Flaps Repairs   |     home Flaps Repair During the process of installing the flight controls I discover that I put the flaps away with out stripping and refinishing them. Both were reusable but needed stripping and cleaning. I tried to complete this by using the common epoxy stripper but nothing happened. So, I desided to have them dry stripped by my favorite media blasters. I dropped them off around noon and was to pick them up at 1400. We went to ave lunch with a online friend and returned to see how things turned out. Here is what the media blaster did. The flap is ruined, by warping the skins by hitting the surface too hard with the media. I must now stop and manufacturer a new flap. Today 9-21-07 I called  AirParts and ordered a sheet of 2024-T3 to build a new flap $207.38 plus shipping of $48.98 so that is on the way, after I knew how much the supplies were going to be I called the blasters and told the young lady that it was going to be 5 hours labor at 50 per hour plus $207. for the alminum. She agreed to cut me a check. These folks have done quality work for me in the past and I know that shit happens,  they are making it right, I think every thing will be OK, This will be a winter in the garage project to do when It is too cold to go work in the hangar. I will gather the materials and set it on back burner for now. 10-25-07 removed the interior parts of the flaps. formers (wooden wedges) the spar nose blocks and then started the reconstruction, by manufacture of the new interior parts rough blocks cut to wedges and finally trimmed to lenght . 10-30-07 Cut and formed the nose blocks I cut the skins a few days ago. I layed the internal parts out see how they look, using the old skin as a guide I formed the leading edge bend today and will get pictures later. 11-14-07 I have been doing some gluing and riveting, The skin I cut a few weeks ago is now folded in half lenght wise The spar is riveted top and bottom, and the ribs coated with glue, then the skin held in place by a bench bridge clamp. After the glue sets the trailing edge gets riveted This first flap is ready for the hangers to be bolted on after I etch and prime Little by little we'll getter done.