Bill Bedford handrail jig -how to use?

[Irish Padre]

Hi everyone - may seem like a daft question but I’d really appreciate some tips on how to use this effectively, please! All advice gratefully received

[enginelane]

Hi everyone - may seem like a daft question but I’d really appreciate some tips on how to use this effectively, please! All advice gratefully received

Which one do you have?

[Enterprisingwestern]

Carefully!

Measure the length of handrail required with a pair of dividers and then find the two holes with the same spacing on the jig.

Bend the handrail wire to 90 degrees at one end.

Put the bent end in the inner hole and hold tightly from the underneath, eg with smooth jaw pliers.

Lay the wire in the groove, and making sure it is lying flat, bend it over at the open end of the jig.

The problem with the jig is that it only really works well and accurately with wire of the same diameter as the holes, I finished up making my own jig for 0.33mm wire and tend not to use the BB one any more.

 

Mike.

[Irish Padre]

thanks to you both! It’s the small 7mm one I have

[tractor_37260]

Here's a wee tip -  use 2 BB jigs glued back to back with strips of plasticard spacers to avoid blocking the holes. It makes it easier to get square bends at right angles.

[N15class]

Or forget about the jig. Bend wire to 90° put in one of the holes it will fit into. Get your chosen pliers, place them between the hole with the wire in and the hole where it needs to go. Slide out the pliers until on the inner edge of the hole. Lift away from model, bend down wire. Cut leg to appropriate length. This will automatically allow for any alterations in hole positions. Also far quicker to do, than with jig or to explain.

[Zero Gravitas]

Here's a wee tip -  use 2 BB jigs glued back to back with strips of plasticard spacers to avoid blocking the holes. It makes it easier to get square bends at right angles.

This is a work of genius.

 

It gets around the “legs not lining up problem” I’ve experienced. Thank you for sharing.

[tractor_37260]

This is a work of genius.

 

It gets around the “legs not lining up problem” I’ve experienced. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thank you kindly - that's exactly the reason I modified it............

[Irish Padre]

Thanks everyone! Have been building this 6w coach-almost done- and found the handrails one of the more challenging aspects! Hence my acquisition of a jig...

[Daddyman]

I long ago gave up using the BB jig - too much play in the holes when you're bending 0.3 or 0.4 wire. 

 

Instead, I cut a bit of 40 thou to fit between the holes in the body at either end of where the handrail will go. I then bend the wire around the 40 thou (off the model) with pliers. 

 

I then label all the pieces of 40 thou and keep them together in a box for future use. 

[N15class]

As above no need for templates or jigs. Can all be done with just pliers whatever the wire gauge.

[Enterprisingwestern]

Most of the replies seem to suggest that the jig was a good idea in the beginning, but using it showed it's shortcomings and peoples workarounds!

 

Mike.

[Irish Padre]

Thanks everyone - I’ve now removed it from my order at Eileen’s ! May get some dividers instead....

[N15class]

Thanks everyone - I’ve now removed it from my order at Eileen’s ! May get some dividers instead....

Dividers are good to have, smooth snipe nosed pliers are best for the job.

[Irish Padre]

Thanks - plan is to use dividers to help gauge handrail length. I’ll look out for some snipe nose pliers too.....

[Torper]

I don't understand the adverse criticism here.  I've found the Bedford handrail jig very useful, particularly when I've had to make a number of identical handrails.  Last night I used it to make two short handrails using .31 brass wire.  OK, it was bit fiddly, but it worked.

 

DT

[LongRail]

Use mine all the time

[N15class]

I don't understand the adverse criticism here.  I've found the Bedford handrail jig very useful, particularly when I've had to make a number of identical handrails.  Last night I used it to make two short handrails using .31 brass wire.  OK, it was bit fiddly, but it worked.

 

DT

It's not a case of putting the jig down, I just find it a very long winded way of making handrails. My problem with it was having to accurately measure the pair of holes then find the matching pair on the jig. Then mark it to aide memory. I find just using good pliers there's no measuring, or finding the holes in the jig. For me it takes less than a third of the time and the tool is always on the bench.

[Ben Alder]

For one or two folds I just use pliers but for repeat work it is handy- fitted some S&W couplings tonight and it was easier to use the jig than do some eye work.

[Torper]

My problem with it was having to accurately measure the pair of holes then find the matching pair on the jig. Then mark it to aide memory.

 

While I agree with that to a considerable extent, it's surely no more difficult than lining up the pair of holes and then trying to make acurate handrails using a pair of pliers, especially if you've got more than one handrail to do.

 

DT

[kandc_au]

I don't understand the adverse criticism here.  I've found the Bedford handrail jig very useful, particularly when I've had to make a number of identical handrails.  Last night I used it to make two short handrails using .31 brass wire.  OK, it was bit fiddly, but it worked.

 

DT

I don't think people are being adverse. It's just horses for courses. Some find it easier using them and others find it easier not to.

Each to their own!

 

Khris

[cctransuk]

It's not a case of putting the jig down, I just find it a very long winded way of making handrails. My problem with it was having to accurately measure the pair of holes then find the matching pair on the jig. Then mark it to aide memory. I find just using good pliers there's no measuring, or finding the holes in the jig. For me it takes less than a third of the time and the tool is always on the bench.

 

My preferred method of use :-

 

i] drill one hole

 

ii] form handrail using jig

 

iii] cut off handrail so that one leg is slightly longer than the other

 

iv] place long leg in drilled hole and use the other leg to lightly mark the position for the second hole

 

v] drill second hole

 

vi] fit handrail in exactly matching holes.

 

All this can be done in a tiny fraction of the time it takes to type!!

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

[Greengiant]

Another option RP Toolz bending tool.

 

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/product/handle-bending-tool-rp-toolz-rp-h

 

Martin

[Irish Padre]

Thanks for the wealth of responses! Lots to think about ....