From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

[Roland]

I'm honestly quite amazed by the response so far! You've all been very helpful, and I thank you!

How much space will I need to build featherweights?
Usually you can building in a shed, or if you can get a garage, all the better. I've built mine pretty much on a writing desk in my garage

I have an unused space in front of my conservatory that is facing a raised wall that I could cover in sheeting, store my tools in our shed and move them out to the space when I go to build, plus I wouldn't need a generator as I'd be right next to the house mains, or might that be too risky considering a wild robot could smash glass.

What tools do I need?

obviously a few tools are needed but you seem to have a nicely stocked workshop that should be fine for featherweight robots, i made my first robot with tin snips and and a drillpress , obviously that was my first robot and i have aquired a fair number of odd tools along the way

Unfortunately My grandparents live in Yorkshire and I'm in East Sussex! I visit them three times a year and it wouldn't be problem taking a half built robots up there for some professional help.
But I think I'm going to have to buy the tools myself, or have my parents help buy what we don't have.

Internals two cheap cordless drills will give you drive and speed controllers are available from most modelshops and online on this forum :: For sale thread, with the drills you get free batteries too ..

Does that mean I'd have to dismantle drills and re-wire them? Do you attach the axel in the same way you'd attach a drill bit?

If you don't weld, most likely you'l be bolting parts together, you'll want a good few different screwdrivers to suit (or allen keys if you use those kinds of bolts). Miscelaneoustools you'll want: adjustable spanner, hammer, file, wire cutters/strippers and a soldering iron and solder.

If I wanted to learn to weld, what would be the best way to learn?
My mother owns a soldering iron and solder for her stain glass, do you mean that sort of soldering iron and the mix lead solder?

Anyhow, thank you all, I'm sorry you're being bombarded with questions, and I'm sure a couple are flaming obvious, but I really want to know as much as I can before I start anything! You really are a helpful community.

-Roland