tools only for the Emp Kit

A place to discuss workshops and the use and desirability of tools.
User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

tools only for the Emp Kit

Post by jakec »

Greetings,

My name is Jake and I'll start off by saying I'm currently deployed to Iraq. I'm talking to Vans right now about trying to come up with a way to get my Emp kit shipped here. I only fly 4 days on 3 days off (about 90-100 hours a month) and I feel confident that I can complete the Emp kit before I re-deploy home.

Here is my question. What are the tools required to complete the emp kit only? I'm talking the bare essentials. Before I have the kit delivered (if they will deliver it) I want to make sure the Aviation sheet metal shop here has what I will need. If they don’t have something I need I will have to get is shipped over here. However, I don't want to have anything sent that does not need to come over because I will just have to tote it back with me unused.

Can someone list the tools that will get me through just the emp kit? Thanks a bunch.
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
svanarts
Air Marshall
Posts: 1512
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:19 pm
Location: Modesto, CA
Contact:

Post by svanarts »

Hi Jake,
First of all, :welcome: and thank you for your service to our country. :good job:

Bare minimum I'd say,
Cleco pliers
#40 and #30 clecos
Pop rivet puller
A dimpler of some kind, preferably a C Frame as you could dimple about everything with that.
Rivet Gun with standard, flat, and back rivet set
Bucking bars
#30 and #40 drill bits
Drill motor
large polished steel plate for back riveting

What else am I missing here guys? :?
Scott VanArtsdalen
Token Heretic
Nirvana Rodeo / Dudek Universal
S-6ES N612SV - GONE but not forgotten
RV-4 N311SV - SOLD

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

Scott,

Thanks for the quick reply. I've heard this is where to get good RV answers. I'm sure I'll have plenty of more questions. Anyone else want to add a "Must Have" tool or material for the Emp kit?
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
papakeith
Class D
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:15 pm
Location: Rhode Island
Contact:

Post by papakeith »

I'll second Scott's Thanks you for your service.
I think a deburring tool would be another item to add to the list.
-------
RB's #1 heretic
www.bearhawk949.com

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake!

Good to see you here! I was wondering how long it would take you to get on board!

:mrgreen:

Welcome!

Don't forget the:

deburring tool
some self-etch primer
scotch brite pads
sandpaper (80 grit aluminum oxide)
pop rivet tool
TUNGSTEN BUCKING BAR!
(this will be your ONLY BAR!)

I will think about more stuff later. Gotta go to school now.

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

User avatar
RVNewsletter
Class D
Posts: 259
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Contact:

Post by RVNewsletter »

This might be of some help. Or not.

User avatar
dons
Class C
Posts: 873
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:28 pm
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Post by dons »

Hi Jake,

Have a look at what Avery calls their bare bone RV kit, remove what your shop there already has, and it would make a pretty good estimate of what you need.

http://www.averytools.com/pc-691-68-bar ... x-gun.aspx

There isn't much on that list I didn't use doing my emp metal work, but as CJ pointed out, having a nice tungsten bucking bar would eliminate the need for the ones listed. There are lots of "it would be nice to have" tools, but a lot can be done with the basics.
Don Sinclair
CYKF
RV-7A (Fuselage)

User avatar
smittysrv
Class D
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:10 am
Contact:

Post by smittysrv »

Hi Jake,

Another thing to add to your list. When you are dimpling the flanges on your ribs, the 3/32" standard female dimple die tends to bend the flange out because it's too wide. Get one of these small diameter dimple dies:

http://www.averytools.com/pc-578-17-sma ... -dies.aspx

Have a goodun!

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake, Make that a WEBSTER TOOL bucking bar!

The size of his bars are the most versatile!

Well worth the loot!

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

Bob Barrett
Class C
Posts: 625
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 8:37 pm
Location: Sartell MN

Thanks for Serving Our Country!!!

Post by Bob Barrett »

Jake thanks for Serving Our Country!! You may want to invest in some good aluminum shears. Although you may have access to them in Iraq for the cost and the convenince it may save you having to go to the shop to work on your project. If you will be leaving your project at the sheet metal shop, it probably doesn't make a difference. You will also need 3/32" and 1/8" dimple dies. These may be readily available and they may not be. You will need that size clecos also but again the sheet metal shop may have those. Take care and we hope to see you at a fly-in the not to distant future!

