REFLECTOR: Methods and Tools questions

[Don Johnston]

The epoxy cooking seems to be well covered. :-)

Personally, I really like Resin Research. Stays cool, available with 3 or 4
different hardeners (there's one that cures in an hour). And it sticks to
aluminum like nobodies business.
http://www.resinresearch.net/id2.html

As for tools, I can't imagine building without air tools. The burp (or
fart, as Malcolm likes to call it) saw is invaluable. Air tools are also a
LOT lighter. And the Central Pneumatic from Harbor Freight last long enough
at such a low price that I never even think about when I have to toss one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/specialty-air-tools/high-speed-metal-saw-91753.html

You just can't beat a Hutchins Hustler sanding board. They aren't cheap,
but they can give you a nice straight wing or remove a ton of filler when
you lean on it.  I got mine on ebay.
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/hut2000.html

As for electric, I love my 18v Li-Ion Makita drill. Light enough that it
doesn't wear you out and the battery last a long time.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11085598&cagpspn=pla

For hand tools, a permagrit kit is a must have.
http://www.permagrit.com/index.php?cPath=80_81

Don
XL-RG

From: Clayton Chase <chasec at gmail.com>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Cc:
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 13:24:46 -0700
Subject: REFLECTOR: Methods and Tools questions
I'm getting closer to getting my basement ready and as a consequence
actually being able to start on my kit.   Since I would like to
complete the kit using the same methods I start with, I am asking the
group for your collective wisdom.


Has anybody successfully used vacuum bagging for much on the velocity?
  I went through Brett Ferrell's archive and some web searching and
didn't find much.   Someone is selling strake baffles that are vacuum
bagged and some of the quickbuild wings used to be done with vacuum
bagging techniques, but I don't see much about it on the list.    If I
do go for a vacuum system some things that I think will be good to do
are the main wings, and winglets and the canard.  I'm not sure that
I'll be able to do the layups that are on existing pieces very well
since I'll need vacuum tape and need the other surface to be airtight.
 Plus if I did a large piece I'd be concerned about deforming the
piece I'm adding onto.

How much use would I get out of an air compressor?  All of my current
power tools are electric/battery driven and I'd prefer to stick with
more of those rather than have a mix of air and electric tools so the
compressor would actually only provide air rather than tool power.
The uses I can think of are mostly around dusting and cleaning.  I
have an airless paint sprayer that may or may not be useful when I get
to that stage.

I've got saws, drills, sanders, sanding blocks, levels and straight
edges and so on.  I'm planning on getting some clecos (and tool for
them).    Any other tools you guys think I should get before I even
start?

Clay
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/private/reflector/attachments/20121002/74802764/attachment.html>