![]() |
New member/new builder advice?
Hello I will be embarking on the great achievement of building an rv14 tail wheel within the next 30 days. I have logged hours in a 14 already but have a few questions that relate to the build. Also any advice for new builders that I am unaware of would be greatly appreciated.
Can someone post a link to a spray can primer I can purchase? I'm deciding on tools as well currently. Any concerns to this tool set by browntools? https://www.browntool.com/Listview/t...6/Default.aspx For the most part I have the power tools needed- Drill press, drills, air comp, bench grinder, ban saw, and jig saw. Am I missing anything else? I am also curious to logging your build time? Kind of like clocking in for a job, just write down when you started and when you finish that day. Is it necessary to write a detail journal of what was accomplished in those hours? For when the plane is finished and final submission to faa for certification. Any other hindsight things you saw would have helped you in your build please feel free to share. |
Welcome aboard Kyle. The Search function is the best way to get started when seeking info. Top of the page in the blue menu bar.
Don't know if you'll find any opinions on priming in this forum. :D Here is a current thread. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=179759 Mike |
I’ll chime in on the logging of bldg time. I think there is a great variance on what builders have logged and the detail or lack of detail that they record. I started out with a detailed description. As the build went on it became too time consuming so I abbreviated the work performed. In the end the log was still a good 1 inch loose leaf notebook full. I did record the date on the builders manual when steps were worked on and completed.
I think it’s a good idea to record any deviation to plans you made as well as issues that came up that you may want to recall in the future. Also take lots of pictures with a date stamp. The DAR asked to see my builders log but didn’t review it in any detail. Also, I took the builders log in when I applied for my repairmans certicate but they didn’t ask to see it (I showed it to them anyway). The primer I used was a self etching primer by the SEM company. 9 years ago it sold for about $14 for a good size can but was often on sale for about $11/can. Do a search on primers and you’ll get a ton load of posts. If you want to get the build time down, don’t spend all your time on this website or you’ll get nothing done. |
Quote:
I have been reading a lot of primer discussion but a lot of it is "to prime vs not to". I'm deadset on priming. I got the prime I want picked out now. As far as surface preparation goes- Scotch bright with acetone? Or rag with acetone? That's pretty much my only question as I have very small experience with paint prep vs actual building. |
Here's what I've learned for prep as well. This is for finished paint job prep though so not sure if it relates 100%.
Alumiprep 33 for 2-5 minutes brushed on new aluminum Rinse Alodine brushes on for 2-5 minutes. Rinse Ready for prime Just getting everything planned out 30 days ahead of start of build. |
I'm about 90 days in on my 14. I'm just using self etching Rustoleum for primer. My most used tools are probably the pneumatic squeezer, hand squeezer, #30 and #40 drill bits / countersink bits and DRDT2. I've used the drill press once or twice... but it became apparent very quickly that the electric hand drill is the easiest to use.
It's a good idea to buy a countersink microstop for each bit you need, and just leave it set up. Right now I have a #30 and #40. If you want to get an idea of what you're up against for the first few weeks I have my build posted on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZ...JsicTmoMuLhlg/ Also I've been using webuildplanes.com as my build log. |
Quote:
Thanks you sir |
For priming prep, I'd recommend you read and follow the links in
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=134368 Most of the well known names provide good toolkits. But, like my grandfather said, "You might have had too much, but you've never had enough." (Was that about tools?) I'm intimidated by just about everything related to this build. So much so that I might break a record for completion time. But... Most things are not as difficult as they are popularly made out to be. I don't often offer advice here, so these thoughts are not even worth 0.02 USD. Jump in and have a blast! Mike |
In hindsight, I would have purchased my tail kit and shipped it / taken it to a "build your tail kit" class. After a week of building the kit you'll have a better idea of what tools you do, and likely do not, need.
I'm glad they include the tungsten bar by default - I see Cleveland does also. That's good, you'd be buying that later anyway. You might want a 3x gun vs. a 2x gun. Or you might want both - I have both, and I'm glad I do. On the -9 tail kit there area a few larger rivets that would be difficult to set with a 2x gun. If you're like me, once you use a pneumatic squeezer and DRDT-2, you're ruined. Others will have differing opinions about these two tools - and that's fine. Learn to use your tools on something besides your kit. Especially when figuring rivet gun pressure and tools that spin things at high RPMs. While you can use the search function at the top of the forum, Google indexes way better - entering Code:
"tool kit" site:vansairforce.com |
Quote:
Very helpful link I haven't read yet! Took a few screenshots of their process and will tweak to my liking. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:44 AM. |