And heavy as a hippo!! The hefty weight has kept me from using this tool. Whenever I have used my hand squeezer for items in tight places I have wondered how I could have gotten the pneumatic squeezer into that space. Usually the answer is: "I couldn't".vmirv8bldr said:My #1, wouldn't live without it, tool is the pneumatic squeezer. Expensive, but worth EVERY penny!
RVbySDI said:And heavy as a hippo!! The hefty weight has kept me from using this tool. Whenever I have used my hand squeezer for items in tight places I have wondered how I could have gotten the pneumatic squeezer into that space. Usually the answer is: "I couldn't".
Everyone's preference is different but this would not be my choice for tools "I can not live without". In fact, I might be inclined to say the pneumatic squeezer would be one I would say to avoid. No offense to those of you who love it but it is a very expensive tool with a restricted usability window. Yes it is nice to have when you need it but the reality is in building the RV's you really don't need it.
My .02!
RVbySDI said:And heavy as a hippo!! The hefty weight has kept me from using this tool. Whenever I have used my hand squeezer for items in tight places I have wondered how I could have gotten the pneumatic squeezer into that space. Usually the answer is: "I couldn't".
Everyone's preference is different but this would not be my choice for tools "I can not live without". In fact, I might be inclined to say the pneumatic squeezer would be one I would say to avoid. No offense to those of you who love it but it is a very expensive tool with a restricted usability window. Yes it is nice to have when you need it but the reality is in building the RV's you really don't need it.
My .02!
I agree that it is a personal preference. I also do not down play anyone's opinion who thinks it is a good tool. But at $450+ your two pneumatic squeezers you mention with the third yoke is approaching a price range that would draw the attention and chastisement of many a household financial analyst (read as WIFE!!). I have a hard time justifying one of these expensive tools, let alone two of them!FredMagare said:It's a personal preference, but the pneumatic squeezer can turn a three-handed job into a two-handed one! So worth it, I've got two with three different yokes. (If I'm using one yoke mainly but need another for a specific rivet I can just grab the other squeezer.)
RVbySDI said:I agree that it is a personal preference. I also do not down play anyone's opinion who thinks it is a good tool. But at $450+ your two pneumatic squeezers you mention with the third yoke is approaching a price range that would draw the attention and chastisement of many a household financial analyst (read as WIFE!!). I have a hard time justifying one of these expensive tools, let alone two of them!
brian said:In particular, avoid cutting corners by buying cheap strippers or crimpers.
Also avoid the cheap wire strippers sold by the con artists at AirVenture - see pic here: http://brian76.mystarband.net/tools.htm#jun13-06
They may appear to work well at the show, but they are junk in the real world.
http://brian76.mystarband.net/tools.htm
brian said:Avoid "oil-free" air compressors - they are extremely noisy.
I agree that it is a personal preference. I also do not down play anyone's opinion who thinks it is a good tool. But at $450+ your two pneumatic squeezers you mention with the third yoke is approaching a price range that would draw the attention and chastisement of many a household financial analyst (read as WIFE!!). I have a hard time justifying one of these expensive tools, let alone two of them!
RVbySDI said:I agree that it is a personal preference. I also do not down play anyone's opinion who thinks it is a good tool. But at $450+ your two pneumatic squeezers you mention with the third yoke is approaching a price range that would draw the attention and chastisement of many a household financial analyst (read as WIFE!!). I have a hard time justifying one of these expensive tools, let alone two of them!
brian said:You also don't need to buy any of those nutplate jigs. Clecoes work fine and more easily, if you do it right. If you have a #8 nutplate to put in, don't drill the hole to full size. A 1/8" hole will allow you to use a 1/8" copper cleco for a perfect fit in both the hole and the nutplate. Use a silver 3/32" cleco for #6 and use a black 5/32" cleco for AN3 or #10. Drill one nutplate rivet hole, put a silver cleco there, then drill the other 3/32" hole. Remove the clecoes and drill the center hole out to final size (I generally use #16 or even #12 for AN3 or #8, so the screws will fit in more easily). Works perfectly every time. For larger or smaller nutplates, just use appropriately larger or smaller clecoes and starter holes. Pic here (and on my tools page):
brian
They are ONE of the most inexpensive time savers that you can own when building.KTM520guy said:I love my nutplate jigs. Different strokes I guess.
rwarre said:Starting the tool buying process. Any tools out there that I should know about and avoid. Thanks
brian said:You also don't need to buy any of those nutplate jigs.