Tools & Machining

I often find myself porting small tools from one work table to another or simply scattering my tools on the sole table I’m using.

The other day, while grabbing supplies from Harbor Freight, I noticed an end cap display of mini toolboxes in a variety of colors. I had to grab a few thinking I would anchor two in my heli van and have one for my main workbench. I’ve now discovered just how useful these cute little boxes really are. I’m working on an assembly table (not my sit-down bench. I just grabbed the box and put it right in my work area. Every time I’m finished with a tool, I pop it back into the box and it’s never lost.

Simple and fun! $18 bucks at Harbor Freight!!

I have wanted to design a scale like cargo hook for sometime. Winter weather gave me the time. The system was tested with a static load of 17.5 pounds as well as a frame test of over 30 pounds. The system is only as strong is it weakest link, however it has not presented itself. Fusion360, Formlabs 4 using Black V5 resin. 1.5mm stranded cable with compression eyelets. Both cargo hooks, upper and lower, are spring loaded allowing the user to snap back the hook into position. The pin used to latch the hook is stainless steel and rolls/compresses the spring until a hole in the hook aligns itself and allows acceptance, thus locking the hook in place. I used a bicycle shift cable to activate the upper hook.

Check out the proto type RCD (Remote Control Dolly)
This unit was made with (2) wheel chair motors, 2" aluminum frame, 1/2" plywood and gum rubber sheets. It was designed (over engineered) for 1/6-1/3 helicopters. Others custom sizes will be available to fit your weight, size and specific needs.

Design - Heli Workshop
Fabrication - Unique Aircraft
Specifications:
Size - 48"x 48"
Weight - 60lbs
Capacity - 300lbs
Motor - (2) wheel chair
motor controller - Saber tooth 2x60
Battery - (2) 6S lipo - parallel
RC - mini 4 channel car radio 2.4 HZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrznvPttobs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lJFiFtYQbE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBImNRddtuU&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjjCx36HfIE

I’ve been using “adequate” solder stations for decades. I use a Ryobi heat gun for heat shrinking. The gun is huge and annoying. Last week I decided to step it up and purchase this Yihua 853D (found on Amazon) and I love it!

The coolest (hottest) part of this unit is the “rework” gun which is just a mini hot air unit typically used for loosening soldered connections. You just lift it from the cradle and it starts blowing hot air at the preset temperature. Rest it back down and it stops!!

The soldering iron comes with 10 tips, solder, cleaning brass and more. There is also a built in inverter and voltage tester. For less than $150, this thing is a bench dream!

Do you have a favorite electrically powered model building or repairing tool? I am very fortunate to have four of them. These are not shown in any particular order of preference. The first one is a small table top drill press from Harbor Freight. The second is a scroll saw picked up at an R C swap meet. The third is a band/disc sander and the fourth is a rotary tool.
Each one has given me a lot of helpful usage over my many years of model building - and repair too!!
All powered tools are interesting, however one needs to be careful and respect the tool/s, as they do what they were designed and are intended to do. However, tools do not "think" on their own!! I would guess that you have favorite modeling tools also. If one has some unique tools, it would be interesting to see them!
Oh, notice that I did not include a picture of my gasoline powered chain saw. But a chain saw can be used to "permanently dismantle" a model that did not do what you thought you told it to do! : )