Smitty's RV-9A from Van's Aircraft

RV-9A: Project Entry

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Started drilling the Lightning Holes in the VS-808PP spar doubler
I have drilled large holes in metal before, out at my hangar, running conduit throughout the infrastructure. So my first inclination was to use the traditional metal hole saws that have always worked well on regular metal. Instead I bought the Craftsman Circle Cutter (fly cutter) as shown on the Orndorff RV Construction Videos. I started on the first hole and the fly cutter was so loud (and slow) that I had to close the garage door and put on my ear protection. There was something about one blade swirling around that was scaring the hell out of me. If it snagged, it would not be pretty. Well, the first hole turned out OK, but not great. When I started the second hole, the single twirling blade dulled and wouldn't cut anymore. That's when I went to Lowes and bought a Lenox Standard Wood/Metal Hole Saw and starting kicking some real drilling booty. UPDATE 10/28/2005: I got an email from another builder who had the same problem with his Sears Fly Cutter dulling out after one cut. He went to Lowes and bought another one and it lasted for the whole drilling session on the spar doubler. I will probably swing by there and get one. I can see the benefit of having a hole cutter that is adjustable in the width of the cut.

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