Tools!!!

I've ordered a huge pile of tools from Cleaveland this past Monday (11 Apr 2005). I basically went through the recommended tool list from Glasair Aviation for the Sportsman and ordered everything I didn't have. I wasn't really sure of the best way to get started, and I probably could have saved a few dollars by piece-mealing everything from several places, but I've only heard good things about the quality of Cleaveland tools, so I decided to just get most everything from them.

The recommended tool list from Glasair Aviation is in this GlastarSportsmanToolList.pdf file.

The complete tool order is:

SPR20 Prosnips Lt. Offset Snip (Red)
SPG22 Prosnips Rt. Offset Snip (Grn)
RC17 Hand Rivet Cutter
CC12 Chip Chaser
CLP20 Cleko Pliers
CLC100 1" Cleko Clamp
CLC50 1/2" Cleko Clamp
CL332-25 3/32" Wedge-Loc Fastner 25/bag
CL18-25 1/8" Wedge-Loc Fastner 25/bag
BB74 Mini Bucking Bar
BB30 Footed Bucking Bar
BB670 Palm Bucking Bar
DIE4263 Dimple Die Set for 3/32" Rivet
HS30 Offset Hand Seamer
DBS33 3pc. Aluminum Deburr Handle
DBB70 Edge Deburring Blade
V-bit for DBS-33
DBC1240 12" Colbalt Drill #40
FP200 Fluting Pliers
ADS12 1/4" Sioux Palm Drill 3600
DB04 4" Hex Deburring Tool
DBU3 #3 Unibit 1/4"-3/4" x 16ths
AP60 Stainless Protractor
RSM10 1" Mushroom Set
RSC33 3/32" Cup Rivet Set 3.5"
RSC43 1/8" Cup Rivet Set 3.5"
RSO38 3/32" Dbl Offset Cup Rivet Set
SCHKIT Main Squeeze Kit
SCH22 Main Squeeze - Model 22
SNY30 3" Pneumatic Yoke
SSF1 #1 Flat Sqz. Set 1/8"x1/2"
SSF4 #4 Flat Sqz. Set 1/4"x3/8"
SSF8 #8 Flat Sqz. Set 1/2"x3/8"
SSC4 1/8" Squeezer Cup Set
SSC3 3/32" Squeezer Cup Set
CF80 C-Frame Bench Dimpling Tool
RS24 24" Stainless Ruler
DP85 Tapered Alignment Punch
RSO48 1/8" Dbl Offset Cup Rivet Set
ASRD14 Air Swivel / Regulator
RG3X 3X Rivet Gun
CL532-10 5/32" Wedge-Loc Fastner 10/bag
CL316-10 3/16" Wedge-Loc Fastner
ADGKIT Die Grinder Kit
ADG50 Taylor Angle Die Grinder
3MM100 3M Screw On Mandrel
3MW2S1 3M EXL Unitized Wheel - 1"
3MW7A1 3M Cut & Polish Wheel - 1"
CDM25 Cutoff Disk Mandrel
CD30 3" Cutoff Disk
DBSFR Drill Set - Fractional
1/16" - 1/2" by 64ths
DBSNO Drill Set - Numbers 1-60
DBJD Colbalt Jobber Drill "D"
DBJE Colbalt Jobber Drill "E"
DBJF Colbalt Jobber Drill "F"
DBJU Colbalt Jobber Drill "U"
LBL13 Boelube
CN100KIT 6 Pc. 100 Deg. Countersink Kit
CC40 Countersink Cutter - 3/32" Riv
CC30 Countersink Cutter - 1/8" Riv
CC21 Countersink Cutter - 5/32" Riv
CC10 Countersink Cutter - #10 Screw
CC140 Countersink Cutter - 3 Flute
100 Deg. - 1/4" Pilot Size
CNKIT-BLOC Countersink Organizing Block
K
CN192 Micro Stop Notched Countersnk
AL24 24" Alum. I-Beam Level
AL8 8" Aluminum I-Beam Level

I ordered a few miscellaneous items from the Yard Store, mostly clamps.

Some good tools for doing dimpling in tight places are this pop rivet gun dimpler from Aircraft Spruce,
and this bench mountable unit from Cleaveland Tools.
Another builder also recommends these vice-grip dimplers from Avery.

I spent days looking at air compressor options, and finally decided on a unit from Campbell Hausfeld. I went with the VT6315 model, also sold under the "Husky" brand name at Home Depot.
5 Peak HP 26 Gal Vertical Compressor, Cast iron, oil lubricated, 135 PSI max, 6.6/5.8 SCFM @ 40/90, upright with wheels. They claim 82dBa, which is the quietest one that I could find that met the minimum specs. It will also do 120 or 240 volts which is a decent option to have. $339 for a factory refurb unit if you order from Campbell Hausfeld. direct, $56 s/h, 1 yr warranty.

19 Apr 2005
Here is what $2k worth of aluminum tools looks like:


22 Apr 2005
The air compressor arrived today. Unfortunately it was damaged in shipping, and of course it is after 5pm so the place is closed until Monday morning. I'm pretty disappointed, as I wanted to start playing with all of the new air tools this weekend. Ah well, such is life.


30 Apr 2005
I'm still trying to get this air compressor fixed. Campbell Hausfeld told me to call one of their local authorized service centers. I did, and they told me I had to bring it to them (a 178 lb unit in my sports car, yeah right!). I called CH back, and they are trying to resolve something on their end to have them come out here and fix it. As a last resort, I have a 30 day window from the time of delivery to return it for a complete refund. If I don't get something worked out in the next few days, it is going back and I'll buy something else. Home Depot sells this very same unit under the Husky brand, and although it will cost more money (under $100 difference), it might be worth it just to resolve this issue, althouth I'll either have to rent a truck or ask someone to pick it up for me with their vehicle.

04 May 2005
Enough is enough. After a couple of weeks going back and forth trying to get them to fix this thing, I've decided to send it back for a refund. To date, I have not been able to get a SINGLE call back from Campbell Hausfeld after having them tell me someone would be calling. One can only hope their returns department is better than their service department, but I'm not holding my breath.
On a whim I stopped by the local Home Depot on my way home from work. Not only did they have a VT6315 in stock, it was on sale and the total after taxes was actually $3 LESS for the brand new unit with the 3 year warranty than the rebuilt unit from Campbell Hausfeld direct with the 1 yr warranty. Needless to say I bought it, and it worked fine right out of the box. It just barely fit in Marie's Saturn Vue.


Here is the broken Campbell Hausfeld unit boxed and ready to ship out, presuming they ever call me back with the information to do so.


07 May 2005
Had to pick up a Skill Saw in order to build the rudder jig and worktable. I don't have a lot of experience working with wood, but I can say that the laser site on this saw is awesome! It definitely helped me to make straight cuts, and the price was very reasonable at $50.


07 Jan 2008
Harbor Freight had this 2 ton foldable shop crane on sale for $147, so I bought one in preparation for my engine arrival later this year.