|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

04-04-2020, 03:09 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Vaca Moo Airport - TA37 in East TEXAS
Posts: 1,331
|
|
What town are you in? In Humacao there's a guy who's been building his own gyroplanes for decades (not from kits) so regarding construction he might be a good asset even though not RV related.
Regarding flying them Cuso Ortiz has flown everything single engine out there and is now retired from commercial flying and I'm sure he could help. I got my Acrobatic training from him decades ago. I owned a Citabria and he owned a Decathlon.
__________________
RV-8 N52VM: OnSpeed Gen2 AOA-3D, Dynon D-180, Autopilot, Titan 0-360A1A, Hartzell C/S, INS-429 IFR & GPS496, WingX & Stratux for backup & ADS-B IN. Enjoying life while building an airpark with FREE campsite for pilots www.facebook.com/VacaMooAirport/
Exempt by 3 out of the 10 ways but I still donated.
|

04-05-2020, 04:25 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 26
|
|
Congrats on making the leap!
I purchased my tool kit from Cleveland and they are extremely helpful on things to add/delete. I also have to deal with expensive shipping and they took that into consideration when giving me advice on things I'll need.
Personally I think the main squeeze is a great tool which I wouldn't build without now. I also think a good quality air drill is worth the money.
Do you have the plans on USB yet? because taking a look through section 5 will give you some ideas on extra things you'll need.
__________________
---------------------
Chris
RV-10.
Emp complete (minus fiberglass)
Wings started
First RV-10 build in Hong Kong
Donation made 2020
|

04-05-2020, 12:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
|
|
Don't forget the air compressor. In general, the bigger the tank, the less frequently the compressor will need to run. If you're planning on spray painting with it, check some of the likely paints for an idea of how much air flow you might need. A bigger tank can help with that, supplying air at the requisite rate until it's down.
Other tools that may come in handy are a decent collection of fine files and a Vixen file. I personally like a C-frame and a large hammer. Works great for dimpling.
In the other comments, Wirejock has very good advice.
Dave
|

04-05-2020, 03:16 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Anacortes Wa
Posts: 81
|
|
A few odd tools often overlooked:
Long 12" drill bits in #30 & 40.
Chain saw files. They come in many sizes and are cheap. Good for making a relief radius.
Tungsten bucking bar... not an option. Get some extra pieces of steel of many shapes and sizes, they will be pushed into service when a Tbar won't work. Grind as required.
Long 10 or 12" sanding block. Makes for nice straight edges.
Small collet with 4" handle to hold countersink bits. Starret made mine long ago, I added a handle.
Countersink/debur handle, offset type. Get a 135 degree countersink 3/32" pilot for hole debur with that handle.
Deburring handle with bits. There are many kinds of bits for holes, edges, radius etc. Have more than one handle, selection of bits.
An extra Cleco plier.
Metal scribe for aligning / finding holes. "Hook on one end" type.
Work apron with pockets
Cheap plastic dial caliper. Drop proof, for measuring in 100 ths
"Speed handle" and 3/8" adapter for holding bits / driving Philips head screws.
If you have a table saw, a 100 tooth carbide blade will make it your go to cutoff tool.
ScotchBrite polish wheel for grinder motor.
Big Dust brushes and big dust pan for cleaning up ... frequently
Mirror on extension handle for inspecting hard to see areas.
Flush rivet head with hard rubber ring.
Love my squeezer!
These are some of the tools I reach for frequently, and buying them up front has kept me from "making do" with predictably poor results. Tools don't make the craftsman, but bad tools can put you on the "struggle bus" way too often!
Cheers
__________________
RV-7 Tipper
Bill (Wild) VA-165 '90-'93
Anacortes, Wa
Start 2/19 Emp complete 4/19 Wings complete 11/19 Fuse complete 6/20 Finish kit Complete 8/20 Electric/Avionics complete 9/20 Waiting on a motor...
Exempt x 3 - Donated 2020
|

04-05-2020, 05:32 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Kokomo IN
Posts: 15
|
|
Extra Long Bucking Bar
Don't forget the extra long bucking bar specifically for the -10/14 elevator. You could fab one yourself but they're fairly inexpensive.
|

04-06-2020, 12:03 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Canby
Posts: 40
|
|
Tools
I was very pleased with the kit from Cleveland. I am currently using it on my second build. An essential is the ?Geezer Squeezer? and also the Sioux pneumatic drill. The drill is costly, but the first few times you have to drill out a bad rivet you will be so glad you have it!
Another thought is to get extra Clecos ....you never seem to have enough.
Jim Frisbie
RV 9A (850 hrs)
RV 10 ( in process)
Tech Counselor
|

04-06-2020, 07:34 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Melbourne, FL
Posts: 7
|
|
I'll throw my two cents in here. I went with Plane Tools (Isham) and was extremely pleased. His tool sets are tailored to the airframe you are building. Also, his customer support is great. I had an issue with the die sets that I received. When I contacted him, he immediately sent a new set, no questions asked. As far as squeezers go, I have the pneumatic that came with the Isham set. Some of the earlier comments apply, it is heavy, but I've found ways to work with that. I have a hand squeezer also, but find that these older hands ache pretty badly when I use it for any length of time (isn't getting a bit older great?). I also agree with the comments to order the practice kits from Vans and use them to develop the needed skills. I even went so far as to drill out several rivets, even though they were fine, just so I could practice that skill. I see now that Vans includes a very basic practice kit in the empennage kits, that's great, but I would recommend both the toolbox and the airfoil kits. The airfoil kit helps you develop rolling the leading edges of the control surfaces, very helpful.
|

04-06-2020, 06:36 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Saluda,NC
Posts: 16
|
|
Going thru this myself
I'm going thru the same thing myself. I might as well have just bought the Cleveland kit outright, since my plan to buy as I go had me purchasing the items in the kit in slow motion. Just get the kit from Cleveland, he's a great guy. BTW: His YouTube videos are excellent, and very informative.
|

04-07-2020, 02:35 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: LSZF
Posts: 421
|
|
just buy the best/most expensive tools you can... last century I thought I would save some dough and ordered cheapies from ACS; ended rebuilding the VS due to some out-of-round countersink tool, imprecise dimple dies and so forth. Luckily ACS has improved their tooling.
Not sure if it's been listed, but hole replicators can be a useful tool as well, different sizes.
Enjoy your shopping and the assembly 
__________________
Life's short... Enjoy
DC aka Dan
http://www.aerofun.ch
RV-6.9 #25685, slider, O-360-A3A (carb/dual Lightspeed II), MTV-12-B, HB-YLL owner & lover
RV-4 #2062 HB-YVZ airframe builder
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:09 AM.
|