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Jigs and Holding Devices

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  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Saturday, March 29, 2008 3:21 PM
Just went through a forum search here on building a jig for trestle construction,found a site with "details" and drawings, well, try as I may I couldn't make any sense out of it, and of course others on the forum said how easy it was to understand, WELL, I decided to make my own with no idea what I was doing,  in 1/2 hour I had a workable jig made from 1/16'' card stock and it worked. Many home made jigs work like a charm. Any hints I find I will pass on to the forum.
  • Member since
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  • From: US
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Posted by donhalshanks on Saturday, March 29, 2008 1:19 PM

I found the Micromark Magnetic Jig, while a little expensive, works really great.  Until then, I too had trouble getting sound 90 degree corners.   Welcome back to modeling and bring your questions on when you need help.... and share what your learn with us too.

Hal

  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Wake Forest, NC
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Posted by SilverSpike on Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:10 AM

R.T. no problem, anytime I can help!

Hey, I was cleaning out my work bag and found a business card from The Tool Man. I bought some clamps and a set of digital calipers at their display at the GATS train show in Winston-Salem, NC a couple months ago. While their site is minimal, they do have a large selection of tools and such. Here is their site http://www.hobbytools.com

Regards,

Ryan

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Michigan
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Posted by rolleiman on Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:08 AM

For building simpler buildings, I've never found ANYTHING that worked better than this..

Rubber bands. Come in all sizes and work great for the job.  

Modeling the Wabash from Detroit to Montpelier Jeff
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  • From: THE FAR, FAR REACHES OF THE WILD, WILD WEST!
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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Friday, March 28, 2008 11:32 PM

Thanks Ryan, I needed that. An open invitation to get up off of my duff!

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Friday, March 28, 2008 11:23 PM
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  • From: Wake Forest, NC
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Posted by SilverSpike on Friday, March 28, 2008 10:13 PM

Hey R.T.

Here, I got one for you...

Sign - Welcome [#welcome] cedarwoodron!

Actually, I have the square-up jig with the magnets, it works great for parts that are less then 8" long. And as stated by others Micro Mark has many of these items.

I also use a set of 12" long clamps, and a pair of corner clamps I got at a train show a couple months ago.

Here are some of said devices in action:

 

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Northern Ca
  • 1,008 posts
Posted by jwar on Friday, March 28, 2008 10:12 PM

Sign - Welcome [#welcome]Welcome to your new forum....

If you have a tool store in your town they usualy have some nifty small clamps for squaring wood shop projects, Also those old wooden clothes pins work pretty good, just reverse it in the spring so that the long end clamps.

I use a pane of glass with a grid under it for laying out and glueing up.....John

John Warren's, Feather River Route WP and SP in HO
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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Friday, March 28, 2008 9:46 PM

Glad to have you aboard the forum!

I have been going to buy one of these magnetic square-up jigs from Micro-Mark but have never gotten around to it. In the meantime I make do with a number of glue-up jigs which are miniaturizations of woodworking glue-up jigs. I even have a couple of miniaturized carcass square-up jigs.

How do you clamp those things. Buy yourself some of the old-time screw on earrings; piece-of-cake! 

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • 28 posts
Posted by MR_Paul on Friday, March 28, 2008 9:32 PM

A couple of years ago we replaced our kitchen counter-tops with pseudo-stone.  In the process of trying to select colors & textures, we got a bunch of samples that are about 4" x 2" x 3/4".  I have found these are pretty useful for letting square-corners set up.  Incidentally, we saved the piece of the counter that was cut-out for the kitchen sink, and I use that as my modelling surface.  You can cut, glue and paint on it.  It doesn't scratch and the glue or paint scrapes right off.

Regards, Paul
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Winnipeg Canada
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Posted by Blind Bruce on Friday, March 28, 2008 7:43 PM
Hi and welcome to the forumSign - Welcome [#welcome]Micro mark sells a magnetic jig that holds pieces at right angles. Aside from that I have a series of weights salvaged from old solenoid coils. They are square and heavy.

73

Bruce in the Peg

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 28, 2008 7:37 PM
great planes makes a wing building jig that keeps the wood square. Maybe that may work for you.
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Tampa, Florida
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Jigs and Holding Devices
Posted by cedarwoodron on Friday, March 28, 2008 6:12 PM

To any and all who can help:

I have recently returned to more active modeling and am presently working on a modest HO layout. With respect to building kits, such as plastic ones, of various railroad structures, the biggest problem I have is finding a way to keep parts together to allow model glue to set- especially when putting together subassemblies into larger final form. Is there a best resource for making permanent jigs or recommended additional techniques (as similar to woodworking jigs and clamps) that can help me- a book, series of articles, etc.????? Thanks for any response.

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