Online Community of Zenith Builders and Flyers
Dent Removal advice
I think when I fit the skin onto the elevator, it might not have settled correctly. Any chance I can get the dent that's dead center of the elevator leading edge, circled in this photo, removed, and if so, what do I need?
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1000023622.jpg, 1.9 MB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Arnie Minear on
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Auto body anvil and hammer.
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Permalink Reply by John Austin on
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Sometimes you can "massage" a dent out with the backside of a spoon - rubbing and working the dent out. However, you need access to the back of the dent for that - looks like you'd have to remove the skin to do that and if you went that far, might as well just replace the skin with a new one. If that's a painted surface, I guess you could just use a lightweight filler and repaint, but I have zero experience with that. The dent appears to be centrally located - will it even show when the tail is assembled?
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Permalink Reply by James Clapper Jr.
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No dent removal advice; however, if that is a Cruzer stabilizer, I believe the larger dent will be covered by the vertical stabilizer leading edge. The smaller dent will be just outboard of the vertical stabilizer leading edge, but above eye level for most people when installed on the aircraft. If the dents are smooth, not sharply creased, I would be inclined to leave them as is. Other options would be to repair using AC 43.13 as guidance, or replace the entire skin.
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