Spring Steel for Tortoise Install

[Luzhin]

I'm beginning work on installing some Tortoise switch machines in places where the roadbed/sub-roadbed is thicker than 1" and hence need some .015 spring steel (also called piano wire, I believe) for the trip mechanism, but I don't have any idea where to get the stuff. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Luzhin

[Javern]

hobby shop or online, here for example http://www.kitkraft.biz/catalog/Scale_Model_Supplies_Structural_Material_Piano_Wire-p-1-c-58.html

[freeway3]

Good source above, also K&S from Walthers catalog or LHS.

You didn't mention your scale, but I would STRONGLY recommend you use 1/32" (.031) wire for HO scale or larger - .015 doesn't get it, even at standard length!!!

Ed

[gmpullman]

I have found that going a bit heavier on the wire gauge, say .020 or .022 helps give a little more point pressure especially on thicker roadbed where the fulcrum point is farther away. You want to drill the hole on the actuator a bit bigger with a pin vice.

[Anonymous]

If you have a LHS that sells radio controled airplanes, they should have some piano wire.

[cwclark]

the spring wire that comes with a tortoise is .025...I use the .039 but you can go as thick as .043...anything less than .039 can bend easily so you will be better off using something between the .039 to .043 range....I use K&S spring steel and a good LHS should stock it...Chuck

[Sperandeo]

I use .047" steel wire with my Tortoises, and the stiffer wire is better when it has to be longer. (It also makes for simpler adjustment even when the wire can be shorter, so I use it for all my standard switches.) That requires drilling out the holdes in the black actuator lever and the green fulcrum, but that's easy to do by had with an appropriate-size drill bit in pin vise. I buy K&S wire too, but in addition to hobby shops I've found that my favorite Ace hardware outlet sells it too.

so long,

Andy