Tool Time

I thought it would be good to take a look around the glider project and see what kind of tools it takes to build an airplane:

Table saw

Radial arm saw, one of two.

Bench grinder and small sheet metal brake, for small quick jobs.

Large sheet metal brake with shear and slip roll, for larger or more complicated jobs.

Drill press, three of six, were rich! Why six? Because six were donated, and they can be used for so many things. Drilling holes, taping threads, sanding (with disks or drums). In fact, if multiple parts are needed, an assembly line can be set up with each drill press loaded with a different tool, then the parts can be drilled, sanded, etc; with out changing tools, simply by moving the piece from one drill press to the next!

Compound miter saw

12 inch x 6.9 inch planer, very good (fast) for reducing a thick board to a thin board.

Router with bench-top stand

Jig saw

Oscillating sander (concave curves) and disc sander (straight and convex curves)

Band saw. 

Mark, thanks for showing us how to tweek a plywood widget

Paul standing next to a turret sander. Turret sander? the thing his hand is setting on is the "turret". It is four sided and can be easily rotated to select any one of four different tools. Thus, multiple tools can be switched rapidly for parts that require many different operations. 

6 1/8 inch jointer/planer

Jointer/planer, close up view

Did you recognize any of the above tools? Maybe? Probably?

Think about this. If you are familiar with these tools, you can build an airplane! Maybe you are familiar with some of these tools, but not all. Never fear. Most of us are (or have been) in that same situation. We will never know EVERYTHING we need to know when we start a project. But, and I emphasize the BUT, if we have the desire, and some basic skills, we can develop the other skills needed to accomplish the tasks (yes, this applies to other things in life besides building airplanes). If you use any tools on a regular or semi-regular basis, then you have developed the necessary hand-to-eye coordination that will be used when learning how to use other tools. An old boss (Ken) once told me something that I have never forgotten.

"We don't wait to start a trip to New York City until all the traffic lights are green [that would never happen]. We start driving and when we come to the first red-light, we deal with it. The same with each red light we encounter. Eventually, we reach our destination"

Thank you, Ken.

So it is with any project. Don't be timid. Yes, we must plan, but we don't wait for all the lights to turn green.

If you live in the area, come and join us as we build an airplane, especially if you are considering building your own airplane. We have fun and fellowship, and learn about lots of interesting aviation stuff.