Rather than attempt to search for each individual tool I will need for the construction of my -7, I've decided to order most of my tools as a part of a kit. There are three or four companies that sell tool kits meant specifically for RV builders. The companies take the list of tools Van's recommends, plus personal experience in a few cases, and put together what they think would be the best kit. I've looked quite extensively at a few of these tool kits and I've decided to go with the Isham kit (sold at www.planetools.com) with a few additions and subtractions. This kit isn't the cheapest I found, but it does look like it is good quality and has most of the tools I would like to have when building. Some of the other kits didn't look to be as comprehensive as the Isham kit. In addition to that, the Isham kit comes with the DRDT-2 dimpler and a pneumatic squeezer, which will make life nice once I start building. I'll show how these tools are used at a later date, but they are basically two of the most utilized tools while building the RV-7. Some of the other companies sold different versions of the dimpler or didn't include the pneumatic squeezer.
When I ordered my tools, I subtracted the DRDT-2 dimpler from my order as I found a used one the other day. I had emailed Scott, another builder in Lincoln, California, I found online a while back, just to introduce myself. I'm glad I emailed him when I did, because he let me know he was finished with his dimpler and looking to sell it. We made a deal and I'm planning to pick it up when I get home. That saved me a good little chunk of money! I'm looking forward to meeting Scott, seeing his RV-8 project and learning some about building from him. A couple of the other subtractions I made from the Isham kit were the dimple dies and squeezer sets. (Dimple dies are used to create small divots in parts of the airplane so a rivet will sit flush with the surrounding metal. I will divot a lot during this project... like, a lot. Squeezer sets are used in the pneumatic squeezer to squeeze rivets.) I didn't make this decision because I'd heard anything bad about Isham's dies or sets; rather it was made because I had read such great reviews on Cleaveland Aircraft Tool Company's dies. Multiple builders have said these dies provide the best dimples of any set you can find, and I want my airplane to look as good as the best ones out there. So I spent a little extra money and ordered the die and squeezer sets from Cleaveland. I also bought one of Cleaveland's edge rolling tools.
I may have been able to save a few bucks by searching online for individual tools, but the convenience of placing just two orders and having the majority of the tools I will need was too enticing. I'm willing to pay a few extra bucks for that. I'm also new to metal working so having someone else help me choose which tools I'll need is a big bonus. I placed my order yesterday, so I expect it to arrive about the same time I return from my deployment. I'm giddier than a pre-teen girl at a Justin Bieber concert to get my hands on these tools!
When I ordered my tools, I subtracted the DRDT-2 dimpler from my order as I found a used one the other day. I had emailed Scott, another builder in Lincoln, California, I found online a while back, just to introduce myself. I'm glad I emailed him when I did, because he let me know he was finished with his dimpler and looking to sell it. We made a deal and I'm planning to pick it up when I get home. That saved me a good little chunk of money! I'm looking forward to meeting Scott, seeing his RV-8 project and learning some about building from him. A couple of the other subtractions I made from the Isham kit were the dimple dies and squeezer sets. (Dimple dies are used to create small divots in parts of the airplane so a rivet will sit flush with the surrounding metal. I will divot a lot during this project... like, a lot. Squeezer sets are used in the pneumatic squeezer to squeeze rivets.) I didn't make this decision because I'd heard anything bad about Isham's dies or sets; rather it was made because I had read such great reviews on Cleaveland Aircraft Tool Company's dies. Multiple builders have said these dies provide the best dimples of any set you can find, and I want my airplane to look as good as the best ones out there. So I spent a little extra money and ordered the die and squeezer sets from Cleaveland. I also bought one of Cleaveland's edge rolling tools.
I may have been able to save a few bucks by searching online for individual tools, but the convenience of placing just two orders and having the majority of the tools I will need was too enticing. I'm willing to pay a few extra bucks for that. I'm also new to metal working so having someone else help me choose which tools I'll need is a big bonus. I placed my order yesterday, so I expect it to arrive about the same time I return from my deployment. I'm giddier than a pre-teen girl at a Justin Bieber concert to get my hands on these tools!
