Request for building tip

[orchardair]

Builders,
I am looking for tips on how to achieve a constant distance between the vertical stabilizer post and the rudder vertical post:

vertical stab and rudder.jpg

When "squeezing" the top posts on both the rudder and the stabilizer, to reduce their size to match that of the other tube (trailing and leading edges), how do you make sure the "squeeze" does not form equally on both sides of the tube?
in other words, how to you assure this:

good gap.jpg

and not this:

bad gap.jpg

Let's hear those builder's tricks!!

[splischke]

I think I cut a small slit on the inboard side of the tube. The slit prevents the tube from squeezing equally on both sides.

-Scott

[splischke]

Here's a better picture than the one above.

[orchardair]

That looks like a perfect gap!
So just make a slit on the inboard side of the tube, and squeeze it in the bench vise? Did you do it cold or did you use heat?

[splischke]

I used heat.

-Scott

[M Lightsey]

Bend the tubes away from the gap a little bit before you squeeze them, that way when you flatten them out, the edge will go back to straight and avoid that annoying "pinch".