Thank you for the replies. I built a jig for the bents already. That has been a life saver as far as building the bents goes. I think I may try using a spacer of some sorts and glue two at a time. I just thought I had seen someone using clamps of some sorts.
Don't even think about building a trestle without a jig, you will save yourself time and sanity, plus you will build a trestle too.
I built mine upside down and just used some offcuts of 2x4 to hold the bents upright while drying. I'm sure the photos in my construction thread on this forum are dead now, but here is a link to an over view thread else where with several in construction and upside down pictures that may help you.
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15914
Karl.A
Here's mine How To.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
Cory,
I built a 'jig' to hold the stuff together. You get much nicer bents. The spacing between the bents was done by a 'spacer' jig as you described. The top of the bents are glued to the deck of the trestle, and I used spacers I cut on the table saw in between to keep the alignment 'square'.
Black Bear Construction makes jigs and complete trestle 'kit's. Here is the web link:
http://www.blackbearcc.com/
I made my jigs(two of them) many years ago(like 1966). They are long lost and if I were to build another trestle, I would be tempted to use the Black Bear jigs. I have seen them and I am impressed.
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I know that this should probably be in the other section, but I know I'll get more responses on this one. Here's the question.
For those of you that have constructed a trestle off layout, how did you attach your bents to the stringers? I'm assuming that you do it upside down, but how do you steady the bents while the glue is drying? I remember seeing a few of you using clamps to hold everything in place. How did you clamp the bents to the stringer when the bent is 'on top' of the stringers while upside down? I thought of using a square object that is the length of distance I want between the bents. Then gluing two bents down at the same time while rubber banded to the 'block'. Any expertise on this subject would be greatly appreciated.