SHOP
T IPS
Chuck in a Chuck
Often you have to drill a small hole (like for a servo mounting screw) that’s deep
inside your model. I have found that you can insert a standard Pin Vise like the ones
from Great Planes into a standard electric drill and drill the 1/16-inch hole easily. Any
3/8-inch chucked drill will do the job. It’s a lot easier and quicker than using a hand-cranked drill for sure.
Kevin Brushett, Eatontown, NJ
Recycling Foam Insulation
I’ve found that simple, e;ective, and very inexpensive way to work on and transport
your model airplanes is to use scrap Styrofoam as a holder. A sharp knife makes clean
edge cuts and I use a small piece of Velcro attached to the pieces of wood to keep the
tail from moving. Foam-safe CA glue or epoxy can be used to glue the parts together.
To secure a hold-down strap, I use two pieces of wood attached with glue and deck
screws and a washer as anchor points. You can use the same technique to support
larger-size planes.
Steve Stresman, Perth, Ontario, Canada
Workbench Organizer
I hate messes even though I seem to be very good at generating them. I wanted a
method where I could sort through sheets of laser-cut model parts to find specific
parts, without having to look in the kit box and reassemble the sheets. I came up with
cardboard shelves cut to support the part sheets and made a handy rack to support
them. I made mine from standard 3/16-inch and 1/2-inch dowels, and a piece of
3/4-inch pine shelving for the base. Drill two holes in the base for the two 1/2-inch
verticals. ;en drill as many holes as you need into the side of the verticals for the
3/16-inch support dowels. ;e support dowels are 5 inches long and spaced 1 1/2
inches apart. Make the holes a snug fit and you don’t even need glue!
Wayne McNab, Pender Island, BC, Canada
Safety Cap
Here’s a safe and inexpensive method for storing a hobby knife or razor tool when its
not being used. For a cutting tool to work properly, it has to be sharp, and with sharp
tools, the chances of injury is present if you leave the tools lying around. Gain peace of
mind after using the hobby razor tool by inserting it into a snug-fitting piece of surgical
tubing that acts as a protecting sheath. You can slit a long piece of tubing down one
side and then slide it over the teeth of a razor saw for additional protection. To further
decrease the risk of an accident, color the end of the tubing with a bright marker for
increased visibility.
Conrad Rompala, Green Lake, WI
SEND IN YOUR IDEAS and if we pick your tip, we’ll send you an Electric Flight baseball cap! You can
send in a photo or sketch describing your favorite shop trick to: “Shop Tips,” c/o Electric Flight, 88 Danbury Rd., Suite 2B, Wilton,
CT 06897 or email us at electricflight@airage.com. Be sure to include your name and mailing address. We’re sorry to say that due
to the number of hobby-related ideas we receive, we can neither acknowledge each one, nor returned unused material.
