The biggest difference between building an RV-9 and a Sonex are the blind rivets. Almost non-existent with the RV-9A, the blind rivet is the most common rivet type with the Sonex.

The blind rivet is also called the pull rivet or a pop-rivet (which is a registered trademark)

The original design was for riveting where the rivet was unavailable for bucking or squeezing. For the Sonex, it reduces build time significantly. We just completed skinning the horizonal stabilizer in just an hour. For my last project, this would have taken a day or two.

That said, there are some new tools you will need to build the Sonex. You can use a hand squeezer, but unless you want forearms like Popeye, and add a year or two to the project, you will want a power tool. Now there are two flavors: pneumatic or electric. The pneumatic type is available from your favorite aircraft supply or from Harbor Freight Tools.

For the electric, I bought a Milwaukee with the small battery (for lighter weight) and I bought two batteries. They do sell blind rivet tool adapters for cordless drills. These looks a little iffy to me but I have no experience with them.

You will still need a hand rivet puller for tight spaces, and I scored a VERY thin model at a garage sale for $5. Look for one with a small profile.

You should also get a close quarter rivet pulling wedge (about $25) that allows pulling a straight rivet at a slight angle. I got mine from cleavelandtool.com

OK! Back to work. For the RV guys, they usually say “Keep pounding those rivets!” For the Sonex guys, “Keep Pulling those Rivets!”