Trains.com

My home made link and pin couplers

1374 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: NJ (Kittatinny Mountains)
  • 436 posts
My home made link and pin couplers
Posted by SNOWSHOE on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 10:49 AM

I spent the morning trying to find the best way to make some link and pin couplers for my hartland mini series rolling stock. (I hate the hook and loops).  I wanted to avoid buying them because Im too cheap and broke.  AFter a while I came up with this.  I took a piece of wood abou 1-2 inches long drilled a hole and mounted that to were the old hook/loop coupler was.  Then I drilled another hole on the other end for the link and pin.  Ithen took a saw and cut through the middle for the link to fit into.  The I took some old bike chain and took the links off.  Thats my links.  Of course the pin is a cotter pin.  I also rounded of the ends. I really wanted to use metal but I could not find anything that was easy to work with and mount.  I had to settle for wood.  Now all I need to do is smooth it out better and paint it to look like metal.  Any ideas ?????????????????????????????

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 5:32 PM

Hey, works for me 2!! Wal-mart has camo paint and think the brown should be the same as on the cars.

Toad

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: NJ (Kittatinny Mountains)
  • 436 posts
Posted by SNOWSHOE on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:59 PM

Thanks toad, I will have to check out wal-mart for that paint.  I like that insta rust but man is it expensive and you only get a small can.  Im trying to do my layout as cheap as possible, even if it means making my own things.  It is a great way to learn.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: SW Chicago Suburbs
  • 788 posts
Posted by Mr_Ash on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 6:35 AM

I like what you did there it works and looks pretty good too! Cool

If you dont want to spend much just use a sharpie or a flat black paint marker Tongue

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Fort Worth, TX
  • 8 posts
Posted by wildbill001 on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 10:26 AM

 Depending on what the wood is you could use organics.  Example, tea (as in tea you drink), if it's oak, use a little amonia (with proper percautions), get some nails soaking in water until they are good and rusty.  Boil that down a bit to concentrate, cool and paint away.

 

Just some thoughts

Bill

You can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their back -- unknown

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy