SonexBuilders.net

I have just had a great experience with the Milwaukee Electric Pull Rivet gun, which now leads to a question: Can you now build a Sonex without an air compressor?

Sure would save money and neighbor complaints.

Of course. There was a guy here who pulled every rivet by hand.

Was his name Popeye :-)

Whoever he was, his name should be publicized so we know never to shake his hand.

You can drill all holes with a battery operated drill, but the much higher speeds of a good pneumatic drill will make for rounder holes as well as faster work.
Drill a few 1/4" holes in a piece of scrap at a very low speed and then look at the result with a magnifying glass. Then compare with holes drilled with the same 1/4" bit at say 2,000 - 2,500 RPM . The difference will also exist on a smaller scale with #30 drill where recommended speed is 3,500 - 6,000 RPM.

David A.

DCASonex is not wrong, but you can get corded high speed electric drills, and Metabo makes a very expensive cordless high speed drill.

And you can either buy pre riveted spars or use the tooling Sonex sells to set the driven rivets. Roll and tip your paint or vinyl wrap or polish. I have no air compressor and get along fine.

Nearly every dent in my airframe was caused by the recoil of a hand rivet puller.
Didn't take me long to convert to a Harbor Freight pneumatic puller.