Wiring tool

[Medina1128]

I use the straw trick when dealing with relatively thin layers and it DOES work great. But, I was baffled with the thicker layers. I guess you could put the straw over the tool and pull it through, then pull the tool out the top, leaving the straw in place. Then, if you have to run another wire, you can just push it throught the straw.

[CSXFan]

That’s a great idea, thanks for sharing. A little thing I learned from MR magazine is to push a thin straw (the kind that come with juice boxes) through the foam and then slip the wire through the straw. You may have to drill a small hole first. It makes wiring a lot easier.

[jamesbaker]

That is a good idea. My lay out has foam 6" think and I was finding it a little hard to keep the wire from kinking, so I made one this morning out of some small steel rod (.039) thick that I had laying around. This way you do not have to drill a very large dia. hole!

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXWU93&P=0

Baker

[Medina1128]

Some of the layers of foam terrain on my layout are over 12" thick. I was faced with how to wire the track. I made this tool with a wire hanger and a small picture nail. After cutting the head off the picture nail, I made a loop with it and soldered it to a length of wire hanger. The other end of the wire hanger is ground to a point. I insert one end of a length of wire, long enough to pass through the foam, like a thread in the eye of a needle. I then push the wire hanger through the foam. It is now ready to be soldered into place as a feeder for my track.