{"id":11925,"date":"2018-12-26T09:53:17","date_gmt":"2018-12-26T17:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/production.vansaircraft.com\/?page_id=11925"},"modified":"2025-11-26T14:01:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T22:01:57","slug":"list-of-recommended-tools","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vansaircraft.com\/building-an-rv\/tools\/list-of-recommended-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"List of Recommended Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The following list is provided as a starting point when acquiring tools for an RV build project.\u00a0 This list is fairly complete, but we also recommend you speak with other RV builders and tool suppliers to help best determine what you need for your specific shop and project.<\/p>\n<p>If you are building an RV-12 or RV-12iS, which uses certain different fasteners and related tools, please refer to Section 3 of the RV-12 plans for a comprehensive list of tools needed when building that model.<\/p>\n<p>** denotes items that are suggested to assemble the practice projects: &#8220;RV TRAINING PROJECT-1&#8221; and\/or &#8220;TOOL BOX KIT&#8221; and\/or &#8220;VAN&#8217;S LIGHT BOX SIGN KIT.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aircraft Specialty Tools for the RV-7, RV-8, RV-9<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>(scroll down for RV-10, RV-14 additions)<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3X Rivet Gun** (2X or 3X for QuickBuild)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Non-Swivel Click-type Air Regulator<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\u2033 Dia. Flush Set **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\/8\u2033 Cupped Set 3.5\u2033 **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\/8&#8243; Double Offset Cupped Set\u00a0 (Not needed for QuickBuilds)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Back Rivet Set **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Bucking bar (Tungsten or multiple shapes)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Microstop Countersink Cage**<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#40 Countersink \u2013 3\/32\u2033 Rivet **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#30 Countersink \u2013 1\/8\u2033 Rivet<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#6 Countersink \u2013 #6 Screw<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#8 Countersink \u2013 #8 Screw<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#10 Countersink \u2013 #10 Screw<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#40 Straight Flute Reamer<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#30 Straight Flute Reamer<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\u00bc\u201d Straight Flute Reamer<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">7.9mm Straight Flute Reamer<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">5-10 #40 Jobber Drill Bits (for 3\/32\u2033 rivets) **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">5-10 #30 Jobber Drill Bits (for 1\/8\u2033 rivets) **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#19 Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#12 Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#10 Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#21 Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#28 Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\u00bc\u201d Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\u201cD\u201d Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\u201cN\u201d Jobber Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">12\u2033 #40 Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">12\u2033 #30 Drill Bit<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Deburring Set \u2013 Large Holes<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Hex Shank Deburring Bit &#8211; Small Holes<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3M Cut &amp; Polishing Wheel 6\u2033<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3M hand pads<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Cleco Pliers **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">325 Cleco Fasteners \u2013 3\/32\u2033 ** (** 30 required, 150 if QB, 500 if 10\/14)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">175 Cleco Fasteners \u2013 1\/8\u2033 ** (** 10 required, 75 if QB)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">10 Cleco Fasteners \u2013 3\/16&#8243;<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">4 Cleco Clamps \u2013 1\/2\u2033 Jaws<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">4 Cleco Clamps \u2013 1\u2033 Jaws<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Hand or Pneumatic Squeezer and 3\u2033 Yoke<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\/8\u2033 Universal Cupped Set<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Flat Set 1\/2\u2033 x 1\/8\u2033 **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Flat Set 3\/8\u2033 x 1\/8\u2033<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32\u2033 Rivet Dimple Die **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32&#8243; Rivet Small Dia. Female Die<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32\u201d Rivet Close Quarters Dies (pop rivet operated)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\/8\u2033 Rivet Dimple Die<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#6 Countersink \u2013 #6 Screw<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#8 Screw Dimple Die<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">#10 Screw Dimple Die<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Unibit 1\/4\u2033 \u2013 3\/4\u2033 by 1\/16ths<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Fluting Pliers<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">10\u2033 Curved tool File<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">22&#8243; Reach Skin Dimpling Tool (C-frame)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Back Rivet Plate<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Hand Seamer Pliers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Specialty Tool Additions for RV-10, RV-14<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32&#8243; Squeezer Cup Set<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32&#8243; Cup Rivet Set 3.5&#8243;<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Special Bar for RV-10 &amp; RV-14<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Jobber Drill 5\/16&#8243;<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Jobber Drill #17<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Jobber Drill #34<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">6&#8243; Drill #27<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">6&#8243; Drill #33<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Countersink Cutter &#8211; #12 Pilot<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">RV-14 Safety Pin Squeezing Tool for Elevator (14 only)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">RV-14 Modified #40 Countersink for Elevator (14 only)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">RV-14 Economy Modified 3\/32&#8243; Male Die for Elevator (14 only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Specialty Tools Needed Late in the Project (borrow if possible)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Tube Bender<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Tube Flaring Tool<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Wire Crimping Tools<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Ft.-Lb Torque Wrench<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Angle Die Grinder and Cutoff Discs (for plexi and fiberglass)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Optional Specialty Tools\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Angle Drill Attachment &amp; Threaded Drill Set 6 pc.<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Dimple Die Organizer<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Rivet Measuring Gauge<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">3\/32\u201d Pin Punch<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">1\/8\u201d Pin Punch<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Edge Former Tool<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">In-Lb Torque Wrench<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Standard Shop Tools (available at local hardware stores)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Drill (Air or Cordless) **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Metal Snips: Left &amp; Right\u00a0 **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Pop Rivet Tool **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">24\u2033 Stainless Rule<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Slow, Lightweight, Cordless Screwdriver (for deburring)<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers **<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Removable Scotch Magic Tape &amp; Tape Dispenser<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Hearing Protector<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Safety Glasses<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">File Card \/ Brush<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Standard files<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Standard Sockets, Wrenches, Screwdrivers<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Steel and Composite Hammers<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Air Tool Oil<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Air compressor (3-5cfm @ 90 psi) &amp; Hose<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Optional Shop Tools (available at local hardware stores)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Drill Press<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Band Saw<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Belt or Disc Sander<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Vise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Specialty Tool Additions for RV-3, RV-4, RV-6<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Fan Spacing Tool<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Double the number of drill bits<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Nut Plate Drill Jigs #8<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Omit #6 Countersinks and Dies above<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Air Drill is a must<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">Angle Drill Attachment and Bits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following list is provided as a starting point when acquiring tools for an RV build project.\u00a0 This list is fairly complete, but we also recommend you speak with other RV builders and tool suppliers to help best determine what you need for your specific shop and project. If you are building an RV-12 or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vansaircraft.com\/building-an-rv\/tools\/list-of-recommended-tools\/\">[&hellip;] <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":11410,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11925","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>List of Recommended Tools - Van&#039;s Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vansaircraft.com\/building-an-rv\/tools\/list-of-recommended-tools\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"List of Recommended Tools - Van&#039;s Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The following list is provided as a starting point when acquiring tools for an RV build project.\u00a0 This list is fairly complete, but we also recommend you speak with other RV builders and tool suppliers to help best determine what you need for your specific shop and project. 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