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027 Tubular Track Tools

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 621 posts
027 Tubular Track Tools
Posted by dsmith on Saturday, April 7, 2007 6:22 PM

I have had great success getting good tight connections with tubular track by using the following 2 track tools that I made.  The first is a modified lineman's pliers.  First go to the dollar store and purchase a pair of the pliers.  It's very important to buy real cheap ones so that you will be able to drill through them.  Good pliers are hardened steel and are impossible to drill into with normal drill bits.  Next clamp the pliers closed at the handle end and using a 5/64" drill for 027 track, drill a hole out near the tip.  A drill press helps here, but you may be able to use a hand drill to do it if you are careful.  If you mess it up, go to the dollar store and try again.  You can use this tool to tighten loose track ends both before and after the pins are inserted.  The photo should explain it all.

The next tool is a crimping tool that is used to crimp the pins so they won't pull out.  Again go to the dollar store and buy a pair of cheap diagonal cutters.  First dull the cutters with a file so that they won't cut the track but only crimp it.  Next drill a 1/8" hole near the tip and insert a small length of brass rod that has a bent and flattened tip.  Line up the bent rod so that it it is opposite the indentations in a pin and solder the rod to the tool.  You can then use the tip of the rod to insure that you are always crimping the track rail in the correct place each time.   Don't crimp the track with too much force or you might deform the top of the rail.  Try both tools out first on some junky track as practice.

So there you have it, 2 dollars worth of invaluable tools.  I use them all the time.  Try it!

  David from Dearborn  

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: West coast, USA
  • 356 posts
Posted by rlplionel on Sunday, April 8, 2007 11:25 AM
Those are some really great homemade tool ideas! I think that's the first time anyone's recommended buying cheap versus better quality tools. Cool [8D]
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 1,991 posts
Posted by Frank53 on Sunday, April 8, 2007 11:59 AM

Very nice, but you know real die-hard tubular guys like Chuck and I crimp the rails with our teeth.

  

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Southern MD
  • 315 posts
Posted by USNRol on Sunday, April 8, 2007 9:03 PM
 dsmith wrote:

Looks like it's a hammer for pins too....very nice.  I'll give you 10 bucks for the pair of them.

Roland

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