Basic building tools (Updated)
 

I will be starting to build a new kit any time now. I've never done this before so I've been compiling a shopping list to gather all the tools I'm gonna need. This is it so far but I would like to know what I'm missing:

Heat Gun
Sealing Iron
Trim Seal Tool
Hot Sock Iron Cover
Razor Saw Set
Thin CA 4oz
Medium CA 4oz
Epoxy 45min 9oz
Epoxy 6min 9oz
Xacto knife with plenty of assorted blades
Moto Tool
Sand paper holders
Assorted sand paper
2 flathead vise clamps
2 Standard vise clamps

RE: Basic building tools
 

What will you be using for a buildboard. A popular choice when starting out (and many stick with) is a hollow core door coverd with ceiling tiles. Be sure to have lots of clamps, a selection of flexible plastic rules and metal rules. A T-pin tool will save your fingers. If you need to shape blocks, a razor plane is handy.

Scott

RE: Basic building tools
 

I've been looking everywhere for clamps but haven't been able to find anything that suits the need. I've seen the same type used by a lot of builders here in the forums but I don't know where they come from. They are spring type clamps in assorted colors. Anyone?

RE: Basic building tools
 

Weights. I use freezer bags filled with sand, and then double bagged. Various sizes = various weights. You can also use lead shot, a little more expensive. They come in handy when keeping an item flat, while the glue sets up. Covering wings. etc. I also like to use titebond.

RE: Basic building tools
 

CLAMPS:D try your dollar store. they often have 'em in the tool section. usually not to sturdy but super for planes and THEY"RE A DOLLAR[sm=idea.gif] at that price get 10 or so. the pistol grip kind are cool but I'd hate to pay home depot's prices [:@]

OOPS just saw your location:eek:

paint stirring sticks are handy for sanding and as wood for building too. stick the sand paper to it with any old kinda glue they are kinda handy.

RE: Basic building tools
 

Yep, no home depot around. Lucky for me though, because I'll be in the US in three weeks so ill get all my shopping done.

RE: Basic building tools
 

WE belong to the same club.

RE: Basic building tools
 

Something I own that has become invaluable to me is a long (About 10 inches) 5/32" drill bit. I usually only use it once per plane for drilling the throttle pushrod hole in the firewall, but I'd hate to have to do that job without one.

Also, get a set of standard and metric "Ball-End Allen Wrenches"

RE: Basic building tools
 

Check out this gold mine for information about tools etcetera:

[link=http://www.airfieldmodels.com/information_source/model_building_tools/basic_tools_for_model_building.htm]Airfieldmodels[/link]

RE: Basic building tools
 

Dremel- My Invaluable Tool. I use it all the time. Black and Decker make a nice cheap one in Walmart. Real quiet motor

RE: Basic building tools
 

Some observations, and a few additions.
Change the 6 minute epoxy to 15 minute. The curing time isn't that much longer, but it's stronger and more versatile.
Single edge razor blades. I like them better than xacto blades for many tasks, including cutting covering. A box of 100 is only $5-10.
Metal straight edges. I have a 12" and 30". These are great for making straight cuts.
A square for aligning bulkheads, tail surfaces, etc.

RE: Basic building tools
 

I would recommend you purchase CA glue in 1 oz bottles. The shelf life of CA is not very long, 1 year or so. Unless you will be doing a lot of building you will not use 4 oz before it goes bad. Also, I would add clothes pins to the list. They make great clamps. I never have enough clamps!

RE: Basic building tools
 

Clamps are where you find them.

Clothes pins. And "reversed" they make semi-parallel jaw clamps that are even better. Lead weights for gravity clamps. #64 rubber bands stretched between pencils or dowels make long clamps. And a rubberband between two "T" pins makes a great clamp to hold objects down to a flat board.

You can get the plastic clamps at Lowes or Home Depot . . . or a dollar store.

RE: Basic building tools
 

Spring clamps,
look around the internet but here is a link.
I would get the 50 piece mini, the 20 piece 4-1/2 and the 15 piece 6-1/2 and you will be set for life
http://www.hobbytool.com/index.asp?P...ATS&Category=8 (looking at the solid plastic ones)
Hemostats and needle nose pliers always come in handy.
A good supply of every size allen wrench known to man helps also.

RE: Basic building tools
 

You might be able to get away with just the iron for plastic covering and purchase the trim tool and heat gun at a later date. I started with just a monokote iron, after using mom's clothes iron (circa. 1976).

RE: Basic building tools
 

I get a catalog from "Micro-Mark" the small tool specialist". www.micromark.com 1-800-225-1066.

They have some useful things, including a bunch of small clamps, fasteners, drills, Dremel & accessories ++++++++++++++++++++++ Some items specifically for Modelers.

