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  #11  
Old 09-23-2012, 11:39 PM
Flying Scotsman Flying Scotsman is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,256
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Tungsten bucking bar - expensive but worth every penny
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Santa Clarita, CA
PP-ASEL, ASES, Instrument Airplane

RV-7A N660WS flying!
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  #12  
Old 09-24-2012, 06:00 AM
adamb.hicks4 adamb.hicks4 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 11
Default Thanks!

Thanks for the warm welcome all! I am curious as to the benefits of tungsten bars. Also, I believe I will go with a corded electric drill for now. Does anyone have any suggestions for a rivet puller? Not sure if this a product where much differentiation can be made but I'd like to get some input if possible.

Thanks again,

Adam
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  #13  
Old 09-24-2012, 11:51 AM
Flying Scotsman Flying Scotsman is offline
 
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Tungsten density - 19.25 g?cm−3
Steel - app. 8 g?cm−3

Tungsten bars are small, so you can get them into all sorts of places a steel bucking bar won't go (or requires some oddball shape), and very heavy so that setting the shop head is easy.

I have about a dozen or so steel bucking bars of all sorts of shapes. Once I got the tungsten bar, I don't think I've used a steel bar on more than a half-dozen rivets over pretty much the entire build.
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RV-7A N660WS flying!
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  #14  
Old 09-24-2012, 01:56 PM
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FresnoR FresnoR is offline
 
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Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 479
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I built my entire empennage and fuselage kit with a dewalt 18v cordless. No problems. If you cannot get a compressor powerful enough to run a drill, don't let it stop you.
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RV-7A


The art to flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
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  #15  
Old 09-24-2012, 03:27 PM
adamb.hicks4 adamb.hicks4 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Kentucky
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Do I need to ensure that the drill will run a bit perfectly straight when drilling? I've tried two now and didn't think either looked straight enough to drill acceptable holes in .040 aluminum. Maybe I am being too picky but I am fairly certain I should be able to find a cordless drill with a perfectly straight chuck.
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  #16  
Old 09-26-2012, 09:08 PM
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FresnoR FresnoR is offline
 
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Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 479
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You may be over thinking it a little. Have you checked out some of the aftermarket chucks? There are a lot available that might fix your existing drills.
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The art to flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
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  #17  
Old 09-26-2012, 09:37 PM
rockwoodrv9 rockwoodrv9 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
Default rivet puller

I picked up a cheap air-puller at HF and had it sitting around because I didn't have hydraulic fluid to make it work. One day I got the fluid, opened it up and it already had fluid in it! For less than $20, it works great. What I really like is you can push on the rivet to hold things tight when you pull the trigger. I don't know how big of a compressor you need, but because you are not pulling tons of rivets on a 7, a small one should work. If you are inside and neighbors are close, you will need a hand puller.

As for the cordless drill, the Dewalt will work fine. Get a reamer bit to almost eliminate deburring. Good luck and have fun.
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Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
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  #18  
Old 09-26-2012, 10:16 PM
adamb.hicks4 adamb.hicks4 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 11
Default Spruce?

Returned my second drill and went w a corded Milwaukee that is listed at 2800 RPM. Seems to run straight and it was half as much as the one I took back. I'm headed to Aircraft Spruce tomorrow to get enough tools to get me going. Has anyone been to one of the actual stores before? I'm heading to the one below Atlanta as I am currently working in Athens. Thanks again for the responses!
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  #19  
Old 09-26-2012, 10:19 PM
adamb.hicks4 adamb.hicks4 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 11
Default Also...

My empennage came in today!! It was packed in 2005 as I got it second or maybe even third hand, but I believe I am the first person to actually open any of it. It was all there per the manifest and I am very excited to get going on it... Have to travel to a wedding this weekend or I would dig in tomorrow assuming I come away with the right tools.
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  #20  
Old 10-03-2012, 07:41 PM
Erik.37m Erik.37m is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Rancho Palos Verdes,CA
Posts: 27
Default Aircraft tool/supplier

I now received my Van's "RV Training Project-1" and the "Tool box kit" to practice on. I'm going to have to get a bunch of tools and this thread is a great find. I noticed on Van's vendor list they listed a company called "US Industrial tool". I was surprised by that. I do some work for them here in Gardena ,CA. They are big in tools for Boeing and airline FBO's. They also have tool kits like Avery and Clevland. My question is, has anybody bought their tools and are they good or pricey? Are their kits good for an RV builder? I know they don't offer the deep throat Arbor press units.
Thanks Erik
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