What tools...?

Ok, I will be restoring or "fixing up" a 15' Don Hill.  No major damage that I have noted (see pics under my name) except for 1 compression crack in the floor.  Two transom trim pieces with rot that need replaced.

My question is what tools will make my project much easier. 

Here's what I have.

Small chop saw

Small table saw

variable speed saber saw

18volt 3/8 drill, skillsaw(small), recip saw (all Ryobi)

3/8 & 1/2 corded drills

skill saw

1/2 sheet elec sander

Sandcat belt sander (old)

Normal selection ofhand tools, air compressor, etc.

 

What would you add?  Is the multi tool head for the Ryobi worth adding?

What sanders (type) would you recomend?  Would an HVLP sprayer be a good choice for paint when the time comes???

 

I'm not overflowing with cash so I want to add a tool here/there so I'm ready when I start the job.

 

Boat will needcomplete refinishing, but has no glass on it right now.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 2, 2013 at 3:16pm

Hand plane and block plane, router and roundover bits, I love my $40 Woodriver HVLP sprayer from Woodcraft (I can give you some ideas on how to set it up with pressure regulator and such), I use 17" auto body block sanders from Harbor Freight (HF), however I am definitely compulsive about getting the wood smooth.

I also use Harbor Freight straight line sanders and two air compressors to get enough volume of air, I just set them to repressure at the same settings and run about 90 psi. I am on my third one in ten days, the first two only lasted a day each, but they take them back with receipt for 6 months and they are only 10 minutes away.

Putty knives of various widths, sharpening tools for your planes, cabinet scraper for smoothing wood without sandpaper. Wood chisels of two or three sizes, machinists sliding square, I like the small ones. Random Orbital Sander, buy a good one. I like Rigid because they have a lifetime warranty and don't cost more. Lots of sandpaper for your RO sander in a variety of grits. 

Plastic cups for epoxy measuring, some folks use yogurt containers, gram scale for measuring epoxy, acetone and vinegar for cleaning up epoxy, shop vac for cleaning up messes, air compressor and nozzle to blow out dirt, big 2" x 4" x 6" sponges for wet sanding, metal roller that looks like a stack of quarters and dimes from Fiberglass Supply for wetting out fiberglass, selection of plastic auto body filler squeegies for spreading epoxy, HF has them pretty cheap, box of shop towels, box of nitrile gloves.

I use a Japanese style handsaw quite a bit. Some folks have reported good luck with HF saws.

Moaning chair with refreshments so when you must ponder how to fix up your newest opportunity for an improvement (mistake in some folks words).

Alaskan tools that might be handy would probably be a loaded firearm to scare away bears and a case of mosquito repellent, long sleeves, long pants, headnet and duct tape for closing the sleeves!

Vance I have been collecting tools for quite a while and do handyman work as well as lots of wood working projects so each new project is a super excuse to buy more tools. Something that I have found useful lately is a set of hearing protectors, they cut down the sound of my compressors and sander and keep my headphones from falling out of my ears. I am afraid to publish how many hours of sanding I have done on this boat, people will really know how OCD I can be then. 

Other peoples choices are probably much less in number, but you asked for opinions.

Good luck!

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on April 2, 2013 at 3:21pm

Vance:  You are well eqipped  to do the job.  Forget the HVLP sprayer- you are working on a boat that will be used for fishing- not a showpiece  for the sportsman show.  Jason  showed us how to use rollers and a paintbrush for "tipping off" to get  a very good finish.  I do like a 5" random orbital sander(Mikita).  Having never owned a chopsaw or a compressor  I can't comment.  My table saw Is a Delta 8" with a 4" jointer patented in 1934- the year I was born.  Japanese pull saws are very handy for good tight cuts and fits. Never had a "multi tool".  Start the job- you are in good shape toolwize.

GoodLuck

Permalink Reply by tungsten on April 4, 2013 at 5:46am

Sounds like we should be calling Rick "toolman" I'd like to be your neighbor.

 

Porter cable has a variable speed 3 amp random orbit sander out.I really like that I can slow it down for a little more control.

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 4, 2013 at 7:11am

Tungsten, I like that idea. My grandfather was a blacksmith, my father a carpenter and I'm a Jack-of-all-trades! Plus my wife's family is or was a blacksmith or mechanic.

I would like to live next to you to learn your glass, epoxy and vacuum bagging skills!

Rick "Mahog Toolman" Newman 

PS if you buy a Harbor Freight straight line sander replace the screws holding the bottom plate to the sander with some bolts with nyloc nuts. I just picked up my fourth one. They only seem to last about 12 to 16 hours. They sand just fine but don't cost $200 to $400, only $40 and they keep giving me new ones.

Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on April 4, 2013 at 11:45am

Thanks guys.

Lawrence, trust me it's not lack of tools that's holding me back.  It's just been time, weather, & facility.

The reality is I will probably put the junk glass drift boat I picked up before I found the Don Hill in the water & use it this year.  It needs only a day or two of work to be functional, though barge length (20' stem to stern) & butt ugly.  It will get me humbly through the summer & teach me to row.  I will probably rebuild the DH over the 13/14 winter.  Should have a heated garage available by then.  Might get to it thgis summer, but I'm afraid if I do I will rush it & not get a good job done.

