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  #21  
Old 09-18-2007, 09:20 PM
treeez treeez is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 83
Default

I've got some pretty severe arthritus in both of my thumbs that make them very weak. Every time I have to use the hand squeezer I cringe knowing the pain is about to start. Plus, I loaned it to a friend that had the Baa Humbug attitude toward anything beyond basic. Took me 2 months to get it back from him. It's the best money on tools I've spent.
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  #22  
Old 09-19-2007, 08:35 AM
flybill7 flybill7 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Severna Park, Maryland
Posts: 446
Default Squeezers

I've built my airframe using Cleaveland Tool's "Main Squeeze" hand squeezer which has a gearing mechanism to provide mechanical advantage. It's no big effort to squeeze 1/8" rivets with it. I've seen a pneumatic squeezer in action and don't really see the big value-add.

I've also used the plain C-frame for dimpling skins. Again, buying a more expensive tool won't deliver significant improvements in time savings or quality IMHO.

Save your money for all the tools you'll either need or will provide significant time savings/quality improvements that they don't tell you to buy and aren't in the tool kits:

-Angle drill
- 1/8" pop-rivet dimple tool
- Electrical: crimper, wire stripper
- lots of #30 and #40 drill bits
-- Smart Tool (digital level)
-- Band saw, drill press
-- Dremel Tool
-- Washer insertion tool
-- Bolt insertion tool
-- Reamers
-- Tap set
-- lots of clamps
-- Snap-On screwdriver for #8 screws
-- oil filter cutter

Oh, and you'll also need money to buy all those nice to haves in no particular order:
- constant speed prop
-- Camloc fasteners for the cowl
-- Nice seats
-- Stainless steel heat valve & firewall fittings
-- Fuel injection
-- Horizontal sump
-- autopilot
-- IFR avionics
-- Nice Headsets
-- Fancy interior
-- AOA
-- Have someone paint your plane real nice
-- Etc., Etc.

And finally lots of money to pay for shipping & handling for all the little orders that you'll have to make over the life of the project.
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Bill Cloughley
Severna Park, Maryland
RV-7 Flying (1,400 hours)
http://www.pilotbill.com

Last edited by flybill7 : 09-19-2007 at 11:45 AM.
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  #23  
Old 09-19-2007, 09:48 AM
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DanB DanB is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 73
Default No Worries

You will think of it better than sliced bread after you use it.
Dan
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  #24  
Old 09-19-2007, 10:43 AM
tinman tinman is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 496
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With the pneumatic squeezer, you give up the prospects of developing massive pectoral muscles during your project. I have been using the hand squeezer and my pects now match my fiddler-crab forearm from all of the clecoe work...

(In my best Arnold S accent....)
"Don't be a girlie man...get pumptatude!"
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Don Alexander
RV-8 Finished After 8 1/2 Years (2496 hours) of Loving Labor
Summerville, SC
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  #25  
Old 09-19-2007, 10:44 AM
alpinelakespilot2000 alpinelakespilot2000 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,646
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I'm a big advocate of Cleaveland's squeezer if you want to save $$. I don't have a pnuematic squeezer and haven't really missed having it. However, since I see you already purchased the pneumatic, I will say that you have an advantage in that you can hold the piece you are riveting with one hand while squeezing with the other. I can't do that with my hand squeezer. I must have the piece clampled down. To me, that's the only advantage of the pneumatic over the Main Squeeze. Now, if I had a Tatco or some other traditional hand squeezer, I'd throw it in the garbage and go get a pneumatic in a heartbeat. Have fun building.... and buying lots and lots of tools! $$$$$
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Steve M.
Ellensburg WA
RV-9 Flying, 0-320, Catto

Donation reminder: Jan. 2021
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  #26  
Old 09-19-2007, 05:04 PM
atreff's Avatar
atreff atreff is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 215
Thumbs up Pneumatic squeezers rock

I own both. I never use the manual one. As I was dimpling and riveting the edges of panels in my slow build kit, I imagined that folks get quite a workout with the manual squeezers. I got pretty fast with that pneumatic one. If your remorse is acute, I'll sell you my manual one and buy your pheumatic one, so that I don't have to change yokes....

Art in Asheville
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  #27  
Old 09-19-2007, 06:03 PM
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N797RV N797RV is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fern Park, Florida
Posts: 37
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Don't look at, touch or even ask to use my pneumatic squeezer, men have died for less....!
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Dick
N797RV - KSFB
RV-7A Flying
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