Tungsten

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:32 am

If you have the chance to get your hands on some tungsten bucking bars, jump all over it. I bought a few from JohnR several months ago and these things are great! Their mass is triple that of the iron ones that are standard, so a small bar weighs about the same as one three times its size. They are more maneuverable and really work well for bucking.
Only downside is cost ... but if you find some cheap I would definitely buy them (or let me know so I can!)

Thomas
-8 wings

Post by **Spike** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:21 am

Thanx!! These bars sure do seem to be gathering a following.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:33 pm

Thomas, glad you like the tungsten! I REALLY like mine, they will spoil you.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:17 pm

I recently ordered one of the tungsten bars from Webster Tools at buckingbar.net. At first I was very skeptical, but I was intrigued by all the recent comments about these. After using it over the weekend, I am no longer skeptical, it rocks!

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:37 pm

Is that bucking bar really $120???

I'm all about new technology and the latest and greatest but COME ON!!! That's just rediculous!

- Peter

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:44 am

I had the same reaction a few weeks ago when I first learned of the bar. A few people on another RV Forum even attempted to locate tungsten bar stock so that they could roll their own. It turns out that nobody could locate suitable material for anywhere near $120 (it was usually 2X or more), so the consensus was that at $120 it was a bargain. JohnR will tell you, even used tungsten bars go for huge prices on eBay.

In a moment of late night weakness after a glass wine (ok two

) I broke down and ordered one, knowing that it could be the biggest waste of $120 I ever spent, but also knowing I could turn around and sell it in a heartbeat.

Let's just say that I have now tasted the tungsten kool-aid and that I have a new favorite tool.

IMHO, and I can't believe I am going to say this, it was $120 well spent. Of course YMMV.

Post by **Spike** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:09 am

$120 for a bucking bar and yet you guys give me crap cause I want the Garmin 900. Sheesh, what a double standard.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:47 am

Hey SPIKE!! CJ and I were talking offline the other day wondering where you were! Glad to see our fearless leader is still around!

Post by **Spike** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:44 am

Absolutely Im still here

I read every post, every day. Patti and I host Thanksgiving so we are up to our eyeballs in paint, etc, getting ready. I have not had tons of time to work on the plane, so I have been sucking more info than giving lately. Im behind on the blog to. Oh well, Im in rib prep hell anyway.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:45 am

RV7Factory wrote: Let's just say that I have now tasted the tungsten kool-aid and that I have a new favorite tool.

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:45 am

Haven't bucked any rivets since I bought a couple of bars from JohnR, but judging by the heft of them, I believe those who say that tungsten is worth the price. I hadn't heard of buckingbars.net, but I went there and checked out their claims, which include building an entire RV8 with ONE tungsten bar, as well as offering a refund if you're not happy with the bar.

I paid $243 for my 15 piece bucking bar set that looks like it was made by cavemen using wooden tools. If a single bar can replace that ugly clumsy mess of iron, for half the price, and be much easier to use, producing better results, what's not to like?

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:01 pm

JohnR wrote:

ROFLMAO!!!! Is that wine or Kool-aid? No matter, I take either.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:05 pm

Tungsten bar on the right. It was originally 768g, but I ground one end down at an angle to improve the bars utility. After using the tungsten bar for a bit, I picked up the bar on the left... it felt like it was made of Aluminum.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:40 pm

Alright, I caved and ordered one. I called the guy up, and talked to him for a few minutes, and ordered it online off his website. THIS BETTER BE WORTH IT BRAD!!

He said he has a couple of new products he's working on that will make squeezing rivets in tight spots easier..."stay tuned" he said.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:08 pm

Sucker!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:09 pm

Or you'll owe me more beer!

rv8or · Post by **rv8or** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:10 pm

I'm a lemming as well...bought mine yesterday. I figured now that I won't cover the thing in Pro-seal, I might as well give it a try.

Just in time for wing skins!!

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:27 pm

I replace a lot of rivets that are probably more difficult to shoot/buck than during original assembly/construction of the plane. Because of that, I need a large variety of different angled and other oddball shapes to get what I am working on completed. For $120, I could probably buy 8-10 more standard steel bars and even modify them if needed. I really think I would like to use one first before buying one. Anyone cut/grind the bars to modify? If so, how difficult is the tungsten to work?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:34 pm

Brad just ground an angle on side of his. The guy that you get these from at buckingbar.net has a garauntee if you don't like it. Just send it back, and your money will be refunded no questions asked. I talked to the guy today, and he's a 'good ol boy' that is not out to get anbody, just wants to satisfy his customers. Can't go wrong with that.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:09 pm

Spike wrote:$120 for a bucking bar and yet you guys give me crap cause I want the Garmin 900. Sheesh, what a double standard.

Not me!!!

I ain't no hypocrit!

I am just a CHEAPSKATE!

CJ

RivetBangers.com

Tungsten

Tungsten

I was skeptical...