Re: [VAL] holes in belly pan

["Uwe Salwender" <salwender@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> What is the file for - the sharp edges? What does 'radius' mean? Is 
> there a specific solvent that won't damage the aluminum? How far away 
> from the edge of the patch should the rivets go in order not to crack 
> the metal and how far apart should the rivets be? Do I have to use the 
> "Olympic" rivets mentioned on the Airstreamdreams website or can I 
> find other types that will look okay. (I realize that on the belly pan 
> this would be less important)

I found that a sander of some sort held upside down is a better method 
of making aluminum edges blunt than using a file.
Olympic rivets are not necessary, as the belly pan is not visible. Use 
of standard pop rivets is just fine. If you give a quarter of an inch 
from rivet hole to edge, then that's usually fine. Rivet spacing 
depends on the size of the patch, I suppose. A small patch like the 
size of one's hand might only require 8 rivets, 3 on each side.
I secured my belly pan mostly with 5/32 rivets. This is the next size 
up from the 1/8 in rivets. These are available with larger heads and 
seem to bite better into less than perfect metal frames.
Radius is a degree measurement of a rounded corner. Radius is also the 
distance from a center of a circle to the perimeter. A larger radius 
will make a softer/rounder looking corner. A smaller radius will make a 
corner where the roundness ( is that a word?) is barely perceptible.
>
> By the way, Daisy, I think the holes were caused by somebody using 
> non-aluminum screws on the belly pan. The split caused by something 
> poking through I'm not sure about. It's under the door area where the 
> door lip had bent down and torn a bit. We have fixed that so hopefully 
> that's an end to it.

I have observed frame outriggers rubbing through the curved part of a 
belly wrap before. The end result is often a vertical split under the  
floor level.
>
>
Uwe Salwender
Orange CA