More Work on the Shop

This weekend I got some more work done on the shop. I found a filter/oiler combo at Harbor Freight which required some modification to work. I replaced the O-ring between the filter and the oiler – it leaked bad – with a brass coupling. Now it seals up perfectly.

With the compresor finally setup and ready to go, I can now fiddle around with the rivet gun. I also picked up a swivel regulator for the gun which seems pretty nice.

Ashley’s folks gave me a Home Depot gift card for my birthday so we went there after dinner today to pick up a band saw. The Ryobi unit looked very well built and was no more expensive than the junk at Harbor Freight! I’ve always beena little afraid of band saws, but after setting it up and seeing how the band stays in place I feel more comfortable with it. I cut a piece of wood just for kicks and it was actually kind of fun.

Worked about 5 hours on the shop this weekend.

iPhone App

I just found an iPhone app that will allow me to post to my wordpress blog really easily. It should allow me to post more pictures since I can take them with the phone and attach them as I post. Hopefully the image quality is good enough for everyone to enjoy the pictures.

Work Table #2

I was already feeling pretty good about table #1, but I think I’ve outdone myself.  The younger sibling is much better built, and it was a lot easier to build.  I was able to build this table on my first table, which saved my back and drastically reduced my ibuprofen intake.  It reminded me of the lessons we learn when we do something the first time, and how much better our work can be the second time around.  I’m anxious to apply that learning to the project as a whole.

Dad’s coming down on Saturday so we can build him a table for his Zenith CH-750 kit.  Surely the third table won’t be quite as amazing as the 2nd!

Ibuprofen needed: Zero!

Hours worked: 3

Work Table #1

Taking a break for “hugs & kisses” before bedtime

Except for the lower shelf, this one’ finished!

I’m building two of the EAA Chapter 1000 standardized work tables from plans found here: http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/worktabl.htm

I decided that a 2′ table sounded shallow, but that I would trust those who have gone before me.  Turns out, it’s a great depth for the table.  I remember the 4′ tables I built for the legacy were a pain to walk around every time you wanted to grab a tool from the other side.

I bought all the materials for two tables at Home Depot for $138.  I just printed out the schedule of cuts from the EAA 1000 website and had the folks at Home Depot make the cuts for me.  We barely fit the plywood into our Pacifica, but we managed to get it home.

I quickly learned that our garage floor was far from level, so I shimmed the piece that would become the top of the table so it was level.  Then I built the table upside-down, making sure to keep everything as square and level as possible. 

Ibuprofen required: 3

Drill bits broken: 2

Hours worked: 3

Empennage Kit Arrives!

Just another day on the job...

The kit arrived on May 4th, 2009.  When I opened the crate, the first thing that came to my mind was “did you forget how HUGE a project building an airplane is?”  It was like a flood of memories came back to me from my Lancair-building days. 

But I have to say that I am really looking forward to this project.  I will savor the process and it will be such fun to always have something to work on.  I don’t care how long it takes.  My family and I will have fun working on this together, and someday we’ll have an airplane to fly.  We’re so blessed to be able to do such a thing.

The crate was heavy – 282 lbs to be exact.  However, this will probably be the lightest of any of the kits.  Might have to have a few more helpers for the subsequent kits.  I knew I couldn’t do anything right away until I got my shop in order.  I’ve already got a compressor, but I need some work tables.