Building A Workshop….

 So the workshop assembly has begun.  I am not really assembling a structure, but totally reorganizing my existing garage workspace.  My garage has been a dumping ground since we bought the home and is occupied by lots of kids toys and household supplies.  So the last month we have spent buying shelving units, ceiling racks, and totes to organize.  It was a big project but we’ve made a serious dent in it.

My wife unfortunately has taken it upon herself to also reorganize, declutter, and empty the house as well of any unnecessary items.  My credit card seems to be a daily purchase of organizational items lately as we have gone crazy doing this. It has paid off though as the house is quite organized and the garage is off to a good start. 

I’ve been in contact with Cleaveland Tool about the RV-10 toolkit.  They now have everything back on stock and I plan to get that ordered in Mid October.  The DRDT2 is apparently about a 4 week shipping timeline, so I’m leaving myself extra time in case. The one thing I planned to buy along with the kit was the tail light mounting ring. This item makes it easy to reinforce the rudder fairing for a tail light and I was going to order it to save on shipping. Unfortunately, they have discontinued the item and it was something they used to make themselves.  I’ll have to ask around on the Vans forums to see if anyone has one or if they know the dimensions to get it custom cut. 

I also visited my local Harbor Freight last month and bought myself a real toolbox. You’ll see a had a small workbench in the picture below, but added a nice double wide tool chest and end cabinet. It’s nice because it gives me a good working table as well for my band saw, grinder, and other tools to store.

As you can see, I also got a band saw and grinder from Lowe’s.  I’m hoping to get the end of my clean out done this week so I can hit Lowe’s to build the EAA workbenches.  Until the next update.  

Order Acknowledged..... Now It's Getting Real..

 So I got acknowledgement that my order has been processed and received.  I have been assigned my builder/customer number by Van's and have been informed my lead time is 4 months for the empennage.  This is good timing to allow me to build some tables, organize the garage, and get the tools all setup.

I signed up for the fundamentals class offered by Synergy Air South in Newnan, Georgia.  This is a one day hands on class which explains all of the basic skills required to build the plane and do the metal work.  I am looking forward to this and it will be the true introduction to much of what I will be doing.  I still plan to do a avionics/wiring type of class later in the build and will probably do a fiberglass class somewhere as well.  I don't think I'll do any of the fairings until closer to the end so I can concentrate on fiberglass at once and refine that skill a bit more.  Plus I heard its really messy and I would rather combine that to a shorter timeframe for cleanup.

I've begun setting up accounts with vendors so it will be easy to order things and have also started a list of items I will need as I go.  I plan to hit up Lowe's and Harbor Freight later this month to get started on the basic tools and tables build.  I'm not sure exactly how much of this has really sunk in yet.  I think once I start getting tools and such it will get more real to me.