The International Cessna 170 Association

I have completed reskinning the verticle and I am now reskinning the rudder on my 48 project. I would like to stay original.The skins are spot welded in several locations including the position light housing to the bottom skins. Since it was originally spot welded, I should be able to use the same attachment method when I reskin. Does anyone know who does spot welding for aluminum. They should be certified. I would prefer in the Southeast, but can ship if required.
Thx,
Dan

Good evening, It got my interest when I saw something about welding. I am a certified welder but not certified for the spot weld in a rudder. I do aluminum welding for my own repairs. I also am in the years of restoring my 170B. At one point I reskined my rudder. The Aand P who did the reskin just used rivits. I do not think that someone would mark down an aircraft from being original because of spot welds . You could look up an FAA repair station nearest to you and bring the pieces together with clecos. When all is in alighnment then they could weld it for a minimum charge. An FAA repair station that does aircraft welding.

Dan,
I'm sure Kent White could spot weld that for you but I've heard he's rather pricey. He's also on the west coast. Maybe he would know someone closer to you. http://www.tinmantech.com/

Thanks for the responses and leads.
Dan

Harry Dellicker can do aluminum spot welding.

Thank you, I will contact him.
Dan

Interesting thread.

I'm sure I don't know all the differences between the three models of 170, but I have never noticed (never looked for) spot welds on a control surface for a 170, or any Cessna for that matter. (Maybe I need to go look closer at my own B-model airplane.) I am (was?) under the impression that all structural parts of the airplane formed from sheet aluminum use 2024 alloy (or the 1940/50's equivalent designation) which is generally considered to be un-weldable. I seem to remember my glove box being spot welded, but I don't really consider that structural, and just assumed it was a different alloy. If the rudder was indeed spot-welded from the factory, I'd be interested as to whether they used a different alloy, or used some special process. It could even be that "weldability" of various alloys doesn't apply to spot welding?

Please let this be "What I Learned Today".

Miles

I'm floating in the same boat you are, Miles. I can' recall ever seeing any structural spot welds on my airplane(s).
To be perfectly honest, I don't ever remember seeing a spot welder in any of the small aircraft repair stations I've visited.

Miles:
The spot welds that I have found on the 48 are really non structural in that if they failed, the airplane would not fall out of the sky.
Following is from Aircraft Spruce on 2024T3: Arc or gas welding is generally not recommended, although this alloy may be spot, seam or flash welded.
Dan

DWood wrote:Miles:
The spot welds that I have found on the 48 are really non structural in that if they failed, the airplane would not fall out of the sky.
Following is from Aircraft Spruce on 2024T3: Arc or gas welding is generally not recommended, although this alloy may be spot, seam or flash welded.
Dan

Thanks Dan! I think I'll stop by the hangar and see how MY tail nav light is attached...

Miles

Miles:
On my project the rudder skins are original and the tail lamp housing has rivets at the front and rear with spot welds in between maybe 5 of them top and bottom. Check your trailing edges on the ailerons, flaps, elevators and rudder to see they are spot welded. Also there is a L shaped stiffner (atleast on the 48) on the bottom of the lower rudder skin that is spot welded.
Dan

On my '54, the cowl door skins are spot welded to the backing stiffeners.

I guess I'm getting closer all the time to the Rat-Plane trophy! (I think Bruce is having a detrimental effect on my original goals.)

DaveF wrote:On my '54, the cowl door skins are spot welded to the backing stiffeners.

Ah ha! I forgot about that one. There are probably others. I guess I DID learn something today.

So there's at least one thing on my airplane that's more original than George's.

Miles

If anyone has trouble sleeping at night, here is some good information from American Welding Society on Aluminum Spot Welding for the Auto Industry:
http://www.aws.org/wj/2005/01/034/