Hello!

I have built a few small electric balsa kits aswell as a few ARFs. Can someone help me select the tools used to build a kit. I know you can build a model with little or no tools but i would like to start the right way. Im not looking to buy every tool you can think of but if you could give me sugestions and links it would be a big help!

Thanks

Alex

Goodness Gracious;

A blank slate with a healthy charge card!
Just don't tell the clerk at the tool shop what you just told us!

Actually I don't like the idea of just going out to shop, most fellows develop a set of tools depending on the type of building that they do as well as the kind of AC that they enjoy.

A general purpose wood working shop with some mid-range tools will do for most builders, for the "Master Craftsman" nothing but the best will work. As a master builder you will be spending $1-2K for a precision table saw and more for a lathe - well you get the idea. . .

If you are determined to go out and spend some money on a modeller's work shop some good tools to have include; A band saw, 4" table saw, 1" Bench sander, dremel tool. These are some real essential tools (IMHO), after these you can add to your shop as you find a requirement.

Good Luck.

Tripxrcer-

Here is a site that was recommended to me when I started to build kits. I found it very comprehensive as well as helpful. It is very well designed web site and has lots and lots of information. I am by no means an expert on the topic but everything I have read on the sight seems very well thought out, logical and practical.


http://airfieldmodels.com/index.htm

He even has a special section devoted to building tools. Very cool.

http://airfieldmodels.com/informatio...ools/index.htm

I got a feeling this is the kind of info you were looking for.

Regards.

Mark

Ah I love to give opinions!

Get a Zona miter box and saw. SPine is much stiffer then exacto saw, works better. Dremel tool if nothing for cutting metal. Fourmost miter sander. These are great for getting a tight fit, especially useful on stick structures. Great Planes Slot Machine. I shudder when I remember cutting hinge slots with a #11 blade. Covering Iron and heat gun. One of those wall paper knives that hold a single edge razor blade and a big box of single edge blades. Great Planes EZ touch sanders. Buy as many as you dare but get the multi surface one in the large size. This is great for putting on rounded edges and bevels on control surfaces. Razor plane. Mine is a old one brought recently at a LHS. It was in the display case quite awhile and uses double edge blades. Zona L square, some straight edges of assorted sizes preferably in steel as razor blade hangs or cuts aluminium. Pins, clamps, clamps, clamps. Harbor freight has some cheap one that work well on balsa.

And also get a understanding wife as you'll be spending a lot of time in the shop. Pretty too, you'll need something to do while the glue dries.

Hey thanks


mimhoff thats perfect! thanks! THanks guys for the help! ill let you know how my shoping spree turns out!

Alex

Hey, I think that first of all you should get a flat and stable building board. This is the ABC of any kind of building. Second get a good knife. I use the 11# blade AND a bit thicker knife from OLFA. Olfa are the best knives in the market. Also I sugget you buy many clamps as you can from all sizes.
The main glue you should use is Carpenter's yellow wood glue. And don't let anyone fool you with CA or epoxy or anything, wood glue is the ultimate wood for wood-to-wood contact.
I would also recommend a good gentle saw for thick balsa, as well some sanding blocks and a 3 foot ruler.
Oh and don't forget a good dremel tool like said.
The site mentioned earlier is wonderful and contain all the info you need.

Hope I helped.

PS- The list is much longer...(:

trip,

Moneymaker has it right - your most important tool is your building board. A hollow-core door works well and is inexpensive (especially if you get one with a dinged corner or something). Glue cieling tiles to it so you'll have a flat surface that accepts pins. Besides tha all sizes of clamps, I'd also recommend some weights. For me they've become necessities. Hand tools are whatever suits your personal preferences, but since you asked, I'll recommend a Zona saw and Great Planes sanders. Get good T-pins - not those cherap ones with the plastic heads.

Take Mimhoff's advice and check out caffeenman at airfield models. He's done his homework. Good luck.

papermache

Speaking of tools: Does anyone know what happened to Avey Shaw and those neat clamps? Mine are made of orange-colored plastic, have tiltable pressure pads, and use rubber bands for clamping action. They were called "3rd Hand." Can't find them anywhere. I don't remember if I ordered mine directly from Mr Shaw or from MicroMark.

I'm not sure what clamps you're talking about, but I love the plastic spring clamps that are popular now. MicroMark sells a bag of 50 of the small size for about $20ish. Like their ad says, you can't have too many clamps. In fact, most of my "tool" money for the past few years has been buying more clamps of all types. I still come up short in a particular clamp sometimes but more often than not I have what I need.

Momhoff - Thanks for the kind comments about my site. I really appreciate it.

It's true that having too many clamps somehow violates Murphy's Law, so you really can't have too many! The question I originally asked is no longer important-- I was able to contact Mr Shaw, the clamps inventor, who informed me that production was halted some time ago. [] Oh well, at least we tried. Thanks for your interest.