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

Thanks for all of the great replies. I'm indeed excited to get started but it may not happen as it turns out. Although it appears the Emp kit meets the requirements of the Postal Service shipping size and weight, Vans so far is not willing to ship it that way. Unfortunately, the US Postal Service is how we receive our mail here in Baghdad. Vans is currently awaiting a quote from another service but it may prove to be too costly. I'll just have to wait and see.

I live about a half hour bus ride from our sheet metal shop. I would have to leave the kit there because I have no way to use an air compressor back at my room. Not to mention we are all on different schedules and I'm sure a power riveter would make me a very unpopular person. So, provided I can get it shipped over here, I'll just have to keep it at the airfield. Not a big deal really.

Take care and thanks again for the suggestions.

Jake
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake, ya gotta find a WAY!

Mebbe if you have it shipped to home and select parts are sent as needed?

How long will you be there for?

How will you get the completed emp home of getting the parts there is such an issue?

:? CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

As it stands now, I will be here until August of 08. I still have quite a bit of time left. As for getting the parts home? That will be no problem because we have tons of room in my unit's Milvans (sea shipping containers) for a horizontal and vertical stabilizer. If I had made the decision earlier I could have brought the kit with me in one of the containers. Oh well.

I went down and talked with the sheet metal guys today. They have no problem with me working down there and using their tools. They said they have multiple of each item and it should not be an issue.

As for having the wife send parts as needed...I guess I never thought of that. Is that possible? I really don't know how the kit is laid out. Any suggestions on that subject would be very much appreciated.

How flat does the work surface need to be for the Emp kit? Is it used as a jig and therefore needs to be perfectly flat or the parts will come out warped? I guess I should get a video at the very least. Any suggestions on which one? Thanks.
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake, yah... I have some videos you can use to help you get a grip on the whole thing.

If you want me to ship them, gimme the addy and they are off!

The skins would be the biggest box, may as well ship them all at the same time with one inside the next. Probably wouldn't be much larger than 40" X 24" and 6" tall.

Some rivets could be stuffed in there and the fiberglass tips could stay at home.

The longest stuff is probably the horizontal stab's rear spar stiffeners. They are 1/8" bar by about 6' long. Honestly, they could be fabbed "on site" in Baghdad with ummmmm, "scrap" from local "recyclers".

Know what I mean?

:wink: CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

CJ,

Thanks for the offer. It's very much appreciated :thumbsup: . I've listed my address below.

Thanks also for the tips on re-packing the kit. Although...I guess I could just have my wife leave the kit the way it is and just have her re-send it USPS. Just kind of expensive to pay shipping twice like that. There is also a service called ship it apo. They receive packages from companies that will not ship to an APO and re-send it via the USPS. Of course they charge a few extra dollars but it's not too bad. I think they also have a branch out on the west coast. That could save a little maybe. I'll have to look into that as well.

Thank you everyone for all of your input!

CW2 Jacob Crause
C Troop, 3-17 CAV
43421
APO AE 09322-3421
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

BTW...What shipping company was your Emp kit shipped from Vans with?
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

tmbg
Class C
Posts: 613
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:05 am
Location: Atlanta, GA (4A7)

Post by tmbg »

fedex!
Ian
RV-7 SB, chugging toward final assembly
IO-360-C1C 200hp obtained.
Hartzell BA prop received.
James Cowl ordered.
N773WW reserved!

User avatar
jakec
Class G
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:28 pm
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Contact:

Post by jakec »

Thanks! I'm working on figuring out what the cheapest method is going to be.
Jake Crause
Baghdad, Iraq
www.homebuiltairplanes.com

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake, I will be shipping the emp videos out next chance I get.

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

User avatar
captain_john
Sparky
Posts: 5880
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:17 am
Location: KPYM

Post by captain_john »

Jake, I am getting ready to ship the videos.

What is the best way? USPS, UPS, FEDEX?

:) CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

Post Reply