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Aircraft tools

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sgtmac

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Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
136
Location
Wilmington ,nc
I work in the aircraft maintenance industry and we use some unique tools and products in our trade that I would like to share.

I have taken lots of advise and ideas so it's time to give back.
 
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sgtmac

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
136
Location
Wilmington ,nc
We remove and install a lot of screws #8 and 10s, most are steel but a fair number are stainless too. Needless to say we employ a lot of methods to extract stripped screws.

One of the slickest extractors is available at lowes for around $20.00. The nice thing is its a drill and extractor in one piece. It works great so far but the jury is out on how long the bit will last.

The manufacturer says they will replace any piece that broke fee of charge, I doubt this covers smoked units..but for a few bucks apiece I can charge it to the job.
 

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sgtmac

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Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
136
Location
Wilmington ,nc
We deal with a lot of things held on with glue, typically 3M 1300L. In the auto world I believe it is called weather stripping adhesive.

Some of the things we periodically replace for instance are deice boots, which are large inflatable rubber assemblies glued to the leading edges of wings. To remove the boot you rip the old boot off and in the past we used MEK to soften and loosen the glue. MEK is not friendly to paint or livers so I was pleased to find a new product called Peerco 321.

I was told it is envirementally friendly and does not hurt paint...I didn't believe it would work worth a **** but after a little experimenting it f...ing rocks!!

We applied it in a layer about 1/4 thick and covered in plastic to keep the fumes in, let it sit overnight and the next morning it wiped clean off, glue to. It did zilch to the paint..... This cut our cleanup time into about 1/10 of what we used to do.

It seems to be only used in the aviation world but you can buy it online at Skygeek. I hope the Link works?

[URL="http://www.skygeek.com/peerless-peerc0321-adhesive-remover-gallon.html[/URL]
 

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Mohawk Dave

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Oct 7, 2012
Messages
5,068
Location
SoCal
sgtmac,

Thanks! Keep 'em coming. I have been getting into aero tools for the last year. Started with (real) rivet guns and clecos, and now onto drills and nut plates, rivet shavers etc.

(We build off road race trucks, and it amazes me these two industries haven't overlapped more).

Thanks for the info and all future info!
 
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sgtmac

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Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
136
Location
Wilmington ,nc
Spray nozzle holder........It's basically A flexible rubber ring that stretches around the aerosol can and the opposite end holds the straw for easy access and retention. It's sold by Brownells a gunsmith and reload supplier.

U can order online for around $1.00.
 

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Mohawk Dave

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Oct 7, 2012
Messages
5,068
Location
SoCal
Lots of skilled guys hear. If I can make a request, I'd like to see/hear tips/tricks for working with sheet metal. Everything from:
drilling and punching holes
bucking bar access
nutsert tricks
nutplates
loctite / other adhesives and effects on Titanium hardware or SS rivets
lock washers/nylock/stover
washers (different types in diff. areas)
threading aluminum tips (size for strength/depth ie.)
QR latches and other locking mechs.
Blind rivets
Tubular rivets
semi-tubular rivets

And of course the tooling you use for all apps.

Thanks!
 
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sgtmac

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Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
136
Location
Wilmington ,nc
Lubriplate! Great stuff..my first two planes were the Catalina PBY and a DC-3. The engines were assembled using that stuff for everything.
 
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skywrench

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
8
One of the type-centric aircraft boards (www.supercub.org I think) had a string going this winter on your top ten most-used tools. I'd like to appropriate the idea for this forum. To help clarify, please mention what you mostly work on: Warbird resto is gonna be different than corporate jets, ag planes, single engine G.A., rag-and-tube.

Thanks. Skywrench
 
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Mohawk Dave

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Oct 7, 2012
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5,068
Location
SoCal
Well, this is what we work on...hey, it flies, right? :beer: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=psychotic+racing


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AhrDfN1OuJI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uSbOlqM9pZM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

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Provincial

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Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
6,855
Location
Near Salem, OR
sgtmac, since you are working on DC-3's, here is a quiz:

How do you do a gear retract test with just one jack?

How do you do it if the jack doesn't pump up?

I did this once!
 
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A_Pmech

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
8,002
Location
IL
This sounds like a story we need to hear...

