Two special tools I use often. The first is a set of twenty igintion combination wrenches 10 standard and 10 metric. Sears still sells them. 4 through 11mm and 5/32 through 7/16 The second is a battery cable clamp puller that I use to remove the thrust washer on engines.

Yup, I use mine frequently.

Pricey, but when the hemostat isn't quiiite long enough...

www.garrettwade.com/pop_alternate_view.asp

Here are two tools I have used frequently. The first is an ordinary laundry spring clamp that is taken apart and assembled "backwards". It then is much more useful in our hobby. The second is a tool I made from suggestions posted probably here on RCUniverse. It is used to thread a short piece of All Thread 2-56 threaded rod into Nyrod plastic push/pull rods. I smile every time I use this last tool.

These are two tools I tend to use a lot. They look alike! The one on the left is the common magnet that allows me to retrieve those darn little screws when I drop them in the fuselage of a plane. The one on the right has been indispensible...a little flexible flashlight that helps me see into the cramped recesses of my planes.

I like the clothespin idea and have been employing it for years. That homemade gadget from an electric wire twisty cap is a very cool idea...I might have to make one!

Thanks to Propworn for starting this thread, a great idea. There might be an old one somewhere, but there are always new ideas and newbies. Jon

Sorry about the size of the pic...dunno how to shrink it or thumbnail it!

I changed the topic to include both bought and made tools that help us with our modeling.

Dennis

I'm not sure they are 'special' but I have two of these http://www.palmgren.com/product_info...products_id=13
When I was building my Corsair wing, there was a twist in the center section spar. The vises are very square and heavy. Without them I do not think I could have built a straight wing. I think I paid $46 each at Amazon.

Those are some handy ideas.

Of the tools I've made, I use little sections of extruded angle stock a lot for holding ribs square with harbor freight spring clamps and stuff like that.

I had to drill hundreds of holes with a certain depth! So i made this of a 2 inch waterpipe. Dont use it with the kond of chuck as in pictures.
The groves that give good grip were grinded of, the old standard chuck should work fine.
Made the job easy though!
Jonas

Jeff's Film Trimmer from Harry Higley is one of the best tools I've found. I won't covered a plane with out it.

http://www.harryhigley.com/Tools1.htm

My Dremil is the most used tool.
Edwin

Dang, the page says it has been discontinued...

I just went to the Harry Higley website and their products have been taken over by Sullivan.  He is retiring after 35 years in business.  He thinks it will take a couple of weeks for Sullivan to get their (Harry Higley) products listed.

Post back please if that covering cutter becomes available. I have the monocote one, but I think I do better by hand.

Another use for the clothspin mod. Doesn't act like a heatsink.

I'm not very neat, and my epoxy bottles leave spots.

They started selling sliced meat and other things in these disposable snap-top tubs. I traced my epoxy bottles on the bottom and cut roughly around the lines. The tub keeps my bottles upright and contains the mess. From time to time, I make a new one.

Oh, and the pill bottle is full of stir sticks.

Just FYI,
Dave Olson

Good info Dave. Here's another one for foamers. These are made from housing copper wire. The one with the ears is for cutting out servo cavities. Uses the plywood on the surface for a guide. A straight pin stuck through the surface tells what the thickness is.
Gord.

The wing bolts on my in-construction Pulse 125 have sharp edges that are hard on the fingers - the head kind of looks like this:



I used a spare piece of dowel to make a wing bolt tool.

Here is my handy homemade "mini-router" table. I needed something for opening up lightening holes in plywood formers and fuselage sides, but I'm too cheap to spend 50-100 buckson a store bought unit.

Nice flat piece of wood,plus a square stick leftover in my scrap bin resulted in a nice little table.Clamp my dremel tool flex shaft to the frame on the bottom, with the cuttingbit up through the hole.....presto.....homemade hobby size router, just clamp'er down to a bench and go. Took me an afternoon to build, and $4 invested. Incidentally, a drywall bit works nicely on balsa sheeting!!

Hot wire bow cutter made from a piece of ABS hot water pipe. End braces are made from coat hangar wire. Cutting wire is .020 piano wire. This is strung like a real bow as, if you leave it strung, the bow loses it's tension. I have about half a dozen different bows and this one gets the most use, mainly because of its light weight. Very nice to handle.