Tools

                   I have a background in building, mainly carpentry. So already own a fair amount of tools, many which are a bit overkill for making rc gliders, so will try to keep this to a realistic level, and will not be covering basic hand tools like screwdrivers chisels or pliers unless they are a bit special.

The Workshop

I guess that the actual room that get used to do my building in should be the first item to tell you about. It is about 12ft 6inches by 16ft and is lined and insulated, has a radiator connected to the house boiler and I can get into it without going outside. Most of my building is done in the winter, and if I am not warm and cosy, nothing gets built. Shelves and cupboards line the walls, yet I still find myself running out of room for things, maybe a spring clean is in order! I have the intention of painting the floor some when, but it remains smooth concrete, the thought of moving everything out is a little daunting. Maybe a summer job. I have fixed up several lights, a central light bulb and three strip lights mounted on the walls brings plenty of illumination onto the project in hand.

Benches

No substitute for a flat workbench in my opinion, at the very least have a flat board to put on the kitchen table. Mine is eight foot by four feet, and dominates my workshop space but I wouldn't be without it. The top is 3/4" thick and is screwed down to a sub frame, this allows me to adjust it now and again for flatness. My bench is seldom empty, its half bench half shelf, things just seem to accumulate on it so it does need a sort out every now and then. When my mate comes down to work on one of his planes though it really comes into its own, one end is against the wall so we have access on three sides, giving us both room to work. Underneath is my mass storage area, my vac pump is there along with most of my fabric in poly bags, all paints and resins are also under there in a big box next to some of my heavier tools that I need for work.

I have another bench which is more of a joiners bench, with a wood vice, hold down vice, tail vice tool well ect, and made in a traditional fashion from laminated beech 3" thick. It has a few cupboards underneath were I store my sharpening equipment, jigs and cramps. Very useful piece of equipment when working with wood, overkill for modeling but I need it for making the occasional window sash, door or whatever by hand when the need arises. This is also when the size of the larger table comes in handy.

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This site was last updated 02/11/07