![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=534&h=462&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")
Old Plug Washers Never Die…
New spark plugs always come with new washers—but if you're like most people, you can easily get over five hundred hours of use...
Riveting with Mirrors
Sometimes we have to drive rivets in blind spots like under a longeron or behind a bulkhead. This trick has helped me many times...
Old Dog, New Trick
I've been working on airplanes for a long time, and some things I do a certain way because I have always done them a...
In Case You Missed It
Maintenance Tools
If you are going to do a proper job of maintaining your airplane, you will need some tools that don’t have much use outside of aviation.
Contributors
RON ALEXANDERRon Alexander has been part of the homebuilding scene for decades. He began...
