Vans RV7 Build Diary - GAPilot

The Kit Tool List for a Quick Build

To build a metal kit aircraft you will more than likely need some new tools, some of which you may have never heard of or know how to operate. Vans specify's a required tool kit and some suppliers sell Van's tool kits. I purchased my 'tool kit' from Aircraft Tool Supply in America. I found it a lot cheaper to source the kit from the US. Especially with the exchange rate at the time - $1.89 to £. Expect to have to spend around £1,000 on tools and more if you need additional specialist tools as I will describe here.

IMPORTANT - Remember the kit is imperial, you need imperial equipment to ensure 100% accuracy.

Rivet & Dimpling

Rivet gun (2x or 3x)
Rivet sets ( 3/32", 1/8", 3/16")
Rivet set offset ( 3/32", 1/8", 3/16")
Retainer Spring
Swivel Flush Set
Selection of Bucking Bars
Clecos, Grips, Clamps and Fasteners (the more the better!!)
200 - 3/32" Silver
100 - 1/8" Copper
10 - 5/32"
10 - 3/16"
5 - Side Grip Fastener (1")
5 - Side Grip Fastener (1/2")
Cleco Pliers (2 pairs, for when you loose one or somebody helping you)
Rivet Cutter
Bench Mounted Dimpler
Dimple Die Sets (3/32", 1/8", AN6, AN8)
Hand Rivet Squeezer (3")
Squeezer Set (1/8", 3/16", Flush 1/2", flush 3/8")
Back Rivet Set
Back Rivet Plate

Drills

Air Drill
1 - 3/8" Drill
1 - Cobalt 1/4" drill
3 - Cobalt #12 drills
3 - Cobalt #19 drills
3 - Cobalt #27 drills
8 - Cobalt #30 drills + 12" long drill
8 - Cobalt #40 drills + 1 - 12" long drill
Adjustable Microstop and Cutters
100 degree 3/32" Pilot Cutter
100 degree 1/8" Pilot Cutter
100 degree 3/16" Pilot Cutter
AN6 Screw Pilot Cutter
AN8 Screw Pilot Cutter
Drill Stops (3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16")
Angle Drill and (threaded) drill bits (#40, #30, #21, #11, #10)
Unibit Step Drill (#3)
Drill Gauges (wire & inch)

Taps

6-32 UNC (tap drill #35)
8-32 UNC (tap drill #29)
10-32 UNC (tap drill #21)
1/4" x 28 UNC(tap drill #3)
5/16" UNC(tap drill 6.6mm)

Misc

Fluting Pliers
Hand Seamer
Speed Deburring Tool
Edge Scraper
Offset Aircraft Snips (left & Right)
Vixen File 12"
Half Round File 12"
Needle File Set
Rivet Tape
Dead Blow Hammer
3M Cut & Polish Wheel 6"
Air Tool Oil
Flanging Tool
Edge Rolling Tool

Buy, Hire or Borrow

Instrument Hole Punch
Rolo Pipe Flare


Home Page Construction Tips & Help Build Diary 2004 Build Diary 2005 Build Diary 2006 Project Helpers Wings on about to roll out of the hanger for first engine start. Roberts RV6, we stop for fuel on the way to the RV fly-in at Colmar. The way to fit split pins properly - Aviation Standards!! Fitting a Dynon D100. Installing Superior IO-360.	The Kit Tool List for a Quick Build To build a metal kit aircraft you will more than likely need some new tools, some of which you may have never heard of or know how to operate. Vans specify's a required tool kit and some suppliers sell Van's tool kits. I purchased my 'tool kit' from Aircraft Tool Supply in America. I found it a lot cheaper to source the kit from the US. Especially with the exchange rate at the time - $1.89 to £. Expect to have to spend around £1,000 on tools and more if you need additional specialist tools as I will describe here. IMPORTANT - Remember the kit is imperial, you need imperial equipment to ensure 100% accuracy. Rivet & Dimpling Rivet gun (2x or 3x) Rivet sets ( 3/32", 1/8", 3/16") Rivet set offset ( 3/32", 1/8", 3/16") Retainer Spring Swivel Flush Set Selection of Bucking Bars Clecos, Grips, Clamps and Fasteners (the more the better!!) 200 - 3/32" Silver 100 - 1/8" Copper 10 - 5/32" 10 - 3/16" 5 - Side Grip Fastener (1") 5 - Side Grip Fastener (1/2") Cleco Pliers (2 pairs, for when you loose one or somebody helping you) Rivet Cutter Bench Mounted Dimpler Dimple Die Sets (3/32", 1/8", AN6, AN8) Hand Rivet Squeezer (3") Squeezer Set (1/8", 3/16", Flush 1/2", flush 3/8") Back Rivet Set Back Rivet Plate Drills Air Drill 1 - 3/8" Drill 1 - Cobalt 1/4" drill 3 - Cobalt #12 drills 3 - Cobalt #19 drills 3 - Cobalt #27 drills 8 - Cobalt #30 drills + 12" long drill 8 - Cobalt #40 drills + 1 - 12" long drill Adjustable Microstop and Cutters 100 degree 3/32" Pilot Cutter 100 degree 1/8" Pilot Cutter 100 degree 3/16" Pilot Cutter AN6 Screw Pilot Cutter AN8 Screw Pilot Cutter Drill Stops (3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16") Angle Drill and (threaded) drill bits (#40, #30, #21, #11, #10) Unibit Step Drill (#3) Drill Gauges (wire & inch) Taps 6-32 UNC (tap drill #35) 8-32 UNC (tap drill #29) 10-32 UNC (tap drill #21) 1/4" x 28 UNC(tap drill #3) 5/16" UNC(tap drill 6.6mm) Misc Fluting Pliers Hand Seamer Speed Deburring Tool Edge Scraper Offset Aircraft Snips (left & Right) Vixen File 12" Half Round File 12" Needle File Set Rivet Tape Dead Blow Hammer 3M Cut & Polish Wheel 6" Air Tool Oil Flanging Tool Edge Rolling Tool Buy, Hire or Borrow Instrument Hole Punch Rolo Pipe Flare
Handy Links Links to external sites open a new browser. The Popular Flying Association (PFA) Vans Aircraft Flyer Magazine Links to support sites. RV UK Squadron Advanced Flight Systems Support Dynon Support Garmin Aviation Updates Precision Technical Publications Supplier sites/links (opens new window). Cambrai Aircarft Covers Clasic Aero Design Air Gizmos SafeAir1	Flush & Back Rivet Sets Here are three different flush rivet sets and a back rivet (white) set. The back rivet set is mostly used during the construction of the empannage. Rivet Gun The gun takes a .401" shank rivet sets. They are available in different power, the common type for a quick build kit is 2x or 3x. If you are not building a QB and need to buck the spar rivets you may want a more powerfull rivet gun. Approx price $160.00 Your compressor needs to be 2.6 CFM (for 2x), 2.9 CFM (3x) or 3.1 CFM (4x). Counter Sink Cage Use this to cut 100 degree countersinks. For thin sheet use dimple dies. Different cutters for different size holes. #40, #30, #27, #19. Angle Drill This attaches to your drill and helps with tight spots. Parker Pipe Flairing Tool (also called Rolo) Use this tool to flair the brake and fuel lines. IMPORTANT - this tool makes 37 degree flairs. Conventional UK brake flairing tools are NOT suitable. Price from some suppliers in UK around £75 +vat & carrage. From USA around $78.00 +vat & carrage. Pipe Bender Use this for fuel and brake lines. You can struggle bending by hand, but these are quite cheap.