Small Parts & Reid tool are possibly 2 more sources for some items. I have catalogs from both.

Wholesale tool, Enco, and other industrial suppliers offer fasteners (screws) and more. One of these offers screws in lots of 25 at a good price. Enco I think.

I have so many catalogs it is hard to keep up.

Some computer & other electronic catalogs have parts for servicing E-gear that might help.

RE: Basic building tools
 

Skip the razor saw set and buy a Zona 500 razor saw. Its the best out thier and all you will need. Skip the Sealing tool, not needed in most instances. You will need some 1' sanding bars and a long steel straight edge. I would buy some 30 min expoxy and skip the 5 min stuff for now. Don't buy more then 1 oz bottles of CA or you will be throwing it away. Sand paper, 36# for carving, 80# rough sanding, 150#,220#,320# for finish sanding. T pins, rubber bands, alot of masking tape: automotive grade. Alot ofNo 11 knife blades, get the Xacto brand, their much better blades. Tape measure and good 12" ruler for exact measuring. Flat building table and I mean flat, a ceiling tile, wax paper, Dremel tool with cut off wheels, drill and bits, Small screw driver set, hex drive set and on and on. good luck and have fun. Canopy glue.

RE: Basic building tools
 

I find that cleco pliers and side grip clamps work well for model building as well as homebuilt airplanes. For those of you that have never seen (or heard) of cleco tools, they are also what is used to hold two parts together through a hole in aircraft construction.

http://www.cokid.com/accessories.htm

RE: Basic building tools
 

Hi, See you at the picnic sept 23 check the web site we just set the date so it might not be on yet[8D]

RE: Basic building tools
 

so many toys so little time!

Don't forget the bandaids and peroxide;);)

little paper cups like you put ketchup in at the burger joint for epoxy mixxing....what you don't get yours from there??:D
pick up some bamboo skewers at the dollar store or grocery store they work for tons of stuff.
I keep a handfull of yard sticks and paint sticks around also for quick measureing and for wood for building ..such as reinforcing landing gear etc.

learned somethin new yesterday... plastic ketchup cups won't hold acitone.... I"m gettin a nice new peice of 1/2" blue foam for the work bench[sm=confused_smile.gif]

RE: Basic building tools
 

http://www.hobbytool.com/index.asp?P...WPROD&ProdID=4 these clamps that minnflyer suggested are the best, they are strong enough, but usually wont dent up the wood too much the metal ones with the rubber tips are really too strong for balsa and tend to crush the wood, there great for light ply though,they have alot of holding power.

also "T" pins a couple different sizes the pin insreter also comes in handy for the hard to stick surfaces.
as well as a small tap set for threading screws into just about anything,alot of builds require you to tap hardwood blocks and then harden the threads with thin CA,mostly wing mounts requiring a 1/4-20 tap for the nylon bolts to screw into but a small set is handy for engine mounting bolts also( I tap mine into the engine mount and also use a nut on the bottom to secure the bolts they will stay tight when there tapped in)most tap sets will come with the proper size drill bits for the taps if not then they will have a list of the right sizes its important to use the proper drill bit when making threads in any material

RE: Basic building tools
 

I have updated the list of items to get for my first and hopefully more builds to come:

Heat Gun
Sealing Iron
Trim Seal Tool
Hot Sock Iron Cover
Razor Saw Set
Thin CA 2oz
Medium CA 2oz
Epoxy 45min 9oz
Razor Plane
Gyros Swivel Head Pin Vise
Dremel 7-Piece Drill Bit Set
Miter Box
T pins
Zona L Square
Sander 5.5"
Sander 11"
Hobbylite Filler
Robart Hinge Jig

Mini Plastic Spring Clamp (25) (Hobbytool)
4 1/2in. Plastic Spring Clamps (10) (Hobbytool)
6 1/2in. Plastic Spring Clamps (6) (Hobbytool)


I don't like the idea of using a tap on the wood to thread for the wing bolts and landing gear bolts. I rather use blind nuts so the thread will be more secure. Should I still get a tap?

RE: Basic building tools
 

The one item I would say to leave off is the hot sock cover. It's been my experience that the ones you buy specifically for the irons are overpriced and do not last very long. For the same money you can buy a ton of 100% cotton baby socks. They do the same job and are cheaper.

That's my 2¢ worth.

ken

RE: Basic building tools
 

Thats a good Idea Ken, I`m off to raid the grandkids sock drawers

RE: Basic building tools
 

;)

Most of my tips like this don't come from the fact that I'm cheap (which I am), but more from the fact that the nearest LHS is an hour's drive away, so I try to find substitutes that I can purchase locally.

Ken