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What is your favoite tool in your tool box?
- Thread starter Keno
- Start date
I went back to the old threads remembering this trick, tried it and it works great!
Thanks evranch!
Thanks evranch!
My favorite new tool is the hot wire table. It comes with a miter to make nice, square cuts. And there are accessories available to make some tasks easier. Mine is a Hercules but there is another called the Proxxon. And there may be others. More tips at: https://foamboardflyers.com/
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There's always my scratchbuilt laser "cutter" which has seen use ever since late 2017 (more details here), but that's to be expected.
Recently I've found a good pair of adjustable vise-grip pliers and a quality set of files to be indispensable. The former, for being able to hold on to things without having to exert pressure like traditional pliers - these are exceptionally useful in holding bullet connectors and other bits when soldering, holding the nuts on to the back of retract mounting plates while working blind inside the inlet duct, and crimping and crushing stuff with their compound mechanical advantage. The files have proven useful for enlarging and moving the locations of holes in plastic parts such as retract units, removing sharp burrs on small metal parts, and fine-tuning fits between wooden parts.
Recently I've found a good pair of adjustable vise-grip pliers and a quality set of files to be indispensable. The former, for being able to hold on to things without having to exert pressure like traditional pliers - these are exceptionally useful in holding bullet connectors and other bits when soldering, holding the nuts on to the back of retract mounting plates while working blind inside the inlet duct, and crimping and crushing stuff with their compound mechanical advantage. The files have proven useful for enlarging and moving the locations of holes in plastic parts such as retract units, removing sharp burrs on small metal parts, and fine-tuning fits between wooden parts.
Just began using a Cricut Vinyl Cutter. I made the lettering on the wing using it. But it can do a lot more than lettering. The thing that surprised me was how detailed the cuts can be. The third pic is a painting stencil cut from card stock using the Cricut. It's a toaster and the plan is to add wings at some point. More resources for foamboard R/C modelers at: https://foamboardflyers.com/
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I use a small pin wrapped in sugru in the shape of my fingers for comfort when tracing out plans, a cobalt box cutter, a xacto blade, ruler, good set of pliers and a surebonder hot glue gun. My favorite is the pin because it would normally dig into my finger after a wile, but the rubber coating makes it bearable
My favorite tool is my camper van. It's my mobile workshop. Solar panel system and an inverter means I can fix anything anywhere. Broken wire? Solder it. Bad crash? Hot glue gun is ready to go. Long day at the field? Grab a nap on the couch.
Cold drinks from the fridge, check. Just need it to build the planes for me next.
Cold drinks from the fridge, check. Just need it to build the planes for me next.
I've found the "CH Hanson Pliers" don't have that stupid screw on the end. You set the grip strength with a screw in the center of the pliers, and the jaws open wide. Squeezing down grips whatever is in the jaws at the strength set by the screw. No fiddlin' with that screw on the size of the object in the jaws.
Like.
Adding a pic is good too!
Adding a pic is good too!
OK; this is a link to a set of these. The screw isn't visible except in one of the photos.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A7US5K/?tag=lstir-20
3D printer here, as well.
Control horns, firewalls, and any other part you might want. My mini-scout has 3D printed "engines" and a low-poly squirrel as pilot, both from thingiverse. Also I designed my own axle locks for the landing gear, secured with hot glue. The squirrel took a few tries to get the right scaling to make it fit and look right Completely silly, but fun!
My other planes were scratch built. No need to cut out thin plywood, just fire up the Ender 3.
Second is the pin vise to widen holes in said 3D printed objects
Control horns, firewalls, and any other part you might want. My mini-scout has 3D printed "engines" and a low-poly squirrel as pilot, both from thingiverse. Also I designed my own axle locks for the landing gear, secured with hot glue. The squirrel took a few tries to get the right scaling to make it fit and look right
Completely silly, but fun!My other planes were scratch built. No need to cut out thin plywood, just fire up the Ender 3.
Second is the pin vise to widen holes in said 3D printed objects
Maybe not my favorite tool, but one that comes in handy, the Logan Foam Werks Circle Cutter. I needed to mount struts on my Jupiter Duck wing. So I made 2" foam circles, then glued in plywood control horns. And I used CF tubes with piano wire ends. Seems to be a good solution. And I used the Circle Cutter to make some wheels. Used some rubber rings for tires and added some decoration. More tips for foam board R/C modelers at: https://foamboardflyers.com/
