SHOP (actually basement)

General

I've invested the upfront time to get prepared to start building.  Actually, I'm trying to delay starting the actual build until the winter months.  I know that if I start now, I'll spend all of the fall in the basement.  I think that this will work out great in the long run.  I've already built the needed jigs and even created a paint booth for priming.  I know that if I had the kit here, I wouldn't be as particular with the supporting tools.

 I'll start with the empennage and wings in my basement.  This will allow me a more comfortable environment during the Iowa winter.  Unfortunately, I don't have a walk-out basement so at some point I'll have to move to the garage for the fuselage.  I've tried to take this into consideration as I build the various work surfaces with the intent on making them either small enough to be portable or building them so they could be dismantled and moved to the garage.  

I have run an air supply and added extra lighting to the work area.  I kept the air compressor out in the garage.

I'm building in half of the basement.  I finished out the other half this past summer (2001).  There should be sufficient room to complete the wings and empennage.   

Work Table  There is nothing spectacular about the work bench.  I did build it a little taller than normal.  I believe the top is about 42 inches from the floor.  This fits me better at 6'5" than the normal cabinet height.  It is just 2X4's with a piece of particle board as the surface. I attached the top with carriage head bolts so that I can get this out of the basement and into the garage for building the fuselage.  I'll lay a hollow core door on top for a smooth and straight working surface.

I added a rolling shelf to store parts under the work bench.  This should give them some protection and get them out of the way at the same time. Here's the kit contents on the rolling shelf.  This keeps the kit out of the way and safe.  

Jig's  These are the jigs that I've made. These are all standard, straight from the pre-builders guide.  I've built all that I can before even ordering the kit.  

Paint booth:  I got the idea of this spray booth from another web site.  I'll find the location and add a link later.  I bought a roll of 8'x100' roll of 6 mil plastic and stapled it to the ceiling and around the walls.  I double coated most of the areas to try to ensure that I keep all the paint restricted to this area.  I've added a small vent fan to the outside window.  I've built this so that I can take the fan out and shut the window when not in use. 

 I put three forced air filters in the wall.  Hopefully, this will keep the dust down inside the room.

I built a table using some old tent stakes and chicken wire.  I used the tent stakes just because I had them.  It would have been just as easy to use 2x2's or 2x4's.  This table is simple and light. 

I'm using a water-based primer/sealer from AFS.  I've talked to a couple of individuals that have used this and they are pleased with the hardiness of the material.  I've also purchased the AFS etching solution as well.  As I'll be using this in my basement, I wanted something that would be non-toxic.  This seems to fit the bill!  We'll see as I haven't sprayed anything yet.

-TOOLS

I've been all over the board on tools.  I have just about worn out a keyboard looking and comparing Avery, Cleaveland, Brown, Harbor Freight (both at the store and via the web) and Ebay.   I first started with the assumption that I would just buy a complete kit from either Avery or Cleaveland.  This would probably have been the best bet and definitely the quickest.  I just couldn't convince myself that I couldn't save a few bucks on tools by shopping around.  I've spent about a month gathering tools and getting the basement ready for building.  Definitely not the quickest way to accomplish this first task.

The unfortunate part of this is that if you don't know the terminology and exactly what a "widget" does, it is extremely difficult to do comparison shopping.  The same widget will be called something a little different at all three sites.  (Just a word of warning about Ebay.  Know what you want and know what it will cost new.  I've seen things sell used for more than you could buy it new from a known dealer.  I believe that you can get some good values via Ebay if you will leave the emotion turned off, if you know what you want and if you are patient enough to wait for the product that you really need.) 

I bought a used 214 type pneumatic squeezer ($275)  and a new 3X rivet gun on Ebay ($95).      I  do want to get another yoke for the squeezer but I will wait and see what I really need. I've also bought a set of dimple dies and squeezer rivet dies off of Ebay.  I found the dies to be in great condition.

 I bought an air compressor, pneumatic drill, pneumatic grinder, HVLP spray gun, clamps, drill press, miscellaneous tools and a complete set of numbered, lettered and fractional titanium drill bits from Harbor Freight.

A friend at work had about 150 cleco's, cleco pliers, a rivet cutter, a set of .401 rivet drivers and two bucking bars.  

I've spread out the purchases of the other tools among Brown, Avery and Cleaveland.  I tried to choose based upon both price and upon recommendations that I've read from other builders.