Tools you modified/made

[flion]

Originally Posted by flion

Drill a #40 hole at 1" mark on a tape measure and cleco it in place.

Originally Posted by mturnerb

Never thought of that - but somehow it would bother me to drill into my tape measure.

From another thread, but it made me think. Pristine tools are a joy, no doubt about it. But I have a handful of specially made or modified tools and have seen more in the shops of other mechanics. The forums are also full of advice to "grind a flat" in a wrench or "weld a socket" to a special handle or the like. So I thought it might be useful to have a centralized place for RV-specific tools that have been created for those special occasions when a standard tool won't work.

Along with my drilled (it's not my only, or even new) tape measure, I also have a half dozen cheap aluminum yardsticks, which are somewhat flexible, can be bent, drilled, or sanded/filed without weeping because they are so cheap, and are handy because they can be clamped or clecoed. I started using them when building the RV-6A fuselage (before pre-punching) to be sure the distances from bulkhead to bulkhead were consistent from side to side, but they still have a ton of uses.

I expect to add more tools, and photos, to this thread and hope others will as well. Wait until you see the grinding I did on a squeezer yoke to get into some tight spaces...

[BillL]

Great idea, Patrick. I just posted in another location, but this will be a first installment for your thread.

Oil filter adapter. A socket was used, separating the hex portion from the the 1/2" square drive. The square drive was clocked so a beam torque wrench could be used at 90 deg or zero degrees. The scale is included but it is easy to just make with an old filter on the bench with a known offset.

[wirejock]

Check my blog. There's a bunch of Kitplanes tips. Here are a few specific tool tips.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...VlUdl95OGFSU3c
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...VRCSlNLUjI4c0E
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...md0cEtqaW1NMWc

[BillL]

I tried wrapping the set with tape but it always moved arrrrgh. A small piece of baffle works nicely, the set is tight and will not wander in use. It improved my offset rivets tremendously, but my removal skills deteriorated.

[DanH]

https://www.danhorton.net/Articles/1...pMadeTools.pdf

[blueflyer]

You have just made my offset useable again, thank you! I swore it off because of the wander. I never could hold consistent pressure to stop the wander because it never fails, the rivet is in a spot that requires some body contortion.

Originally Posted by BillL

I tried wrapping the set with tape but it always moved arrrrgh. A small piece of baffle works nicely, the set is tight and will not wander in use. It improved my offset rivets tremendously, but my removal skills deteriorated.

Attachment 2264

[rv6n6r]

Wrench I modified for get into the restricted area to tighten / loosen CHT probes. No doubt lots of better ways but working with what I had, this is what I came up with.

[AlexPeterson]

Originally Posted by BillL

I tried wrapping the set with tape but it always moved arrrrgh. A small piece of baffle works nicely, the set is tight and will not wander in use. It improved my offset rivets tremendously, but my removal skills deteriorated.

Attachment 2264

I'd like to see a video of any offset set creating a decent rivet.

[scard]

Originally Posted by AlexPeterson

I'd like to see a video of any offset set creating a decent rivet.

Probably impossible to get video of as it requires 3.2 hands, your tongue stuck out at exactly the right angle and the phase of the moon to be just right. I've done it a few times, but wouldn't tout any "skill".

[dpansier]

Rear spar drill jig uses standard drill bushings and insures a straight and true hole.