Tools

Usefull tools

A number of tools should be available, if you want to built a wooden aircraft structure. Some are typical workshop tools, available at nearly every household, others are more special tools, that need to be acquired.

Helpfull power tools for the woodworks are at least one tablesaw, a bandsaw, a disc sander, a belt sander and a router. The size of the tools should fit the task, they are used for. Small tools are perfect for small jobs that need a lot of accuracy. Large and powerfull tools are needed, if you plan to cut your small wood pieces from large boards.

A press drill, or at least a mobile drillstand are a must have for drillings with perfect 90 degree angles.

Small handtools like files of different shapes and size are a must. Reamers are also very handy and a must have for precise drilling holes.

Sanding paper with grit sizes from fine to coarse, a number of different sanding blocks and maybe small powertools like a Dremel or Proxon Minimot are also helpfull.

Clamps are the most important tools, you will never have enough from. Over the time I bought more than 70 clams of varying sizes and still discover from time to time, that they are not enough.

For the metalworks a number of simple shaping hammers, a small metal brake, a metal saw, or a cutting disc and a vise of adequate size are a perfect basic equipment.

As long, as you are not a trained and experienced welder, you should not do the weldings yourself. In Germany, where I am building my Flitzer it is not allowed to do the welding youreself. A certified aircraft welder is recomended by the Luftfahrt Bundesamt. As the Flitzer needs only a small number of welding jobs you will not spend too much money for the welder.