Kents - new guy questions. - Printable Version

+- (https://bigbluetrains.com)
+-- Forum: The Depot (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Upper Berth (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Kents - new guy questions. (/showthread.php?tid=1062)

Kents - new guy questions. - KentBy - 04-03-2009

I thought that I should just have my own thread with these question in it then starting up a new thread each time.

So for today....

Where can I buy small steel rod?
The kind that I would poke up through the layout to move the points of my turnout (HO). I looked all over at Home Depot, no luck.

Kent

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - nachoman - 04-03-2009

Look for one of those "K&S" metal/brass displays. If not at your local hobby shop, try Ace Hardware. Music wire is what you need.

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - upnick - 04-04-2009

Hi Kent,

Piano wire (music wire) as suggested works well find a stockist some LHS stock it and take a point with you to get a good fit. any bends do before you cut it to length push through the point hole mark with a permanent pen and use a cut off disc for final lengths.

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - MasonJar - 04-04-2009

KentBy Wrote:I thought that I should just have my own thread with these question in it then starting up a new thread each time.

Kent

Hi Kent,
Welcome

Welcome to Big Blue! (OK, so I'm a bit late on that... Wink)

Don't be afraid to open a new thread with the question as the topic. Sometimes this is easier (and gets you more responses) than putting all kinds of unrelated questions in a single thread.

Andrew

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - KentBy - 04-04-2009

MasonJar Wrote:
KentBy Wrote:I thought that I should just have my own thread with these question in it then starting up a new thread each time.

Kent

Hi Kent,
Welcome

Welcome to Big Blue! (OK, so I'm a bit late on that... Wink)

Don't be afraid to open a new thread with the question as the topic. Sometimes this is easier (and gets you more responses) than putting all kinds of unrelated questions in a single thread.

Andrew

Ok Andrew, I'll do it that way.

Thanks
Kent

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - nomad - 04-04-2009

Hi Kent.
I have seen it at Ace and Home Depot. Besides piano wire and music wire, I have seen it called spring steel wire.

Loren

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - BR60103 - 04-04-2009

Kent: it also helps if you put something more specific than "question" in the subject line.
You can usually find wire even in a hobby shop that doesn't carry trains -- airplanes use it for something.

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - sgtcarl1 - 04-05-2009

Does anyone know if guitar strings will work? I grabbed up some that were in the trash at my (former) church.

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - Steamtrains - 04-05-2009

As I recall, not finding any music wire out here in the boondocks, I ordered some from Walthers. No...guitar strings won't work... Nope

I found it. - KentBy - 04-05-2009

Ace didn't have any, but my LHS had lots to choose from.
I kind of felt bad, because I woke up the lady the was behind the counter. No one else was in the store on Saturday afternoon. I bought two different sizes .032 and .055 and it only came to $.74.
She said that I was the first one to come in for the last two hours.

They are a small Mom and Pop operation, I just hope that they can stay in business.

Kent

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - Stuart McGee - 04-06-2009

Hey Folks,
About piano wire. It is not music wire but check out old/used piano moving places, your local piano tuner is an ally too! Casreful cutting the stuff, it can be nasty and they do sell piano wire cutters. I own such a pair, don't ask. DO USE YOUR GOOD WIRE CUTTERS OR NEEDLENOSE! Big Grin

Re: Kents - new guy questions. - doctorwayne - 04-06-2009

A cut-off disc in a Dremel works great for cutting music wire and allows very precise trimming.
For cutting softer wire, such as brass, or, in small diameters, stainless steel, I find that an old #11 blade in an X-Acto works well. Use the "heel" of the blade (to avoid breaking off the tip) and work on a hard surface, such as a sheet of glass. Small diameters can be cut straight through, while larger sizes are best rolled back and forth under the blade.

Wayne