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Hobby No-Nos-the sequel

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  • Member since
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  • From: Martinez, CA
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Posted by markpierce on Friday, May 30, 2008 3:49 AM

It must have been a week or so ago.  A toothpick (one of those solid round ones) must have fallen on the rug floor beneath my workbench (also serving as a dining table).  Last night (this is 2 a.m. Friday) my foot was impaled by said toothpick.  I can't remember ever screaming louder in pain.  It is fine now.  Hope the Neosporin works.

Mark

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Posted by DavidGSmith on Friday, May 30, 2008 12:37 PM

Great tips here. I use a 12" pipe wrench to open stuck paint bottles. Come on its close by, never had a bottle break but now you all have me worried. Opening a new CA containor be ready keep your fingers spread wide for a while til it dries. There was a tip in one of the RR mags a few years back from a guy that made a powered paint mixer using two rollers. It came on every time he turned on the lights in his work room and kept the paint mixed ready for use. If I only had room for it in my 12 square inches of working area.

Dave 

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Posted by Flashwave on Friday, May 30, 2008 12:49 PM

Before I switched to spraycans, Mom and I used a rubber grip to help the opening process. It would also intercept shards before they got to hand.

 And speaking of paint, I should also warn you that when moving models to the cdrying rack so you can get to the painting shelf, one should remember that they will ALWAYS land on the wet side, leaving patterns in your wet paint...

-Morgan

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Posted by Trynn_Allen2 on Friday, May 30, 2008 1:22 PM

This process works for both Acyrilic and Oil based paints.  If the cap is "glued" down and wont budge, rather than impaling one's self with jagged, sharp and usually very small pieces of shrapnel, take out water for your acyrilics and paint thinner for the oil based, turn the paint bottle over in question and gently brush the water or thinner into the gap between the cap and jar.  Repeat, process can take 10 or so minutes.  I have done this on numerous occasions and have salvaged all but 2 bottles (my nephew didn't sit the cap down tight).  Once the cap is off continue brushing the coated jar and pour thinner in the cap and let sit.  Don't sit next to fan blowing into you when doing this, it causes headaches, if you use oil and thinner.

On a more humorous note, the roll of paper toweling that you need is always more than three inchs further than you can stretch your body to reach.  This is also applicable for any means of extending your reach, it will always beyond the combined reach of you and the yard stick.

The finer the part the likely it is to break or fall to someplace that one can not find it until you have manufactured a replacement part yourself.

The part that one finds in a kit the most, is the part least likely to be used in the kit (applies mostly to Walthers kits)

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Posted by Arjay1969 on Friday, May 30, 2008 1:48 PM

Regarding CA:

The use of gloves is often a good thing when opening a stuck cap, but do not under any circumstances wear cloth work gloves for this.  Always use rubber gloves.  Just don't ask how I know this. Blush [:I]

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

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Posted by tankertoad70 on Friday, May 30, 2008 2:01 PM
If you airbrush, always do a completed breakdown and cleanup of your airbrush after you have completed your painting.Cowboy [C):-)]
Don in 'Orygun' City
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Posted by Kenfolk on Friday, May 30, 2008 2:07 PM
 DavidGSmith wrote:

I use a 12" pipe wrench to open stuck paint bottles.

Dave 

Now we know for sure Tim "the Toolman" Taylor is into model railroading! Smile [:)]

 

 

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Posted by jackn2mpu on Friday, May 30, 2008 4:09 PM
 Kenfolk wrote:
 DavidGSmith wrote:

I use a 12" pipe wrench to open stuck paint bottles.

Dave 

Now we know for sure Tim "the Toolman" Taylor is into model railroading! Smile [:)]

I've not used a 12" pipe wrench, but have used 2 pair of medium sized curved jaw channelock pliers (one to hold the bottle and one for the cap - sometimes my arthritis makes it a real problem to hold onto either bottle or cap). Have never broken a glass bottle. 

de N2MPU Jack

Proud NRA Life Member and supporter of the 2nd. Amendment

God, guns, and rock and roll!

Modeling the NYC/NYNH&H in HO and CPRail/D&H in N

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Posted by arkansasrailfan on Friday, May 30, 2008 8:56 PM
never superglue your hands together "accidentally" oops, that gave it away, ho hum.

