Welcome to The New Astron Workshop (with apologies to Norm). An unofficial addenda to the rec.models.rockets FAQ. This article is copyright (c) 1997-2002 by Robert G. Kaplow. NAR sections may reprint it (all or in part) in their newsletter as long as proper credit is given. In return, I'd appreciate a copy of the issue. All other use requires permission of the author. Comments, feedback, experience with other model rocket related tools, and questions are welcome. So are suggestions for future additions to The New Astron Workshop . Send them to kaplow_r[at]encompasserve[dot]org. Significant contributions are attributed. The rest is disavowed by the author. This whole thing is a result of Jeff Gortatowsky asking me way too many tool questions after we met on my 1997 business trip to LA. Sections: 0.0: Introduction 1.0: Shop setup 2.0: Bench Top Tools 3.0: Hand Held Power tools 4.0: Hand Tools 5.0: Measuring 6.0: Painting 7.0: Electric 8.0: Model Aircraft 9.0: Tips ===== ===== 0.0: Introduction: A few notes before we get to the toys. 0.1: Safety: First, a warning from The New Astron Workshop : *ALWAYS* wear safety glasses when using any power tools, knives, wire cutters, or just about anything else. Most ordinary glasses are not shatterproof. Ordinary glasses don't shield out debris from the top and side. Good safety glasses are available for less than $10. Don't turn on that power tool, or stand near someone else using one, without them. If your power tool has a safety device or guard, use it. Unplug power tools, or remove the safety key, before working on them. Keep all cutting tools sharp. Dull tools don't work as well, generate more heat, produce inferior results, and are actually more dangerous. Hand Tool Institute's Top 30 Safe Hand Tool Practices from
http://www.hti.org/ 1. Use each tool only for the job it was designed to do. 2. Discard damaged or abused tools promptly. 3. Buy several versions or sizes of the same tool. 4. Inspect for distortion, cracks, chips, wear or mushrooming. 5. Keep all tools clean and in working order. 6. Be sure handles are fixed firmly to a tools working end. 7. Be sure tools and work mate properly to avoid slippage. 8. Handles are made for the tool; never use extensions. 9. Confine impact forces to striking and struck tools. 10. Hold work in a clamp or vise, not in your hand. 11. Start off slowly when engaging the tool and the work. 12. Shut current off before using a tool near electricity. 13. Make sure the handle sits securely in your hand. 14. Keep moving parts lightly lubed; avoid lube leakage. 15. Wear approved safety goggles when using hand tools. 16. Keep hands away from sharp edges. 17. Pull, don't push, a wrench handle for more leverage. 18. Position your body securely while working with the tool. 19. Keep jaw teeth, cutters, and blades sharp for better results. 20. Keep tools moving parts properly cleaned and tightened 21. Use steady pressure on jaws and cutters; don't rock the tool. 22. Support long, overhanging work in a vise at the far end. 23. Use pads in the jaws to protect soft or crushable work. 24. Use a tool close to the vise or clamp. 25. Hold work in a clamp or vise with sufficient pressure. 26. Keep clamped assemblies away from vibration and bumping. 27. Discard a tool instead of repairing it by welding or brazing. 28. Keep tools from excessive heat. 29. For continuous work, use comfort grips or gloves. 30. Follow instructions on the tool and/or package. GUIDE TO HAND TOOLS - SELECTION, SAFETY TIPS AND PROPER USE AND CARE - Illustrated 90-pager shows safest methods for using all types of hand tools. Covers selection, usage, hazards, applications and maintenance with special emphasis on eye protection ($3 each). To order, send check payable to the Hand Tools Institute, 25 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Be sure to specify which materials you wish to order, or download order form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). Credit card orders accepted by telephone (914) 332-0040. Also see
http://www.powertoolinstitute.com/ 0.2: Quality: One of my tool buying rules is to always buy the best quality tool you can afford. While that doesn't mean buying a $5000 lathe to do the job of a $200 lathe, it means avoiding the no-name brand junk you see in some stores at bargain prices. This is getting difficult, particularly in the smaller bench-top power tools, where nearly everything on the marked is now a far east knock-off, even if sold under a name brand. Manufacturers in this category include Black&Decker, Delta, Ryobi, Sears, Skil and more. A good guideline is to avoid any house brand that you can't find at more than one store. Cheap is never good; a cheap tool will break or do a poor job where a quality tool will last much longer and do the job right the first time. Look for bargains on quality merchandise that will last you for years to come. When in doubt, look at what professional craftsmen who use their tools daily use. Also note that my definition of tool includes the workshop, garage, kitchen, office / computer, and just about anything else you