Hobby No-Nos-the sequel

[Animal]

turn on a 5" angle grinder right after cleaning it with an electrical cleaner..... it behave more like a jet engine for a moment scortched my hairs on my hand 

[coalminer3]

Good safety tips and comments in this thread. 

Here's two more

1.  Carpets eat coupler springs.

2.  Buy decals and detail parts when you first think you'll need them because they will either be on back order or not made anymore when you do.

work safe

[Dean-58]

Good safety tips and comments in this thread. 

Here's two more

1.  Carpets eat coupler springs.

2.  Buy decals and detail parts when you first think you'll need them because they will either be on back order or not made anymore when you do.

work safe

1. The Kadee and Micro-Mark "Grabbers" for coupler springs work on the bigger O scale springs, too!  And Kadee knows the springs will fly off into the Black Holes that occupy the corners of your workshop and under the workbench, so they give you extras--plus you can buy extras.

2. This rule applies to everything!  If you spot a tool in a catalog that you know you're gonna need sooner or later--and you have the money now--BUY IT NOW, just in case of the Hammons Rule (Murphy was a piker!): "Opportunity precludes sufficient funds, and vice-versa."  (In other words: "If you find the object of your desires, you won't have the cash to buy it, and when you do have the cash, you won't be able to find it!")  Don't tempt fate.

[chatanuga]

Never solder above an exposed body part!

Or, never solder wiring while wearing shorts.

Then, from this past weekend:  When changing out a light socket for your layout's lighting, be sure to test and turn off the correct circuit breaker before trying to unscrew the house wiring from the terminal screws.  (note: I played it safe and turned off all the breakers and tested the wires since I wasn't able to find the breaker for the light I was working on.)

Kevin

[markpierce]

NEVER get in the water (in case of sharks.)

NEVER get off the boat (in case of tigers.)

Mark

[RicHamilton]

After warning folks about the dangers of opening stuck paint bottle lids with pliers, I just had one shatter in my hand and cut the crap out me two days ago.

Lothar

Run the cap under hot water when it is stuck on the bottle.  Helps quite a bit even when using channel Lock Pliers

[RicHamilton]

Corollary to that: Always wash your hands before going to the bathroom if you've eaten hot peppers.

Or rubbed Vicks Vaporub on your loved one's back

[RicHamilton]

Further to Arjay1969  post above about Dullcoat, Always test spray every can away from the model lest you picked up the primer by accident.

[loathar]

 

NEVER get off the boat (in case of tigers.)

Kurtz got out of the boat...(the horror..)

[J. Daddy]

Don't airbrush over a concrete floor and expect to change out bottles with different colors, have a scrap rug on the floor in case a bottle falls and meets its doom.

Don't use glue to install windows unless you like your finger prints on display.

Always allow a few inches from edge of your benchwork to tracks, its not fun to watch your trains hit the floor.

if you have a tap and matching drill color code them with paint so you will find them again

When using a dremmel metal wire wheel for polishing, hold the work away from you. the wires can jump under your safety glasses, ouch! And use a magnet to clean loose wires up... they have a habit of traveling on shoes and clothes through out the house.

Paint foam only with acrylics, or water base paints, otherwise you will witness the incredible disapearing mountain.

Do all your wood cutting outside, otherwise the dust ruin your layout.

Hang your backdrops, ceiling tiles and lighting before you start scenery and delicate track work.

turn the power off before you root cause any electronic issues!

Rule of thumb: If the same car derails in the same spot its usually the car, if different cars derail in the same spot its usually the track.

always use rubber bands and two nails at the end of unfinished layout tracks, somebody is sure to run past the end of the layout.

no drinks and no food in the layout area!

Keep your tools off of the layout. A rolling tool cart works well here, all projects go on forever, so clean up when your done for the day, before you run your Malley into a hammer left near the tracks.

Do not use Acid core solder for electrical work. Tempting to do because you can solder track very quickly w/o melting ties and with a smaller watt iron, but it will corrode your wires and NS track.

If you have a hunch, buy a bunch: this goes for bulbs, wire, drill bits, scenery supplies, spikes, small screws and springs, switch rods, couplers, decals, paint, etc. cannot tell you how many projects have ended early because of supplies and tools going missing.

Know how long a project takes, if something takes longer than two hours save it for the week-end. Remember that if your not running trains your not having fun, so bigger projects may need to be taken off a layout and worked elsewhere!

Minimize your use of non approved Kitchen tools, this will keep the women folk happy.....

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

[Rotorranch]

After warning folks about the dangers of opening stuck paint bottle lids with pliers, I just had one shatter in my hand and cut the crap out me two days ago.

Lothar

Run the cap under hot water when it is stuck on the bottle.  Helps quite a bit even when using channel Lock Pliers

I use heavy leather welding gloves to hold the bottle, and a pair of curved jaw Channelock pliers, set wide enough to grip the lid, but not apply too much pressure on the bottle. No cuts to the hand, but I do have a bright blue left hand glove now.

Rotor

[MAbruce]

While it may look fascinating, whatever you do DON'T start a layout.  In fact, DON'T even start up in this hobby!  It's a highly addictive pursuit that can easily drain your finances, swallow up all your spare time, and test the limits of your sanity.

Run away while you still have a chance.

There's no hope for recovery once you start.    

  

[FerroEquinist]

 

Don't sand the drywall patching plaster without covering every thing with a plastic tarp unless you like re-cleaning everything within sight. That dust can get into almost everything. Also shut off the a/c system and any fan you might have in the room. I know this from experience on other home related projects.

