I got burned on those too!
quit using the air Drill, loud and poor control. I like a small variable speed electric.
I bought the extra long double offset back riveting tool and 3 lb bucking bar with the intent of getting beautiful rivets on my wing skins like previous back rivets. Almost every rivet shop head was bent and the finished flush head looked unacceptable.
I've seen many posts with the same results, so I gave up and never figured out how to use these tools.
As someone said above, steel bucking bars are useless.
I tried each one I had once, then tried a fellow builder's tungsten bar, then bought my own tungsten bar.
Ditto here on this one. They got me too! Used them one time to strip about 4 wires. Made it through 2 wires. On the third one the spring loaded cutting edge went flying out of the tool across the floor. Busted after two wires stripped. What a waste. Oh yeah, looking at the wires I used it on I could see where the cutter nicked the wires. So I had to redo the two wires I used it on.How about the plastic wire strippers sold by the hucksters at OSH? Yeah, they got me!
As someone said above, steel bucking bars are useless.
I tried each one I had once, then tried a fellow builder's tungsten bar, then bought my own tungsten bar.
..tin snips. Runners up are the Avery bucking bar that has holes to accept dimple dies (sp) and the rivet set extension.
I actually use that bucking bar regularly. Say I'm riveting skin to rib, both dimpled. I put a rivet in the hole, dimple die and bucking bar behind it and hit it lightly a couple of times with the gun. That helps the dimples nestle into each other and the two pieces look much more snug afterwards. Then set the rivet normally...tin snips. Runners up are the Avery bucking bar that has holes to accept dimple dies (sp) and the rivet set extension.
- 12 point sockets. What's the point? except probably being cheaper to make.
How about the Avery dimpling Vise-Grip? (for those hard to reach dimples) Used it twice and the fitting broke off the tip.
- 12 point sockets. What's the point? except probably being cheaper to make.
- Chinese safety wire pliers. (okay, mine came with the project so they were "free" and I was almost tempted to pick up a replacement pair at HF after they "exploded", but I bit the bullet and bought some new Mil-Bar's. I suspect they'll outlast me.)
- Craftsman screwdrivers. Yuck. Buy some PB Baumann and never look back.
http://www.pbbaumann.com/detail.aspx?ID=7870
- Chinese safety wire pliers. (okay, mine came with the project so they were "free" and I was almost tempted to pick up a replacement pair at HF after they "exploded", but I bit the bullet and bought some new Mil-Bar's. I suspect they'll outlast me.)
Inches??? I mean this is 2007, not 1607 Well, it's not that bad, fractions of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and so on is pretty easy to learn, but why then is some measurements made in 1000 ths and 100ths of an inch? The main difficulty for me is to get a relation to how much 3/16 of an inch etc is in terms of actual length when using my eyes.
the US is known for alot of things, making high quality tools is definitely not one of them.
My only experience with a tungsten bucking bar left my forehead bloodied. I was bucking rivets while laying on my back under Tony's RV8A. The (very small) bar slipped out of my hand and hit my head leaving a small gash and lotsa blood. I still have the scar. Thanks Tony!
Anyway, tungsten works great for bucking rivets, I'm too cheap to buy one though.
I think I actually purchased the most unusable tool today. It is a digital caliper (I think the english word is).
With a digital scale it should be no problem setting the accuracy to whatever you want 1/16, 1/128 or whatever and just display the reminder in any chosen metrics. I mean, the main idea of having a digital scale is that it is possible to do things like that. But I guess the one I bought was made in ChinaThey do make digital calipers that will also read in fractions of an inch.
<<I don't think the US will ever go metric.>>
We've gone metric. We just have a whole lot of stuff still on the old standards, like aircraft hardware and automotive speedometers. Most serious
US shop nuts have complete sets of metric and inch tools, and think easily in metric, decimal or fraction.
Don't see much reason to change all the speed limit signs to klicks. It's kinda like Mr Svingen; he obviously understands English, but I don't think he would be willing to give up the Norwegian language.
Worthless tools? I'd have to nominate my BSP pipe tap <g>
I guess some things just never changes. Here we have metric system on land (km and km/h), but knots and nautical miles on water and in the air. On top of that we use feet for altitude.
I have been around tools and parts all my life (60yrs) and as long as people keep buying from HF and Walmart and AutoZone then we get what we deserve. Search out the quality and you will always be happy. Use quality tools and supplies and your finished product will be quality. Original parts are not the best or they would not need to be replaced.