instrument panel

[MMFLY]

Hello All,
I would like to weld some holes closed on the stationary instument panel.I see in a past post that bird of prey did his with good results.
Does anyone know what aluminium the panel is made of?
It welds up well with 1100 rod.
Thanks
Russ

[minton]

Welding I would think that you might be entering uncharted waters. Structural issues, probably not. Ever given any thought to making a new one? For sure, consult with your A/I.

[GAHorn]

Hell All,
I would like to weld some holes closed on the stationary instument panel.I see in a past post that bird of prey did his with good results.
Does anyone know what aluminium the panel is made of?
It welds up well with 1100 rod.
Thanks
Russ

I guess I don't understand the objective of your question. If it welds-up well with 1100 ...then what does it matter which alloy the base panel is of?

[wingnut]

Sounds like a loaded question. Kinda like the wife asking "how does my butt look in these jeans?"

[GAHorn]

Sounds like a loaded question. Kinda like the wife asking "how does my butt look in these jeans?"

Correct answer: It looks better out of them. (OH-OH...I'm about to get censored.....)

[johneeb]

Sounds like a loaded question. Kinda like the wife asking "how does my butt look in these jeans?"

Correct answer: It looks better out of them. (OH-OH...I'm about to get censored.....)

Pure Genius!!!!!!!! Where were you when I needed you?

[MMFLY]

If i can weld it it most likely isn't 2024t3. If i make some patch panels or for that matter a new panel all together, i would like to make it out of the same material for structural reasons.

Thanks

Russ

[wingnut]

Sounds like a loaded question. Kinda like the wife asking "how does my butt look in these jeans?"

Correct answer: It looks better out of them. (OH-OH...I'm about to get censored.....)

OK, and now that you have avoided the question, and you're already running late, the wife becomes more direct; "Do these jeans make my butt look fat?" Now how do you answer that?

[wingnut]

If i can weld it it most likely isn't 2024t3........

Not necessarily true. JC Whitney (and other places I'm sure) sell some mystery rod, for welding aluminum. It's cheaper than dirt (they probably sell it too), and all it takes is a propane torch. It actually flows out nice on 2024. Certainly is not legal. Instrument panels may not come immediately to mind when thinking "primary structure", but a lap full of sh*t on takeoff would be the beginning of a very short day

[n2582d]

Russ,
I asked the same question back in 2006.

I was at Del-Air earlier this week and mentioned that that I was planning on doing some weld repairs to the stationary panel (p/n 0513110 fig.38-1). They advised against this as they were of the opinion that this was 2024-T3 aluminum. This part is a structural member of the fuselage. The reason I assumed that this was weldable aluminium was because I saw the photos of Guido and Karen Perla's "Bird of Prey" http://www.birdofprey.us/pages/2/index.htm which show some weld repairs to the panel similar to what I am planning on doing.

The Cessna manual says, in section 19-9B, that "in general, skins used on Cessna aircraft covered in this manual are made from 2024 aluminium alloy, heat treated to a -T3, -T4 or -T42 condition. ... A few components (some empenage tips, for example) have been fabricated from an easily formed and/or readily weldable material such as 5052-O and 6061-O. These can be recoginzed by their relative softness."

Anyone know for certain what material this panel is made of?

I ended up repairing my stationary panel with doublers riveted on since I believe Harry Dellicker to be correct when he says that this part is a structural member.

[falco]

Sounds like a loaded question. Kinda like the wife asking "how does my butt look in these jeans?"

Correct answer: It looks better out of them. (OH-OH...I'm about to get censored.....)

OK, and now that you have avoided the question, and you're already running late, the wife becomes more direct; "Do these jeans make my butt look fat?" Now how do you answer that?

It's not the jeans, dear, it's your hips...

(and you thought it got cold in your hangar this time of year)

[cessna170bdriver]

Here's how I fixed mine:

http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... =24&t=7951

[MMFLY]

Thanks for all help,
I think I will make a new panel
Russ