-Michael It's baaaacccckkkk!!!!!! www.youtube.com/user/wyomingrailfan
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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, May 31, 2008 1:42 AM
 J. Daddy wrote:

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

What a great way to simulate the erosion process. After all, the mountains on the east coast were once as big as the Rockies... Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, May 31, 2008 1:52 AM

If you keep your CA in the fridge, opening the bottle after it warms up can lead to a bottle conveniently attached to your hand, when the increase in pressure forces anything still in the nozzle up and out.

Not that it's ever happened to me. Whistling [:-^]

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Posted by Flashwave on Saturday, May 31, 2008 11:08 AM
 SteamFreak wrote:
 J. Daddy wrote:

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

What a great way to simulate the erosion process. After all, the mountains on the east coast were once as big as the Rockies... Big Smile [:D]

That was how I was going to do mine actually. I found that out when woking on a project in 6th grade, made good headlights

-Morgan

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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, May 31, 2008 9:38 PM
 Kenfolk wrote:
 DavidGSmith wrote:

I use a 12" pipe wrench to open stuck paint bottles.

Dave 

Now we know for sure Tim "the Toolman" Taylor is into model railroading! Smile [:)]

 

 

Of course, he would soon repower that with a lawn mower engine, then a V2, then your average V6, then a huge Hemi V8.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by HEdward on Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:18 PM
 Guilford Guy wrote:
X-acto knives, and swiss army knives are not substitutes for Screw Drivers!
Swiss Army Knives have a screwdriver blade, usually.  I think you meant the more generic "pocketknives" here. 
Proud to be DD-2itized! 1:1 scale is too unrealistic. Twins are twice as nice!
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Posted by loathar on Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:28 PM
 SteamFreak wrote:
 J. Daddy wrote:

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

What a great way to simulate the erosion process. After all, the mountains on the east coast were once as big as the Rockies... Big Smile [:D]

Actually, it's a better way to simulate the Alien acid blood eating through the floor.

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Posted by Rotorranch on Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:28 PM
 Packers1 wrote:
 Kenfolk wrote:
 DavidGSmith wrote:

I use a 12" pipe wrench to open stuck paint bottles.

Dave 

Now we know for sure Tim "the Toolman" Taylor is into model railroading! Smile [:)]

 

 

Of course, he would soon repower that with a lawn mower engine, then a V2, then your average V6, then a huge Hemi V8.

Nope...he'd have the turbine powered Binford 6100 model paint bottle opener!

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

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Posted by Rotorranch on Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:35 PM
 loathar wrote:
 SteamFreak wrote:
 J. Daddy wrote:

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

What a great way to simulate the erosion process. After all, the mountains on the east coast were once as big as the Rockies... Big Smile [:D]

Actually, it's a better way to simulate the Alien acid blood eating through the floor.

Now that's funny!

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

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Posted by Dean-58 on Thursday, June 5, 2008 2:22 AM

I've got another one!  I've injured myself this way several times over the last couple of years: don't leave sharp things clamped in your vise when you've finished, or are taking a break from, a project.  I'm in the throes of fabricating riveted air tanks for my Thomas Consol rebuild.  Rather than make up the ends, with the pipe fittings, run rivet rows on shim stock wrappers, then solder them together in a normal way, I decided to add a little weight by turning cores from 3/8"D brass rod, with fittings to take 3/64"D wire "piping," embossed the rivet rows, then tinned the wrappers and cores, intending to "spot-solder" them together with my American Beauty resistance soldering rig.

This method had worked fine when soldering rivet overlays to the firebox sides (they're really supposed to be stay-bolt heads), but even with the slightly thicker shim stock, I succeeded in producing a lot of pock-marks in the cylindrical wrappers, which were held in place with aluminum wire.  "Okay," I told myself, "it's time to unlimber my mini torch and sweat-solder the two pieces of each tank together--but how do I hold the wired-up assembly while applying heat?"  I just got one of those little old-fashioned clamp vises, so I clamped it onto my workbench pullout work surface, clamped a piece of soft steel wire (from one of the bale handles from Chinese takeout: most model railroaders are packrats!) in it, and stuck the tank assembly on it, vertically, through one of the pipe fittings.

