Request for new product

[overall]

Sometimes we desire to make an outside insulated rail on a section of tubular track. This involves bending up the tabs on the ties and putting insulating material under the rail. I have always used a screwdriver to bend up the tie tabs. This is awkward and it is using the screwdriver for something it was not designed for. I would like to request that Lionel, Micro Mark or someone develop a tool that is better suited for this task. I would buy one and I'm willing to bet others on this forum would too.

[BigAl 956]

You can buy the tracks already made. #12841 for O27 and #12840 for O.

[jwse30]

Radio Shack used to sell a soldering tool kit that included a tool that looked like a big dental pick. It's pointed on the bent end and straight (if I remember right?). I've used this tool to bend up the tabs, but I've also used it to puncture the insulators too, so it's not the perfect tool. I personally prefer using a small screwdriver to start the outer tab bending upward, and then use a pair of needle nose to twist it the rest of the way up. Then I twist the rail a bit to slightly bend the inner tab up just enough to get the rail out. When I put it back together (with the insulator installed of course), the inner tab is usually pretty tight already because it wasn't bent much to begin with, and then I bend the outer tab with a pair of channel lock pliers. They seem to be holding up pretty well; most of them on this layout were built at least 8 years ago and some more like 10 to 12 years ago. While I don't anticipate needing any more any time soon, I would likely buy a tool that would do the job easier if it were reasonably priced.

As for buying the track already made, sometimes an insulated section needs to be on a curved track. I would guess that about half of mine are curved sections.

Hope this helps,

J White

[lionelsoni]

Do you use O31 track, J?  I think the closed ends of the ties rules out channel-locks for re-crimping O27 tabs.  I put a screwdriver on the tab and hammer it back down.  But first I put a 7/16" nut under the tie, directly under the rail.  Otherwise, the tie itself gets bent.  An incidental advantage of doing it this way is that it is easy to retighten both tabs.

[cwburfle]

Hobby Horse makes a tool set for tightening track ties. The tools are designed to be used in a press, and will fit any of the commercially available toy train presses of which I am aware.