There are lots of times when you can use a nice scraper in the shop. They are great for removing sticky labels, cleaning up paint, or even removing laser-splattered prepunched holes in thick aluminum stock. The problem with using any blade on aluminum, however, is that the sharp corners of a single-edge razor blade will leave scratches. But not if you take a few seconds to round them off on your grinding wheel. Use real light pressure and just a few touches. Now your blade will be effective and not leave marks in your work! We like to use the little clamp handles you can buy at Harbor Freight to hold the blades, by the way. They’re cheap and much easier to use than a bare blade.
In Case You Missed It
New to Homebuilding?
With so many options available, how can you choose a kit aircraft to build? From financing to storage to operating costs (and don’t forget insurance), a few factors can point you to a project that will fit your needs. By Scott “Sky” Smith.
Modern Exterior Aircraft Lighting
It’s your best way of letting other making your presence known to other pilots, so your exterior lighting system deserves careful thought and planning early on in the build process. Fortunately, there are choices for every plane and budget.
Preparing for Your First Flight
Dave Prizio - 0
The paperwork, the plane, and the pilot must come together for success.