can work with. Sears hand tools are OK, and you certainly can't beat their warranty. The price isn't always the best, but you can find them just about anywhere. Their power tools are mostly not in the professional category, and you can usually do better elsewhere, but their wide availability makes them a consideration. I used to be a big fan of Dremel, but many years ago they were bought out by Emerson, and IMHO the quality and service from Dremel has gone rapidly downhill since then. Late flash: Dremel has been bought by Bosch; it remains to be seen if that is good or bad. There are so many quality brands of portable power and hand tools today, that I can't recommend any specific brand, other than to go with a national name brand. Unless I can identify the tool as being made by one of the big names, I tend to avoid house brand power tools. For example the Sears rotary tools are (were?) made by Dremel (for better or worse...), and their cordless tools are clones of the Black&Decker line. Other Sears power tools were made for them by Emerson, but the recently switched to an import OEM, perhaps Ryobi. Emerson now makes large power tools under the Ridgid name for Home Depot. 0.3: Books: Your local public library contains a wealth of information on tools and woodworking. The Dewey decimal reference number to search for is 684.08. I've collected a library of books on tools, especially when I buy a new tool or am contemplating a new tool. A pair of good references I first found in the library, then bought (my standard review before buy tactic) are Portable Power Tools and Stationary Power Tools both by DeCristoforo [TOS $???]. 0.4: Some of my favorite suppliers for this stuff: Tools on Sale 1-800-328-0457 (TOS elsewhere, St. Paul MN
http://www.7cornershdwe.com/ ). Prices are usually better than the local discount home stores. Note that there often are sales on some items, so always ask if the tool you want is on sale or check the list. Service on orders is quick; I often get tools in 2 days, but catalog requests have been known to take 4-6 weeks or longer. The Sanding Catalog 1-800-228-0000 (TSC elsewhere, Hickory NC
http://www.sandingcatalog.com/ ). These folks make abrasives for the furniture industry in NC. From the scraps they make industrial quality belts and stuff for our use. Check their bargain assortments. They also have a router and cutting tool catalog (they resell CMT/Jesada); ask for it too. Jensen Tools (http://www.jensentools.com/) Techni-Tools (http://www.techni-tool.com/). Micro-Mark (
http://www.micromark.com/ ) has lots of small tools, but usually at premium prices. Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917 (http://www.microfasteners.com/) Small Parts Inc 800-220-4242 (http://www.smallparts.com/) When quoted, prices are the lowest I've recently encountered for the item, or in the case of Sears, are from their power and hand tool catalog. And for the local Chicago folks, a few interesting stores: American Science and Surplus, Route 38 1/4 mile east of Kirk, Geneva IL 630-232-2882; also in Chicago, and Milwaukee
http://www.sciplus.com/ Crash (formerly Neutron) Electronics, 821 East Roosevelt Road, Lombard IL, (630) 832-7274
http://www.crashelex.com/ Farm&Fleet, on route 14, just east of route 47 in Woodstock. Berlands in Lombard and Palatine: tool heaven!
http://www.berlandtools.com/ http://www.thetoolman.com/berlnk/imagemap.html Alas, 645 Electronics seems to be no more
===== ===== 1.0: Shop setup: You need an area with enough space to work with whatever tools you have, plus storage space for tools and materials. Some tools, like a table saw, require a large area around them to work with material like 4x8' sheets of plywood. Plan for this in your layout. Power tool accessories should be near the power tool they go with. Hand tools should be convenient to where they will be used. You want enough electrical outlets spread around that you don't have cords and extension cords and power strips strung everywhere. One tip to brighten up a _base_ment workshop is to paint the concrete walls with a flat white primer. The lighter the walls, the more light they reflect back into your work area. A power sprayer is a quick way to do this. Installing a white ceiling tile instead of open rafters will also help with light and noise, but blocks all that useful storage space. Another thing I did to my _base_ment before setting up the shop was to coat the floor with a concrete sealer. This eliminates a lot of the dust common to a _base_ment. Also if you spill anything on the floor, it doesn't immediately soak into the concrete. I wish I'd done the same to the garage floor. You have to etch the concrete first with muriatic acid (nasty stuff - wear rubber gloves and have lots of ventilation). The easiest way to apply the sealer is with a squeegee. Just pour it out and squeegee
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Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # Impeach the TRA BoD To reply, remove the TRABoD! <<< Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://www.pleimling.org/le/Phantom4000.pdf 
