A lot has been written about what tools you need to complete an RV.  There are some sites out there that include lists of tools a particular builder has has found useful.  Probably the best tool list I have seen is on Dan Checkoway's Tool page.  Heck, that is probably the best RV page I have ever seen.

The idea of my page is not to list specific tools but only list those tools that I consider a must.  Heck, I'm not even going to list the make or model of the tools I use.  I'm just going to list the tools I think you will want/need as you progress.  There is no significance to the number, it is just the sequence in which I thought of them.

Tool #1: Shop Vacuum

The first tool you should buy is a good, quite shop vacuum aka wet-dry vac.  You have no idea how handy these things are.  Mine died half way through the empennage and the replacement vacuum is so quite that I no longer have to wear hearing protection just to use it.  The down side of this new vacuum is there is no blow hole to use to unstop a plugged hose.  The maker of my vacuum changed the exit hole to work as a muffler; thus, no round exhaust hole.

Tool #2: Bench Sander

I actually had a visitor ask me if he should buy a bench sander before he started his project.  It turns out he has a bench grinder and wanted to use that.  Let me start out by saying that you should not use a bench grinder with aluminum.  The aluminum will plug up the wheel in short order and I've heard the heat they build up once the wheel is clogged with aluminum may cause it to explode.  That may be an old wives tail but I don't want to be the person to prove it is true.  Heck, I'm sure there are even grinding wheels that will work just fine with aluminum but I use my bench grinder for shaping steal parts and sharpening my lawnmower blades.

A bench sander is invaluable in shaping / fabricating the various parts required in RV construction!

I have a combination belt and disk sander I bought at the local hardware store.  It cost around $99 and is well worth the money.  The disk sander is great for rough shaping and the belt sander is used for finish sanding before the parts go on the deburring wheel.

One thing to consider, don't sand steal and aluminum parts with the same belt/disk as you will push little bits of steal into the aluminum parts that follow.  This will set up a corrosion situation you don't want to deal with down the road.

Tool #3: Band Saw

The band saw is an outstanding tool for metal working!  Mine is a cheep 14" tri-wheel saw that I bought for $10 at a garage sale.  When cutting thick stock  (wood or aluminum) it is not very accurate but it works fine for RV part fabrication.

The saw I have is belt driven with three speed settings, just like my drill press.  I have the saw turning at the slowest setting and use 18 TPI by 1/4" saw blades.  Would I like a better saw?  Sure I would, but until this thing dies, I'm not spending the money.

Tool #4: Drill Press

12", bench top drill press I bought from my local hardware store and it works fine.  Would like a a bigger one?  Sure I would , but until this thing dies, I'm not spending the money.

I use the drill press and a 3M deburring wheel as my primary deburring tool.  This works much better than putting the deburring wheel in a bench grinder because the access to the wheel is better.  (No comment the safety aspect of using a big spinning tool and hand feeding it big, long pieces of aluminum.)

Tool #5: Air Hose Swivel

Get one of these swivels for the tool end of your air hose.  It makes it easier to hold your air tools steady because the air hose just drops down at the end of the tool rather than sticking way out the back of the tool and getting in your way.

Tool #6: Drawing/Drafting Table

You have got to have some place to put all those big drawings from Van's.  I built mine out of Oak and plan on moving it upstairs when the -9 is finished.  See the Things to Consider page for a picture.

Tool #7: Work Table

Build a good, stable work table and it will make working on your project much easier.  The six legged table I built uses a 4x8 foot sheet of 5/8" (or is it 3/4?) thick particle board for the top.  That sheet is rabbitted (inlayed) into a 2x4 frame.  There are 2x4 studs 12" on center under the top and the legs are braced in two directions.  You can dance on this thing if you want to and it won't move.

The best part is the table top.  Particle board will hold clecos so you can match drill and cleco parts right to the table as you work.  When the work surface starts to look like an artillery practice field, just lift it out and put a new sheet down.  Note, I didn't mention anything about screwing or gluing the top in place, did I?

Tool #8: Drill Rite

Every once in a while you come across a tool that just simply works as advertised and the Drill Rite drill guide from Easter Technology Corporation is one of those tools.  It is used for drilling holes in the RV control tubes and is highly recommended!  See the Things to Consider page for a picture.

Tool #9: Sears Craftsman Bit Wrench set

What's that you say?  Sears has been really good about releasing new tools under the Craftsman name and this is one of those.  These Bit Wrenches hold screw driver, Torx, Alan key bits, etc., are small, and shaped just right for getting into tight spots.  Even better since I've started replacing the 8-32 machine screws with 8-32 Alan head cap screws.  Note, the set does not come with the Alan bits, they can be purchased separately.

Tool #10: Sears Craftsman Bottle Opener

How in the world did I get through my project without one of these gems?

Tool #11: Stocking Stuffer Tools from Northern Tool

My wife spoiled me this year (2006) at Christmas time.  For stocking stuffers she apparently spent a good deal of time at Northern Tool.  It seems everything she picked up I was able to use within one or two working sessions.  Pictured here is the miniature magnet on a stick, miniature mirror, miniature LED flash light, miniature Sharpie, and a miniature 1/4" socket drive.  Included in this picture are a Craftsman 3/8" and 1/4" ratchet drive for scale.  Awesome tools and awesome wife!

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Tool #12: Sears ratcheting bit drivers

These bit drivers from Sears are just perfect for inserting and removing screws from tight spaces.  The set is less than $20 and when the Sears site comes back up, I'll post the part number.  They take standard bits but do not come with a hex bit for cap screws.  Not a big problem, unless you are using 8-32 cap screws all over the place.

Tool #13: ???

There are so many other tools in my shop that to list all of them would take more time than I have and for you to read.  What I have found is that just when I think I have finally finished buying tools, something comes up that requires another special tool.  It has been my experience that it is better to spend the money to buy (or borrow) the tool required, and perform the task at hand.  This is usually much cheaper and a LOT less frustrating than trying to use the wrong tool and messing up a part or two.