Light Aircraft Association

Being totally new to the self-build scene, are items like a decent bench swager and Oetiker pliers something that we beg, steal or borrow, or kit that we buy and after the build we keep tucked away on the top shelf, never to be used again?

It hurts to see a top-of-the-range bench swager on US eBay at US$99 (still 14 to be sold), and an identical model, from one's much-loved UK supplier, at £350 plus VAT.

And just to rub it in, Loctite 243 from a small outfit in Glasgow at £9 inc. postage, and from the same UK aero-supplier at £75 plus VAT plus delivery (yes, same volume).

Richard , is it a swaging tool for control cables ? If so then going for the large bench mounted swage tool is quite an expensive option . The hand-held swagers for about 15 quid do the same thing , and produce a swage of the same quality as the big expensive jobs . [ don't let me override anything your Inspector has said on this ]
As far as your problem with Loctite is concerned , and "certain aviation suppliers", yes you do have to use a bit of common sense and good judgement here. Unfortunately some suppliers think that having the
"A" word in their title means that they can put an extra couple of noughts on their prices .

Thanks for the info, Chris

Yes, we need it for control cables, and our inspector agrees with us using the more modest version, and can lend us one.

We've got a growing list of suppliers for the more elusive items (torque seal, for instance, isn't exactly over-the-local-ironmonger's counter) - it might be an idea to publish a list on the forum? We're not just chasing price, though eBay can be useful, and we realise that the A-word has to apply to some of the stuff we need.

Yes , Torq-Seal isn't the sort of stuff that you would get from Robert Dyas . Although it is only a tell-tale , tamper-proof putty type thing , and a judicious dob of red paint will do exactly the same thing.

But if your Inspector does insist on the pukka stuff , PM me .

Thanks, Chris - we found it on eBay in the end: http://goo.gl/llR9BJ

Thanks for the reminder - just ordered a large bottle of 243 on ebay for less than 15 quid.

I keep forgetting my last lot set earlier this year - shouldn't have left the bottle upright. It lasted 15 years on its side in my bits box!

Ambersil products are another thing to buy from local industrial suppliers rather than the aircraft boys...