I don’t know if anyone wants to play this game, but I’ll start. What are some basic rules that if followed contribute to better work? Here is one of mine:
Rule #1: don’t leave much extra length when cutting off a tube (to compensate for making a mistake). There is a tendency of my students to want to leave something like 3 or more mm from the mark just in case they cut crooked. What happens is that they have to file all this extra off which either wastes time or gets them in trouble because they don’t file straight. I suggest that if they start to cut crooked, stop, change tube position and start cutting again.
Making an entire circle Sharpie mark with the guidance of a slip tube helps visualize if the cut is going straight. A slip tube’s inside diameter has just enough clearance to slide over another tube’s outside diameter. Usually they have an 1/8th inch greater outside diameter with a wall thickness of .058”. For example a 1 1/8” tube with a wall thickness of .058” will just slip over a 1” OD tube. These tubes are commonly available online in 4130 steel tubing at Wicks Aircraft or Aircraft Spruce companies. These are the tubes used in making a bilaminate lug. Of course the tube end needs to be squared with a belt sander or lathe.
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