Cool building tools

[Turbojoe]

Good one! I use Z bend pliers on virtually every build. Surprisingly I've used servo tape mainly on helicopters. I'm sure there's bazillions of uses on planes as well that I haven't tried yet. I'm just not happy with adhesion to balsa. A little CA on the balsa side could take care of that though.

Joe

 

[Turbojoe]

Here's another one. Perma Grit tools. They're gawd awful expensive but over the years they more than pay for themselves. I have a few more than what's shown in the picture but the others are hiding from me now.....

Joe

 

[TooJung2Die]

Here's another one. Perma Grit tools.

They look handy for shaping. You need a good grit when there's CA glue in the way. I have a set of diamond grit jewelers files that I use constantly. The grit is course enough to sand balsa. They were very inexpensive on AliExpress. I didn't think they'd last but I've had them for years.

Here are a couple of homemade tools I use frequently. Ever hear the expression "like a hot knife through butter"? That's how this covering film gadget works. #11 Xacto blade riveted to a 25W soldering iron. It cuts through film without scorching balsa. It does double duty as a super fine trim iron.



These are slotting saws made from stacked fine tooth hacksaw blades. Two blades are 1/16", three make 3/32" etc. Alternate the direction of the saw teeth when stacking the blades. Super glue them together. Heat shrink tubing for a handle. Make some test cuts and grind down the side teeth until the slot cut is exactly the right width.



Jon

 

[Turbojoe]

I like the "hot knife". Never seen an Xacto blade used before. I have several pencil irons. I can sacrifice one. I can see it becoming quite useful.

The stacked hacksaw blades are infinitely less expensive than the Perma-Grit spar slotters that I bought years ago. They work great but were crazy expensive. I had more money than brains at the time I bought them. The hacksaw method works every bit as good though.

Joe

 

[Joker 53150]

Here's a handy tool that I'm going to spend more quality time with, a crimping pliers for making your own servo extensions (or for shortening existing servo wires). It takes a little practice, but overall is a fairly easy job. The hardest part is making sure you're using the correct male or female pins, and using the correct ends. To help me I usually take a factory-made extension with an end I want to make, and put it in front of me so I can simply copy it. For the price of a handful of pre-made extensions you can buy the full kit and make your own to the right length.

 

[Turbojoe]

I don't remember for certain where I got my crimping pliers but they really are indispensable if you need special length extensions aren't they? A few years ago I bought a bunch of the servo pin packs from Hobby King for crazy cheap. Now I make all my own extensions. Usually from existing extensions that I already had but I cut down for my needs and crimp new ends onto. If I didn't already have those extensions I'd just buy a roll of servo wire and save even more money.

Joe