Bending along the grain

[lstinthot]

I am scratch building my Sonex. I have completed all of the angle pieces and a lot of the formed channel pieces. I am working on the horizontal stabilizer skins today. I looked in the book for the recommended layout of the pieces to get the most out of your metal I see the recommended layout does not have the skins bend line perpendicular to the grain. I have tried to ensure all bends are not along the grain line when possible.

How many others have tried to keep the bends perpendicular? Is this something I need to keep doing or just maximize my parts from my metal?

Mike
Sonex 1604
https://sonex1604.wordpress.com/

[Bryan Cotton]

Mike,
Bending across the grain is always a good idea. It is not always practical. Just pay more attention to the bend radius, should be at least 4 times the thickness. Less critical in 6061T6 than 7075.

[Rynoth]

I'm sure as a scratch builder you already know this, but additionally a recommended (required?) practice is to fully deburr and smooth the edges of the part to be bent prior to bending, to prevent any stress risers at the edges as the bend is made.

The only real "big bend" I had to made as a kit builder was for the seat pan, and I didn't pay attention to the grain (because I didn't know any better and there's no guidance for this in the plans.)

[lstinthot]

Thank you for the replies. I was thinking the same thing.