[AltoonaRailroader]

If a rail joiner won't slide on easily DO NOT try to jam it one. Either the end of the rail you didn't file down or the rail joiner will make a nasty little puncture hole in the end of the thumb or forefinger. OUCH!!! 

[mustanggt]

Keep the ROW far enough away from the edge of the layout so that your new SD26 doesn't plummet a scale 400 feet....along with 2 delicately detailed Athearn boxcars

Never be stubborn like my father and insist that certain things are good enough. Some big examples of this are horn hook couplers, train set transformers, pancake-motored locomotives, and brass track, among others... He didn't even have any tyco trains when he was a kid...

But I do thank him for getting me into this hobby

Dave 

[loathar]

No cats in the train room...

[phatkat64]

No cats in the train room...

Couldn't agree more with that one!!!

[Jumijo]

Don't lean directly over an open container of CA glue. The fumes can sting your eyes pretty good.

[Randall_Roberts]

After warning folks about the dangers of opening stuck paint bottle lids with pliers, I just had one shatter in my hand and cut the crap out me two days ago.

Lothar

Run the cap under hot water when it is stuck on the bottle.  Helps quite a bit even when using channel Lock Pliers

Of course, you could always clean the threads of the bottle and the cap completely so that no paint remains and then put a thin layer of vaselene on the rim of the bottle and maybe even a small piece of plastic wrap over that to seal out any air.  But then your bottle would open easily every time and your paint would last for years and all the adventure would be gone from using old paints.

[Randall_Roberts]

While it may look fascinating, whatever you do DON'T start a layout.  In fact, DON'T even start up in this hobby!  It's a highly addictive pursuit that can easily drain your finances, swallow up all your spare time, and test the limits of your sanity.

Run away while you still have a chance.

There's no hope for recovery once you start.    

  

Do you know the signs of addiction?

How to Tell if You're a Model Train Addict 
 

[markpierce]

Of course, you could always clean the threads of the bottle and the cap completely so that no paint remains and then put a thin layer of vaselene on the rim of the bottle and maybe even a small piece of plastic wrap over that to seal out any air.  But then your bottle would open easily every time and your paint would last for years and all the adventure would be gone from using old paints.

What? And give up the annual ritual of tossing out $50 of solidified-in-the-jar model paint every year.  No way!

Mark

[Packers#1]

While you're waiting for your soldering gun to heat up, don't test it with your fingers if you think it isn't getting hot!!

I thought that was common sense. Oh wait, the average man has no common sense.

Here's a good one: Bachman standard line belongs on either A) a gun range, B) at a golf club, or C) on a bomb range. ;]

[loathar]

After warning folks about the dangers of opening stuck paint bottle lids with pliers, I just had one shatter in my hand and cut the crap out me two days ago.

Lothar

Run the cap under hot water when it is stuck on the bottle.  Helps quite a bit even when using channel Lock Pliers

Of course, you could always clean the threads of the bottle and the cap completely so that no paint remains and then put a thin layer of vaselene on the rim of the bottle and maybe even a small piece of plastic wrap over that to seal out any air.  But then your bottle would open easily every time and your paint would last for years and all the adventure would be gone from using old paints.

This was a clean, empty spare air brush bottle that the lid was stuck on. That's why I didn't take precautions like wearing a glove of hot water first. Surprised the heck out of me when it shattered!

[galaxy]

1) Never, I repeat, never, open a container of weathering powders when it sits between you and a blowing fan or a/c vent.

My face is already naturally weathered, my hair already going "gray" (lol), and the furniture doesn't want to be weathered. Blowing "grimey black" or "sooty" or "grimey gray" out one's nose  for a while is not much fun either.

2) For similar reasons, don't open a bottle of CA when it, too, sits between you and a blowing fan or a/c unit. The fumes are, er, um, rather potent when blown directly into one's nose and eyes.

3) Never, I repeat, never, whip out the credit card at the hobby shop when you discover you don't have the cash to cover what you want to buy.

The bill can be shocking later, and your budget may be blown. Stick with what you have the cash budgeted for, lol. (like that works! ;-) )

-G

[stokesda]

If you really want that new Athearn D&RGW SD40T-2, go ahead and pre-order it for $70, because once they hit the shelves, they will NOT be easy to find, and they WILL be more than $70.

Fortunately, I learned my lesson the last time and the model rr gods have given me a second chance... My new "second run" SD40T-2 will arrive this fall from Caboose Hobbies

[Rangerover]

Great Thread...just bumping!

 

[Kenfolk]

Let the strong northwesterly wind die down before trying to unload and carry the 4 x 8 foam sheet from the truck into the garage.

    Note: This applies to various colors of foam equally. Likewise, thickness.

 

 

[MAbruce]

Never rinse out your left-over plaster of Paris down the drain.

If you do, have a pipe snake handy...   

[Oakhurst Railroad Engineer]

After warning folks about the dangers of opening stuck paint bottle lids with pliers, I just had one shatter in my hand and cut the crap out me two days ago.

Lothar

Run the cap under hot water when it is stuck on the bottle.  Helps quite a bit even when using channel Lock Pliers

Of course, you could always clean the threads of the bottle and the cap completely so that no paint remains and then put a thin layer of vaselene on the rim of the bottle and maybe even a small piece of plastic wrap over that to seal out any air.  But then your bottle would open easily every time and your paint would last for years and all the adventure would be gone from using old paints.

I've had pretty good luck turning the bottles upside down for a few minutes.  The solvent in the liquid paint starts to disolve the dried paint in the threads, which loosens up the cap.  Usually this frees the cap without having to use excessive force ...

[Redbeard]

CA glue is only instant when skin is involved.