Tools
To build and to buy
To Build
- Work
tables - You want a couple at least. I haven't built a wooden
one but I have an 8 x 4 steel one covered in 1/4 inch plate that I use
for transmission and engine rebuilds. Yes I will build two of
these also!
- Bottle Cart - My design and easy to build
with any material you can lay your hands on. Easily moveable
without having to get up off the floor.(plans coming)
- Mac's
Machine & Design - The only bending brake you will need
for your aluminium work
- Scott Laughlin ( CH
601 XL) has built the brake and has the photo's to prove it - Cooking
with Gas
- Six
foot bending brake that has been extended to 8' successfully for
0.032" Aluminium
- Western
Canadian RVATOR brake, fluting pliers and dimpler - 48 inch
brake that may be handy for the smaller parts. Weird looking
pliers
- Hydraulic press and brake - My design again.
Made from spare steel and a few extras. (plans coming)
- Dimpling C frame - Bobs design in Beartracks
- Flanging tools
- Bobstick - the method the "Bob" uses ala Tony Bingelis?
Look in Tony's books or Beartracks
- Larry
Foors special tool
- Dies - There are several types about. Wooden ones seem to
work just fine for most folks but heres
a set of drawings for steel ones.
- Belt grinder/sander - Nice to have and heres four designs you can
build. Most guys reckon they never use their "stone" grinders
once they have one of these.
To Buy
Hand tools:
- Snips -
- - Left & right Offset
ProSnips or other brand you like. Irwin & Wiss make them
too. Offsets allow you to cut without bending the metal too
much. I have found the
ProSnips to be hard to use. Handles open far too wide when you are
cutting and its hard to get a good hold on them. I have very big
hands so I
hate to think how others get on. They do make nice cuts though so
are worth the trouble.
- - Long cut straight snips. Wiss, Andy and Irwin have
versions of these but I think the Wiss ones have a longer cut.
They are more like big scissors than snips.
- Deburrer - Avery, Aircraft
Spruce etc. are good sources of these. May even find one at a
hardware store. Could be made easily.
- Dimpler - Beartracks has a
design for a deep throat dimpler that could be easily built. Avery have
a nice one but it will cost.
Gas welding
equipment:
Meco Midget - The torch for
4130 tube welding. Get it at TinManTech
as well as Kent Whites videos
Power tools:
- Drill press - Bench model
will
do but a free standing one would be better. Of course you can
make a stand for a bench model if you so desire.
- Router - Don't buy one if
you have no
other use for it but a router can be very useful for forming rib blanks
and form blocks. Probably a variable speed plunge router is the
best but if
you
have one in a table good for you!
- Compressor & Air tools
- Air tools
are cool and generally a lot cheaper than their electrical
counterparts. High speed air drills in particular are far better
for drilling
Aluminium than electric. A small die grinder would also be useful.
- Bench
grinder - For scotchbriting the cut edges of parts and grinding
steel
parts etc.
- Belt sander - Finish wood
forms and
metal edges.
