Steve Pierce]

Small flush cutting dikes on the back side to keep the rivet from spinning.

[wireweinie]

Small flush cutting dikes on the back side to keep the rivet from spinning.

Huh. Same as riv-nuts. lol

Web

[Steve Pierce]

Huh. Same as riv-nuts. lol

Web

Yep, you hold your mouth the same, say the same prayer and use the same words when the prayers don't work.

[Olibuilt]

This knot is really easy to use. I've stitched a wing in 4-5 hours.

[Dan Gervae]

I use that stagger wing knot…much easier!!

[Marty57]

Depending on the aircraft, not all aircraft have the option of rivet vs stitching. Is stitching or rivets of fabric both approved on all Cubs?

Marty57

[bob turner]

Rivets are not approved on Piper original ribs, nor should they be.

They are fine on Aeroncae. I doubt they are approved on Dakota, although they are on the Univair Cub ribs. Different design.

I have not seen the Staggerwing video - will look on a better computer.

[bob turner]

Just watched Oli’s Staggerwing knot video. Do check out the Stitts lady - fewer steps, probably the same knot in the end.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y-oU1ikcAA

Changed my whole outlook. Results are stunning!

[Dan Gervae]

[bob turner]

Slightly different. That looks like a variant of two half hitches. The Stitts knot is apparently a genuine Seine knot. Fewer steps, I think.

[Dan Gervae]

It’s so much easier and quicker than the seine knot that I’ll never go back.

[Bugs66]

Interesting trip down memory lane after reviewing this thread. FWIW, I ended up stitching my stamped ribs after all (16 years ago??!!, wow.). I would just add to be careful where the stiches go and don't interfere with any pullies, springs, etc. I had one rub my internal aileron pulley (experimental) and had to mitigate.

[LMartin]

Is it a Piper rib or a Univair rib? Pictures?

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[LMartin]

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Whoops. Not a picture of the rib. In 1984, the logbook states one tank (left). Sometime since, a right tank appeared, and a stamped/riveted right tank bay rib. Paperwork!


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[Marty57]

If rib stitching; here's a twist I teach. The Staggerwing Beech knott has an extra half hitch (going under the needle an extra time) for the first and last stitch on the rib. If you need to start a new cord mid rib, you do a last and first stitch mid wing; very easy. Not sure if it's correct or not but I was told that 4 stitches can be compromised (mice as an example) and the rib is still airworthy. Sometimes when stitching, I zone out and realize ..... did I do that stitch correctly a couple back? With this in mind, every 4th stitch on a rib, I add that extra half hitch and put a little X next to that stitch. If I lose track (zone out) on my stitching, I just go back to my last "X" and remove the one or two questionable stitches and keep going. This also gives me that little extra inside the wing. Here's an interesting picture ..... inside a stitched Waco wing. You can see where I started with a new cord on this particular rib.
Marty57

[Steve Pierce]

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Univair ribs.