Aviation From My Rocking Chair: When You Need a Good Tool

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Hello, troopers. This month I thought we’d talk about tools, and if there was ever a subject with more opinions as to which is good or bad, I’d like to hear it! Most all of you are aware that only my ideas seem to appear in this column, right? Not this time my skeptical friends! I’ve worked all my life with tool experts and never even asked what works best for them.

Let me introduce our panel beginning with:

Nelson Carbonell- QA Inspector and sheet metal man.

Paul Tarr- QA Inspector, avionics tech, and former FBO owner in Chino.

Steve Eddy- Line maintenance, and avionics tech.

Ray Baba- Line maintenance and avionics tech.

Me- QA Inspector and line maintenance tech.

We all worked for American Airlines (Los Angeles), and we all began our careers as A&P mechanics. Now, three cautions before we start:

(1) Most of the tools on this list are expensive, but they resist wear, will hold their value, and will always get the job done. Your grand children will probably be using them.

(2) Make certain the tools you select fit your hands. Nothing is more frustrating than spending good money and finding out the dumb things hurt to use.

(3) I am going to use Brand Names. If your favorite is not here, don’t despair. Just share the information with the rest of us.

So, here (at last) is our preferred tool list, and believe me, the consensus was amazing!

Metal working:

• Air ((drill) Motor---Aro (1/4-3/8” cap.) small and light. Cleco (3/8”cap.) lots of torque. Sioux (1/4”cap.) small and light.
• Rivet Gun--- Chicago Pneumatic X series (3 or 4x). Note: 4x seems to be preferred. It will drive a 1/4” rivet.
• Angle Motor--- Chicago Pneumatic, Pan American Tool. Uses threaded drill bits.
• High Speed Cutter/Grinder---Chicago Pneumatic, Sioux.
• Rivet Squeeze--- Chicago Pneumatic #214 style (2”), Tatco or Avery (hand).
• Bucking Bars--- Best to buy a kit from U.S. Tool, Brown Tool, Aircraft Spruce, etc.
• Rivet Sets---A kit is probably best again. Note: Short shanks= more control. Rubber guards around flush sets reduce slippage.
• Metal Snips--- Wiss Aviation Snips (Lt. And Rt.), Diamond straight tin snips.
• Countersinks--- Microstop. Usually available surplus. Check swap meets.
• Deburring tools.--- Any kind, but recommend the fastest possible as you will be doing a lot of it!
• Clecos--- Use wing nut type for job setup (they hold tighter). Should have at least (100) 3/32”), (125) 1/8”, (50) 5/32”, and (25) 3/16” spring type clecos + 2 or 3 pair of cleco pliers.
• Misc. Tools--- Drill gauges (decimal, number, and letter), Dial Caliper ( Starrett, Mitotoyo), 6” steel ruler (.10 & .010” markings), Dividers, Compass, Files (vixen for aluminum, and bastard for steel and aluminum), and Fluting Pliers.

Electrical:

• Soldering Guns or Irons--- Weller Pistol 100/140w (best for open areas), Master Appliance UT 100SI or 200SI (really neat, butane soldering irons). Very fast heating and can be used to install heat shrink tube in tight areas.
• Solder--- Kester 40/60 Rosin Core. Note: Use small diameter for light gauge wire.
• Wire Stripper--- Kline #6 Multisize.
• Terminal Crimper--- Ratcheting type. Various manufacturers.
• Volt/Ohm Meters (Multi Meters)---Simpson analog, Fluke digital. For continuity checks, any VOM can be used, even the cheapest ones.
• Tie Wrap Guns--- Not normally used because of tight spaces. Use nylon tywraps instead of plastic. Consider using waxed or unwaxed tie cord instead. Lighter, faster, and can be tied in continuous strings.
• Nutdrivers--- Not often used. Consider 12 point ¼” drive deep sockets instead. Snap-on is preferred.
• Diagonal Cutters (Dykes)--- Small Snap-on, Kling, Proto, Channelock.
• Ratcheting Screwdriver--- Snap-on works best, just don’t look at the price.

Mechanical:

• End Wrenches--- Snap-on, S-K Wayne, Proto, Mac, Craftsman(new). Old Craftsman are strong but may be too thick in confined spaces.
• Sockets and Ratchets--- Snap-on (especially ¼ “ drive), Craftsman, Proto, S-K Wayne, Mac. Buy 12 point for tight places and restricted ratchet clearance. 6 point sockets work best for open
• Adjustable Wrenches--- Channelock, Crescent, Proto.
• Screwdrivers--- Snap-on reversible and ratchet, Kline, Craftsman, Mac.
• Pliers and Diagonal Cutters--- Channelock, Proto, Snap-on, Mac, Cornwell.
• Safety Wire Pliers--- Malibar
• Hammers--- Dead Blow (1 and 2#), Ball Peen (8 oz and 16 oz), Magnetic Tack Hammer. Various Manufacturers. Check Harbor Freight for good deals.
• Torque Wrenches--- Craftsman, Snap-on, Mac, Cornwell. Click type torque indicating, Dial type. Deflecting Beam type. Of the three, Deflecting Beam and Dial type are faster if they can be viewed directly.
• Measuring Tools--- Starrett (1 and 2” micrometers), Starrett, Mitotoyo (dial calipers).
• Allen/Spline Wrenches--- Various Manufacturers. T-Handle type are especially useful.
• Strap/Chain Wrench--- Ridgid, Craftsman. As y’all probably noticed, the original article was written more then twenty years ago, and I was concerned the information was no longer valid. Using due diligence, I found all the tools and manufacturers listed are still in business and available. I would also add that Harbor Freight 18v Cordless Drills were well liked then, and 2 out of 2 1/2” drive Torque Wrenches were found to be within American Airlines limits for torque calibration. Well, Troopers, as I said earlier, if you have tools, products, or procedures that work, let the rest of us know! Rick Vaux TC 4130