~The Tools~
Here is a list and some photos of the common tools used by an RV builder. I purchased most of mine from Cleaveland Tool. The folks there are very nice, customer service oriented, and they have excellent tools. They stand behind what they sell...if you ever have a problem with it, don't like it, send it back!
4/29/99 Ammendment: The picture below and the list of tools does not include near the amount of tools that I have now. Keep yourself a nice little savings account for incidental specialty tools. You will spend a few hundred dollars more on additional tools after your initial investment in tools as you move along.
One can expect to spend $1000-$2000 on tools over and beyond normal everyday tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, etc
Some builders prefer more or less tools, but these are the ones that I have found to be essential:
- Rivet Gun (2X is all you need for a quickbuild 3X or 4X for the big boys)
- Air Compessor (don't get an oil-free one if you want to keep your hearing)
- Hand Squeezer
- Dimple Dies
- Swivel Flush Rivet set
- Straight cup set
- Offset cup set
- Rivet Cutter
- Deburring Tool
- Vixen® Files
- Pop rivet gun (pneumatic highly reccommended)
- Air drill
- Drill bits: spend some money on these..get a set of letter, number, and fractional, and a large supply of #30 and #40 bits
- Bucking bars
- Bench Grinder w/Scotchbrite® wheel
- Air Die grinder w/Scotchbrite® wheel and cutoff wheel
- C-Frame bench rivet tool
- Clekos
- Cleko Side grip clamps
- Cleko pliers
- 90 degree drill attachment
- Unibit #2, #3
- Reamers 1/4", 3/16"
- Edge rolling tool (see Sam's Review on this one)
- Back rivet set
- Back rivet plate
- Microstop countersink tool w/#6, #8, #30 & #40 bits
- Wiss® brand snips, left & right
- Fly cutter (for lightening holes)
- Drill press
- Belt Sander