When I'd soldered the wrapper on, fileting the joints at the ends with solder, I pulled it off and started cleaning up the solder joints--almost always a necessity.  Within a couple of minutes I'd jabbed my hand with the steel wire, still clamped in the vise.  It's not the first time it's happened, but I hope it's the last, as writing this has indelibly imprinted on my brain the necessity of not leaving something sharp in any of my vises (I have three, one permanently mounted [a Colbert Panavise], and two clamp vises).  Luckily, as a diabetic, I've had my tetanus booster shot...

Dean "Model Railroading is FUN!"
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Posted by corsair7 on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:13 AM
 Dallas Model Works wrote:

Never carry an open bottle of paint (or other gunk) over a floor surface that cannot be cleaned easily.

If you do, then somehow, some way, your feet will act as thought they've never worked together before and a spill that makes the Exxon Valdez look like amateur-hour will ensue.

And don't forget that you'll also discover that your spouse and family have also become "enviromentalist fanatics." Mischief [:-,]

Irv

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Posted by corsair7 on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:25 AM
 MAbruce wrote:

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.    

Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]  

Now he tells me!Mischief [:-,]

Irv

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Posted by Flashwave on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:28 AM
 MAbruce wrote:

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.    

Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]  

What's sanity? Isn't that how clean something is? Clown [:o)]Dunce [D)]

-Morgan

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Posted by DavidGSmith on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:35 AM

Been away a while, a 12" pipe wrench is just a small one. Have up to 24" if needed. LOL Another paint one is you will only notice the small area you missed after cleaning the brushes. Dont paint even a small quick job with you best jeans on.

Dave 

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Posted by corsair7 on Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:39 AM
 DavidGSmith wrote:

Been away a while, a 12" pipe wrench is just a small one. Have up to 24" if needed. LOL Another paint one is you will only notice the small area you missed after cleaning the brushes. Dont paint even a small quick job with you best jeans on.

Dave 

Why not? You're not going to spill anything on them, are you? Whistling [:-^]

Irv

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Posted by teen steam fan on Friday, June 13, 2008 7:34 PM

metal+electric=ababababababa OW WHAT THE #%**

never have anyone near a electrical switch you don't know all that well (trust me, I learnt that the hard way AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

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Posted by galaxy on Friday, June 13, 2008 8:57 PM
 Rotorranch wrote:
 loathar wrote:
 SteamFreak wrote:
 J. Daddy wrote:

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

What a great way to simulate the erosion process. After all, the mountains on the east coast were once as big as the Rockies... Big Smile [:D]

Actually, it's a better way to simulate the Alien acid blood eating through the floor.

Now that's funny!

Rotor

 

Just read my signature

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by teen steam fan on Monday, December 29, 2008 2:54 PM

phatkat64
  loathar wrote:
No cats in the train room...WhistlinWhistling" src="http://cs.trains.com/emoticons/icon_smile_whistling.gif">

 

Couldn't agree more with that one!!!

 

Back at you, I have to deal with a POSSESED cat and she is a huge pain in the a##

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

Moderator
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Monday, December 29, 2008 7:36 PM

Always make sure there is some kind of ventilation when working with glues---trust me on this one----Whistling

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by arkansasrailfan on Monday, December 29, 2008 8:02 PM
oh, and heres a new one. when you run off to school leaving your layout running, don't be surprised when your E9 shoved half your train off the layout, got stuck, and wore holes in the rails. Everytime that engine goes over it goes, CLACK clack CLACK clack CLACK clack
-Michael It's baaaacccckkkk!!!!!! www.youtube.com/user/wyomingrailfan
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Posted by GMTRacing on Monday, December 29, 2008 8:07 PM

1. You don't need to finish the ceiling before starting the layout.

2. The builders will always finish the roof before it rains and floods the layout.

3. There is no need for an electrical cutoff. No one is stupid enough to run trains with the swing gate wide open.Sign - Oops

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Posted by HEdward on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 4:55 PM

Do invite 12 people to every operating session of your 4x8 layout.

Do serve massive quantities of alcohol before said ops.

Do make certian your most recent foreign visitor(that guy that speaks ten words of English, nine of which do not involve trains)is assigned to dispatch.

Do allow both twins to share one throttle(they'll be three in january)

Don't worry about derailments, that's what all those emergency vehicles on your layout are for.

Proud to be DD-2itized! 1:1 scale is too unrealistic. Twins are twice as nice!

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