Greatest invention

[baltimoretrainworks]

What do you think is the greatest invention for layout building?
For me it's a toss up between drywall screws and cordless drills.

[Anonymous]

Hello All: I have to go back to the turning of the new millenium. A&E rated the printing press as the greatest invention of all time, because it allowed the exchange of ideas between inventors. doctors,scientist's, engineer's at a much faster rate of distribution . Go back to our early years of the hobby the exchange of ideas came from the written word. ( That's why the boy's & girl's at CTT are so wealthy[:D]). Although we are posting daily on here, it is still the written word & the exchange of thoughts & ideas > Kind Regards Steve

[Anonymous]

Far and away, The Classic Toy Train Forum The magazine is nice, and the printing press is good, but instant gratification is better. Right up there with these information sources, I am going to have to nominate the cordless drill/

[IRONROOSTER]

I nominate plywood. I can and have built layouts without cordless drills, but doing it without plywood would be much harder.
Enjoy
Paul

[FJ and G]

good question baltimoretrainworks, and hope you can join us more.

I have to agree w/your 2 picks, the drywall screws and the cordless drills.

Sounds like you did some benchwork recently. I did my first layout with a regular screwdriver, taking pallets and standing them upright w/2X4s. That was some labor, so I can appreciate the mechanical advantages of those 2 items.

The giant crowbar, sawzall, sledghammar, ax, pick and rotary hammer drill would be my picks for layout demolition; short of dynamite.

[Roger Bielen]

WOOD!

[garyseven]

Elmer's Glue - May not be THE greatest, but it's on the top ten!

[Anonymous]

Does wood count? Since its not invented... byt plywood/homosote(sp?) is.

[Roger Bielen]

It's the processing of the trees being the wood. Electricity wasn't bad either.

[baltimoretrainworks]

Hey FG and J,
You're right been building benchwork since Christmas, not my permanent layout but kind of a test bed for ideas I want to use in my permanent one. Gonna use this one as a Christmas garden next year ( I plan to reclaim my crown in my family as the "King of Trains") Actually it's built to be disassembled and moved since it was originally was built off site and was supposed to go in my dads house until he saw it's size and got cold feet. The drywall screws really helped to make it easier to take apart and reassemble once I took it out of storage and put it in my new homes basement.
Funny thing is my wife said if I let her do the interior decorating in the house I could do anything I want with the basement not realizing like my dad how big the layout is.
Come to think of it an understanding wife is probably the best invention!!!!

[underworld]

FOAM!!!!!!! If not the plasticy, polymer type.......then the beer type!!!! [:p]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[laz 57]

The flushing toilet....................
Laugh but sitting there gives you idears.
laz57

[Anonymous]

Laz: You are probably right, I wonder how many read CTT while sitting on the Can!!!!

[prewardude]

I have to agree with Roger on this one: Electricity rules! It's not only helpful in building a layout, but it's also very helpful in operating one. Thank you, Ben Franklin (I know, I know, he only discovered it - God invented it). [;)]

[Anonymous]

Green sawdust------Its a classic.

[FJ and G]

Baltimore, keep us updated.

Another great scenery invention is real dirt for ground cover. It's, you know, cheaper than ...

[pbjwilson]

Last year I purchased a new jigsaw/sabersaw. The improvements made to theses little saws over the last 10 years are amazing.

Roller guided blade stabilizers. Mini light bulb to illuminate your cutting. EZ no tool blade replacement. Super lightweight. Variable speeds. All for under $50.00.

Not the greatest invention but a really handy much improved saw.