Carlson Skunk Works

Over the past few days I have cut a few more pieces for the ribs. However, Tuesday night was EAA and Wednesday was Valentine’s Day and our bible study group had a pot luck dinner, so things have been moving quite slowly.

The EAA meeting was well worth the time on Tuesday night. The club calendars were passed out and a full list of members names and contact information was distributed. There was a presentation about aircraft wiring. I setup the TV and DVD player and we watched several of the segments from the Homebuilt Help DVD “912 Competition”. Fred had the Pober spars mounted on a work table and some of the members worked on assembling the ribs to the spars for one wing.

I have been puzzling over how to scarf the plywood joints that will be needed when I assemble the spars for the Maranda. Several Maranda list members offered suggestions and some provided URLs to information on building a scarfing sander (http://www.seqair.com/skunkworks/WoodWkgMethods/Notes/Notes.html). With this information I have started scrounging for materials to build a scarfing sander. The primary part is an electric motor.

New electric motors run anywhere from $70.00 to $120.00 for a relatively small unit. However, as the horsepower rating decreases the cost seems to increase. The most economical new electric motor that I could find in my area is a 1/3 hp for $70.00. That was too expensive for me. Trying to find a used electric motor was impossible. Then I got to thinking of things that used small electric motors; fans, vacuum cleaners, garage door openers, etc. Goodwill did not have any. The Salvation Army Thrift Store didn’t have any. However, there is a vacuum cleaner store in town and they have used vacuums! I stopped in yesterday and talked to the lady that runs the store and she had an older upright vacuum that has been taking up space for some time. I got it for $10.00! Now all I need to do is take it apart to get the motor. I am good at taking things apart 😉