Chapter 1 - Introduction

 


Tools



There are certain tools which are necessary to complete the aircraft. Three lists of tools are provided here. The first is the absolute bare minimum required, sacrificing efficiency; the second is a recommended list for the best compromise of cost and work efficiency; the third is a list for the "Cadillac of shops where ease of construction is more important than money. The non-common items are stocked by Aircraft Spruce and Specialty.

FIRST LIST - BASIC REQUIRED TOOLS

  • Common household butcher knife
  • Coping saw
  • 1/4" drive socket set
  • Small open-end wrenches
  • Sandpaper
    • 50 sheets, 40-grit, 3M Production Paper D-wt.
    • 50 Sheets, 80-grit, 3MProductionPaper D-wt.
    • 20 sheets, 240-grit, 3M Wet or Dry Silicon Carbide Waterproof.
    • 20 sheets, 320-grit, 3M Wet or Dry Tri-M-Ite Pape A-wt. Silicon Carbide Waterproof
  • Small Weights - Approx. 150 lbs in 5-15 lb pieces, these can  be sand bags, water bottles or weights used for weight lifting
  • 6 - 6" C-Clamps
  • Square and. half-round files
  • Pliers
  • 1" putty knife
  • Hacksaw
  • Blade & Phillips screwdrivers
  • Box of single-edge razor blades
  • 24" carpenter's level
  • Carpenter's square
  • Laser Level, 2 axis
  • Digital Scale – measure in grams
  • Calculator
  • Felt marking pens
  • 3-ft straightedge
  • 12-ft decimal steel tape (Stanley #61-112)
  • 1/4" drill with set of fraction and number bits, #30, #32, #10, 1/4" and #12 bits
  • Taps; 1/4-28, 10-32, 1/8 NPT (Pipe Tap)
  • Roll of grey duct tape
  • Sabersaw
  • Cheap holesaw set or flycutter
  • Pop rivet puller
  • Wall thermometer 50 to 100°F
  • 6-ft straightedge
  • Small set of X-Acto knives
  • Dremel-type miniature high-speed hand grinder with saw and router bits

SECOND LIST - RECOMMENDED TOOLS (In addition to those in the first list

  • 6" to 9" disc-type hand sander
  • Set of 1/4", 1/2" and 1" chisels (wood}
  • 1/2"-dia 100° counter sink (piloted)
  • 6" machinist steel ruler
  • X-Acto razor saw
  • 3/8" variable-speed hand drill
  • Hand broom/brush
  • Bench-mounted belt sander
  • Stanley surform plane
  • Vacuum cleaner (shop type)
  • Dovetail saw
  • Epoxy Ratio Pump
  • Plumb bob

THIRD LIST - FOR THE FIRST CLASS SHOP (In addition to those in the first and second list

  • Drill press
  • 18-inch bandsaw
  • Vernier Caliper
  • 90° drill adapter
  • Air compressor with blow nozzle
  • Orbital sander
  • Nicopress sleeve tool
  • Clecos - one dozen 1/8"

ITEMS USED ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND CAN BE BORROWED

  • 1 dozen 1/8" Clecos
  • 5/8" Spotface

-Lumber for a workbench and jigging

  • Masonite, hardboard, plywood, etc. for jigging templates, rigging templates,
  • 12" piece of 1/4" diameter wood dowell
  • 6" x 6" piece of aluminum screen door screen
  • Battery for electrical system

-Finishing materials: Dupont 70S dark gray laquer primer surfacer, Acrylic laquer paint in the color of your choice

1 piece shock cord, 3-4" unstretched length