![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![Author Bill Wilson takes a break from measuring and cutting the Lexan windshield during his Onex build. [All Images Credit to Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like A Builder")
Light it Up!
How many times have you been working in the depths of your aircraft's fuselage, a flashlight in your mouth, and a work light burning...
Oil Pressure Problems
Oil pressure is always a concern to anyone who flies a powered plane. Everyone knows that if your oil pressure drops to zero, your...
Hold-downs
A typical milling machine hold-down kit consists of various size blocks, hold-downs, and threaded rods, plus an assortment of T-nuts, flange nuts, and...
Paint Masking
We've all seen those commercials for painter's tape. They make masking look so easy, but it seems every time I use the stuff, it...
Three to Get Ready
"…Now go cat, go…But don't you…Step on my Blue Suede Shoes." Elvis was singing this in 1957, and yes, I convinced my mom that...
In Case You Missed It
Electric Flight From Behind the Wheel
It’s safe to assume few of us have flown via electric power at this point, while some of us have no doubt taken a spin in an electric car.
Metal Magic: Installing Nutplates
Every screw needs a place to go, and for many metal airplanes, that's into...
The Other Power Failure
In the days of steam gauges, an alternator failure was inconvenient. In the age...