I'm guessing crib it up, let the air out of the tires and pump like a madman.



Provincial said:
sgtmac, since you are working on DC-3's, here is a quiz:

How do you do a gear retract test with just one jack?

How do you do it if the jack doesn't pump up?

I did this once!
Click to expand...
 
J

James_B

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
674
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada (started in Brisbane, Australi
Provincial said:
sgtmac, since you are working on DC-3's, here is a quiz:

How do you do a gear retract test with just one jack?

How do you do it if the jack doesn't pump up?

I did this once!
Click to expand...
The licensed mechanic that used to work on our "Hangar Queen" (Swearingen Merlin), had a rule:


  • Do not let visitors into the cockpit while the undercarriage ground interlocks are disabled.

Everyone learned a valuable (and expensive) lesson that day.
 
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bsplum

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
5
sgtmac said:
We deal with a lot of things held on with glue, typically 3M 1300L. In the auto world I believe it is called weather stripping adhesive.

Some of the things we periodically replace for instance are deice boots, which are large inflatable rubber assemblies glued to the leading edges of wings.
Click to expand...

We use large rubber wheels that chuck up in the air drill. Takes about 4 to remove the de-ice boot adhesive per side. 2 hr for light jet.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00488DDB8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,796
Location
Sussex, England
MAYOR28 said:
My guess: P-80 Shooting Star
Click to expand...

That was my first thought too, (basically the same airframe) but it looks like that's got the camera in the nose which suggests T-33. I've also seen quite a few T-33's with those exact markings!

Now we'd better discuss what tools were used to build it before we all get banned for being so sad!
 
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gagreen

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Joined
Mar 22, 2013
Messages
779
Location
Colorado
If your messing with foreign warbirds...

The plierwrench and I become my besties.
And a nice pair of scissors for fabric is always good to have around.
 
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skywrench

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
8
gagreen, is that Knipex pliWrench smooth-jawed? I could see how this could come in very handy. Would it replace a Ford wrench?

Thanks. Skywrench
 
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ggoss

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Messages
143
Location
Cary, NC
skywrench said:
gagreen, is that Knipex pliWrench smooth-jawed? I could see how this could come in very handy. Would it replace a Ford wrench?

Thanks. Skywrench
Click to expand...

I have a pair of those (mine are either 10 or 12 inch, I don't remember). They're Knipex "Pliers Wrench," and are indeed smooth-jawed. They also give you an insane amount of leverage because of the design (they claim greater than 10:1 amplification of squeezing force).

The first day I got them, I tried to flatten a penny with them that was placed vertically between the jaws. With one hand, and not too much effort, it folded completely flat. That, and they don't mar anything up. Highly recommended.
 
R

raboyto2

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2013
Messages
23
sgtmac said:
We remove and install a lot of screws #8 and 10s, most are steel but a fair number are stainless too. Needless to say we employ a lot of methods to extract stripped screws.

One of the slickest extractors is available at lowes for around $20.00. The nice thing is its a drill and extractor in one piece. It works great so far but the jury is out on how long the bit will last.

The manufacturer says they will replace any piece that broke fee of charge, I doubt this covers smoked units..but for a few bucks apiece I can charge it to the job.
Click to expand...

A nice little thing i picked up during my short stint working on aircrafts was when you feel the screw about to strip, (or did strip but not 100%), to dip your screwdriver tip in valve grind paste. I cant believe how well it works. Iv used it on rounded sockets before too with it also helping.

That, and dimond covered PH2 bits works good.

WER056400.jpg
 
F

FlyingLow

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
127
Location
Vancouver Island
ggoss said:
I have a pair of those (mine are either 10 or 12 inch, I don't remember). They're Knipex "Pliers Wrench," and are indeed smooth-jawed. They also give you an insane amount of leverage because of the design (they claim greater than 10:1 amplification of squeezing force).

The first day I got them, I tried to flatten a penny with them that was placed vertically between the jaws. With one hand, and not too much effort, it folded completely flat. That, and they don't mar anything up. Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

Excellent for squeezing -3 and -4 AD rivets too... A rivets too for that matter.

Yardstore.com has become a new favourite of mine lately.
 
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