 

Rick, I forgot to mention I do have a good midsize Crafstsman compressor that will handle my needs along with a fair selection of putty knives.

Also as of today I just added a used Hobart Handler 150 mig welder to the stable so I can do trailer mods etc.

Man I wish we had Harbor Tool up here.  Home Depot is as close as we get!

Permalink Reply by Don Hanson on April 4, 2013 at 2:26pm

  I find that a selection of artist's palate knives are really handy.   Good for spreading and mixing small amounts of putty and glue into tight spaces or corners.

  I also have a selection of flat metal scrapers I have made, grinding various curved shapes either from old flat square cabinet scrapers or from pieces of flat stock stainless steel using my belt sander.  I then sharpen them up on a flat file and use em to concave or otherwise shape wood or take off hard to sand areas.

  I like a set of taper bits with adjustable countersinks around, too.   You can start out with just a few of the more common screw sizes.   These make screwing around better.

  You don't 'need' a bandsaw, but they are really really handy when doing boatwork...probably the most used power tool at the boatshop where I served my apprenticeship..

  And, if you are a hack, a 'craftsman' who likes to 'adjust' fits after you miss slightly, many guys use those high speed circular right angle sanders, with a 4" pad.

Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on April 4, 2013 at 4:38pm

Thanks Don.

I have regular "cheap" countersinks, but no adjustable.  If I get into this & get addicted they are on my list.  By taper bits, do you mean like the "UNI" bit?  I do have an old mid-size Crafstman upright bandsaw that I bought 13 yrs ago & have never setup.  Actually forgot about it until you mentioned bandsaws.  I REALLY want a metal bandsaw one of these days.  Have an ancient drill press too.

Oh, & this hack has three 4" right hand grinders (and multiple chainsaws!!!) & was just looking at a heavy old 7" Crafstman in a 2nd hand store.  I can make 'er fit!

Permalink Reply by Don Hanson on April 4, 2013 at 6:25pm

  I get a lot of my boatbuilding stuff from Tacoma Screw

http://www.tacomascrew.com/

  Search for taper point drillbits or Fuller drills.   The countersinks slide onto the drill shaft and have the proper head angle to accept real wood screws.  You can also get collars that go over the countersink to stop it at the correct depth to accept a plug over the screw...With a proper taper hole, a real screw has excellent holding power...with a straight bit, not so much, and in hardwood you risk splitting or busting the screw before it draws the two pieces together...

  Get that ole Craftsman saw out when you get moving on your boat...Parts you make that will fit into a boat, they aren't usually square, plumb, right angle or parallel-sided...or they have no reason to be so, except most drift boat builders were carpenters of some other sort first. So, they used table saws, chop saws etc and make the boat to suit the tools...

Using a saber saw works, but a band saw is much nicer...and a band saw, some sharp planes, and other real boat tools, that makes a lot of nice work possible and fun....

  I have a couple of band saws,  but my favorite is from the old Eddon Boatworks shop, the home of the Thunderbird (plywood) sloop that is still quite respected around the Northwest.  An antique Delta 14" with a 6" riser kit and a homemade winding bevel crank on the side to cut curves and change the bevel as the curve progresses...a two man job.  Not needed for a simple dory build, the winding bevel.

Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on April 4, 2013 at 6:34pm

Hey Vance,

I have to agree with Don, a band saw is a nice tool to have around. I also agree with Lawrence, get a random orbit sander (I have burned out two craftsman's and currently am using a Dewalt that is going strong) and learn to roll and tip. You will be surprised how much you can use a drill press if you have one. and finally the belt sander in my opinion probably the most versatile Drift Boat building tool. 

 Have fun!

Mike

Permalink Reply by Josh Wieschowski on April 5, 2013 at 8:05am

I love me some good tools! I own a construction company here in Michigan so its an easy justification to buy quality tools as money allows me. Its atleast justification for my wife because fine woodworking tools really dont have a use on your average job site, other than a nice portable table saw and a nice compound sliding chop saw. I agree that a decent bandsaw is a huge asset to any boat builder. A jigsaw works for a rough cut, I like to cut pieces to big and then take them to the bandsaw for a more precise cut. I also have an oscillatiing spindle sander with a belt sander, its a 15 second conversion and that is the way to go for sanding a radius!

One thing is for sure, a quality tools is a joy to work with and it usually outperforms a cheapo, although there are some places where cheapos are just the right tool!

Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on April 5, 2013 at 10:45am

Thanks again guys!

Now don't confuse me with a boat builder!  This will be a one time boat restoration/get 'er on the river for a fine fishing tool (not a show-boat) job! I'll probably never build/rebuild another one :-)

 

Quick sander question.  I have my old pneumatic "DA" sander from the days I messed with auto body stuff just a bit.  Had would that compare to a random orbit sander performance wise?  The old DA has been in storage here in our costal enviroment without use for over 10 yrs & before that in Montana in an unheated storage building for several more so it may be a moot point due to rust.  I know when I dug my impact wrenches out none of them functioned well & they all need rebuilds.

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 5, 2013 at 10:56am

Vance, if it still operates it can either be used as an random orbital or a circular sander, hence the DA moniker.

Rick "Toolman" Newman

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