A little progress XL H-58

[Chuck in Indiana]

While I was waiting for the T88 to set up on the compression members, I set up all the noses ribs and in my best Captain Kirk voice said, "Computer.. cut that slot." 

[scottiniowa]

Oh yeah.. no matter how hard I try to keep the mess to a minimum, it will take me a month to clean up the shop after the wood work. It's been a learning experience, but I've almost had all this fun I can stand. 

I will clean up wood "remains" such as dust and chips any day over metal filings and or plasma dust. Plasma dust is so fine, you can't feel it, but it will coat your fingers and everything else in a heart beat.  Basically metal that has been burned into smoke like clouds, that hopefully is 100% exhausted.. (but rarely happens)   Vac is about the only thing to get it, and that simply doesn't seem to happen all the time.

The fun in the shop...wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I dunno. There is a fine layer of dust everywhere I look, now.    It will take me for freakin ever to clean it up so I can go back to precision work. No matter how hard I've tried to keep it cleaned up, the dust is pervasive. (shrug)

[jrbirdman47]

Finally got my shop cleaned up after building 4 wings in there. It took two long days because I had to start at the top and work my way down, cleaning the sawdust off of everything on the shelves, every item hanging on the peg boards, all the way to the floor, etc, and doing so only stirs up more dust so when I finished I started over and did it all again. But it finally got  (mostly) clean and useable again. Or, you could just burn the place and rebuild. Either way.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Or, you could just burn the place and rebuild. Either way.

Great idea..but it's hooked to the hanger. 

[914pete]

You have some nice tools Chuck...I don't even know what that machine is. I'm feeling a little less then adequate in the tool department over here.

[Chuck in Indiana]

You have some nice tools Chuck...I don't even know what that machine is. I'm feeling a little less then adequate in the tool department over here.

It's a cnc milling machine that I've had since..(gasp) 1985. You don't really need many tools to build a Legal Eagle, though. Some, like this one just makes some jobs easier. You can make a router fixture and do the same thing. I bought some woodworking tools because basically the price of tools to do the job is small compared to the price of the project, and the proper tool makes it easier and faster. I already had a table saw which I use to cut heavy aluminum (with coolant) and plastic. check.
band saw. check.
disc sander. check.
drill press. check.
welding equipment. check
Those tools alone "could" get the airplane built.
For building the wings, I bought a miter saw. $180. Not necessary, but really handy.
Trim router and portable table. About $110.
Oscillating saw kit..about $80 I think. So, that's $370. That is a very small part of the total price to build the airplane, and as I've said many times.. having the proper tool is generally about 2/3 of the job.

[914pete]

It's a cnc milling machine that I've had since..(gasp) 1985. You don't really need many tools to build a Legal Eagle, though. Some, like this one just makes some jobs easier. You can make a router fixture and do the same thing. I bought some woodworking tools because basically the price of tools to do the job is small compared to the price of the project, and the proper tool makes it easier and faster. I already had a table saw which I use to cut heavy aluminum (with coolant) and plastic. check.
band saw. check.
disc sander. check.
drill press. check.
welding equipment. check
Those tools alone "could" get the airplane built.
For building the wings, I bought a miter saw. $180. Not necessary, but really handy.
Trim router and portable table. About $110.
Oscillating saw kit..about $80 I think. So, that's $370. That is a very small part of the total price to build the airplane, and as I've said many times.. having the proper tool is generally about 2/3 of the job.

Very nice. My latest tool for sanding rib cap strips....LOL....It gets the job done though.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Pretty clever, and no doubt gets the job done.

[Tom XL-7]

I have an old Ryobi belt sander that has a flat top parallel to the belt. All controls speed and belt tracking are on the side. So it sits well upside down. It has been a handy feature.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Wouldn't want you guys to think I've been slackin'.. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've not been looking forward to building this D section. Wish me luck..

[jrbirdman47]

I thought it was pretty intimidating too, but once through it I thought it was one of the more satisfying parts of the wing build. Seemed to be very time consuming, with building jigs, sealing,  and glueing it all together, but once done it really did look nice and didn't seem so bad.

[Theodore]

i like the setup!
vertical seems to be good for straight line look and clamps

[Chuck in Indiana]

More waiting for the glue to dry.