After the post about soldering, the light bulb went off. How about a listing of your favorite tools you use for anything and everything on your layout. What specifically do you use the tool for?
For example, a tool that I just love is a Phillips Head Screwdriver made in Germany. It is red and black and the top rotates such that I can keep good pressure on the screw as it is turned. I use this screwdriver to take apart engines and cars on both the O gauge and G gauge layouts.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
The tool I use most frequently is the good old lineman's pliers, wrapped in special insulation to prevent electrical shock (the insulation had to be heated in water to make them slip over). I find myself using these pliers for just about everything: spiking, bending metal, cutting nails (the cutters never seem to dull after years of cutting steel), holding metal that has been heated or needs grinding, hammering, etc etc.
When you first get a pair of these pliers, they are a bit tight and need breaking in. The best way I found to break them in is to heave them repeatedly from a 10 story building onto the pavement.
They are the pliers to the extreme left with the red handles. My friend, who is a telecommunications expert, first introduced me to these pliers. They are from Home Depot and were not cheap (forgot price). Had to purchase the slip over handle covers separately.
Cordless Drill,
More POWER AH AH AH.
laz57
Make sure you tell us what you use the tool for as it relates to trains.
To me, the 2 most essential tools are knowledge and a sense of humor. All the conventional tools I've used have just been pulled from my tool box. And I really can't pick any that were "essential" But knowledge is the one thing that moves me forward when I'm in a jam or can't figure something out. I ask a question here and get the right answer much more often than not. When I can't seem to do anything right, a strong sense of humor comes in handy. Otherwise, my train room would have a lot of holes in the walls from things being thrown at a high velocity.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
I think that about does it for most commonly used tools... I use a lot of these around the house as well so many serve dual purpose (or I have 2 or three of them on hand).
A foam engine cradle. No need to buy a fancy one. Start with a cheap piece of 6" X 6" X 18" cushion foam. Just cut out a central channel roughly 3" X 3" X 14" with a sharp box knife. Neatness doesn't count either, just as long as you don't cut through the sides.
This jig comes in handy for any number of jobs. Soldering, disassembly, lubrication, etc. It holds the work steady and saves the finish.
Bruce Webster
For scratchbuilding structures from wood slatting - this is the cat's butt:
The "Chopper" lets you set up and cut equal length slats at a number of different angles - really great for making loading docks or structures with slatted siding.
A small pair of needlenose pliers - I use them for everything - grabbing, adjusting, bending.
A small regular screwdriver with a flared head. It can work on both smallest and the largest screws and leverage things open too.
A surgical scapel - it's more than five years old and still extremely sharp. I use it to mark or nick very delicate items.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
jaabat wrote: To me, the 2 most essential tools are knowledge and a sense of humor. All the conventional tools I've used have just been pulled from my tool box. And I really can't pick any that were "essential" But knowledge is the one thing that moves me forward when I'm in a jam or can't figure something out. I ask a question here and get the right answer much more often than not. When I can't seem to do anything right, a strong sense of humor comes in handy. Otherwise, my train room would have a lot of holes in the walls from things being thrown at a high velocity.Jim
And if none of the above work "One Big Hammer".
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
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Proud New Member Of The NRA
Frank53 wrote: For scratchbuilding structures from wood slatting - this is the cat's butt:The "Chopper" lets you set up and cut equal length slats at a number of different angles - really great for making loading docks or structures with slatted siding.
Is that how you do that!!!!!!
Buckeye Riveter wrote: Is that how you do that!!!!!!
that be it - would never get all these deck slats the same size without it!
This is my power unit when working on trains or accesories. It is an 8B 100 watt transformer with built in breaker, with a voltmeter and ammeter on the track terminals. The power clips are color codeed and are base white, red track (variable) and two black 15volt, one is continious, the other black clip is 15volt connected to the pushbutton PBNO switch. There is a wooden dowel to hold the clips when not in use to prevent shorting things out. This is mounted on a piece of plywood so it is portable, so after working on a loco on the bench, I can move the rig to the test track an see how the loco works on the track with a load, if in spec. In the picture the rig is attached to my test track.
Bob Nelson
A great little screw driver that I got from The Train-Station. it has phillips head on one side, and slot on the other. The heads are made specifically for the Lionel screws and it fits about everything. Another must have is the Dremel Tool, great for cutting track and cleaning up some corrosion.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
This little level has earned it's pay with me.
Most of teh work I have done on my layout is either ascending or descending due to the small space I have to work with. I have to keep the trackside industries fully upright. I have no idea where my Dad got it, but I know it sat around his workbench for a long time.
It depends what phase of a project I'm in. If benchwork, a powered mitre saw, a cordless drill and level. For wiring I have a small pair of wire stripper/cutter than are invaluable and a VOM. With the current activity of redoing passenger cars, a good used tooth brush and an aluminum, through away, roasting pan.
As I said, it all depends what today's job is.
A small set of pliers, and cutters, with a wide flat (1/4-inch wide) face, also a hand held sheet metal break. The break works great for straightening those Geep handrails, and the aluminum doors on the operating milk cars. Remember to protect the face on the break or you'll get knurling on whatever you are clamping.
Kurt
Give me a set of test wires and a test light and I can figure out anything.
Ed
I use a lot of my Dad's old tools, including this one:
Can't imagine how old this is - when did they stop using braided electrical cords?
Frank53 wrote: I use a lot of my Dad's old tools, including this one:Can't imagine how old this is - when did they stop using braided electrical cords?
That's a nice one Frank !! Looks like it is older than mine, which my Dad also had & I remember him getting it when I was pretty young, in the 1950's !! I think braided cord went out in the 50s !!
Thanks, John
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Don't bother Chief, got some extras, I will send them. Also have some other goodies I need to send your way.
I use most, if not all of the tools mentioned above, including the dental picks, (got a set for 2.99 at a tool discounter, great on train repairs, not sure on teeth).
Also I do find my bench drill press, (to take out and replace eyelets), as well as my bench grinder with wire wheels, (to clean up rust), quite helpful.
And 2/3 thirds of the tools I use, including the soldering iron and the Volt/Ohm meter were my Dads. Quality tools, like quality toy trains, are great hand me downs.
Rod L
The most essenstial tool for me must be my electric jigsaw and a box of different blades. I use it for about everything, cutting windows in buildings to benchwork. The second on my list must be the volt/amp meter, digital but capable of measuring up to 10 amps AC voltage. Then of course the obvious things; cordless screwdriver/drill, powerdrill, handdrill, handjigsaw, handsaw, hammer, pliers, liquid nails and other glues, an old stainless steel bucket for mixing paint and sand, a spatula and brush to apply it, scotch pads to clean the track after I made a mess, a soldering station (controllable soldering iron) and last but not least a ruler and a pencil..
I couldn't figure how I should do all the work without a pencil! (about every piece of wood has a scribble or a calculation on the backside )
Perhaps a post on tools we WISH we had? Top of my list would be a lathe and milling machine for metal. I'm waiting for the prices to go below $100! :-)
Also, I drool over a lot of the little expensive tools in the MicroMark catalog.
The tool I always have close by is a Xuron rail cutter. I use it for cutting and stripping wire, cutting plastic, metal, wood. Great for cutting plastic parts form the sprue on model kits. They seem to never get dull. Nice and light in your hand and require little force to make cuts.
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