Above is a photo showing the top three rivets set without Boelube on the rivet set and the bottom rivet was pounded with Boelube on the rivet set … big difference, so the rest of the pounded rivets are now receiving a small drop of Boelube on the rivet set prior to being pounded with the rivet gun.
SPEED BUMP – Up until this point all the ribs have been able to be riveted with solid rivets. Unfortunately, the second and third ribs from the inboard end of the spar will need to receive some LP4-3 pop rivets. The four rivets securing the aft flanges of these nose ribs onto the left wing spar can still be solid rivets, but the six rivets attaching the web of these two nose ribs to the rib clips will need to be LP4-3 pop rivets. There is a clearance issue because the body of the pneumatic rivet squeezer is hitting on the rib clips where the extra rib is for the wing walk area. The interference prevents the squeezer from being able to get squarely (or even close) on the rivet head. At least the four rivets that secure the nose rib's aft flange onto the spar can be pounded, so I don’t feel quite as bad about it.
preventing the squeezer from obtaining proper alignment with the rivet.
Luckily the pneumatic squeezer just barely fit on the rivets securing the inner most inboard rib to the rib clip. Was able to use four solid rivets on the rib but had to use LP4-3 pop rivets on the upper and lower holes because the large spar rivets prevented the squeezer from gaining access to the rivets at those two locations.
I thought briefly about possibly pounding rivets where the squeezer could not fit but after testing with some scrap metal, decided it would not be a good idea. Pounding 1/8” rivets with an offset rivet set into thin .020 metal results in dented material. I tried several techniques and did not find a way that worked for me to pound a 1/8” rivet correctly AND have no metal deformation. Not saying it can’t be done, but it is beyond my current skill set.
