shortliner Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Callum in South Africa found this, and posted it on the Big Blue forum - I think it deserves much wider distribution and knowledge - One of the best tools I have used for uncoupling Kadees - The man who thought of it originally deserves a knighthood! How's this for a great idea as an un-coupling tool...I'll definitely give them a try. I know I can get them locally, cheap and also a lot less bulky that these... http://bogonggeehirailway.blogspot.co.za/2016/01/uncoupling.html [unquote] NB The cheapest I have found is Lidl ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Callum in South Africa found this, and posted it on the Big Blue forum - I think it deserves much wider distribution and knowledge - One of the best tools I have used for uncoupling Kadees - The man who thought of it originally deserves a knighthood! Jack, Which size? I note that they go from 0.4mm diameter up to 1.5mm (black) and they might even go larger but I haven't found any yet. :-) Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share Posted August 15, 2016 Oops! I didn't realise they came in different sizes - the ones I have, and that seem to work well, have 0.45mm on the packet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I've got some that don't fit between my teeth so that's a bonus use... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Very neat, a splendid idea. I use kebab sticks though, got a pack given to me some years back. They are nice and long, particulatlary when used over a backscene, not easy to lose around the layout, tho' I have managed that. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share Posted August 15, 2016 I'm considering adapting the tooth-gap-poking device and fitting a nice long barbie-skewer handle - My usual device is a Barbie-skewer anyway, but I am impressed by the way the bristles seem to grab the couplers and open them. I think some experimentation may be called for. Glad to see that people are finding this post of interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Will they keep the couplers nice & clean, too?? Coat, hat, etc.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted August 15, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 15, 2016 Will they keep the couplers nice & clean, too?? Coat, hat, etc.... Depends on whether new or used! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I'm with John on the pointed stick. Pack of 100 for 50p in Morrisons and they do the job. You can even chop them up for timber stacks/car loads/fenceposts. What's not to like? steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I'm with John on the pointed stick. Pack of 100 for 50p in Morrisons and they do the job. You can even chop them up for timber stacks/car loads/fenceposts. What's not to like? steve And they work with O Scale, too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 16, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2016 I have ordersed one pack to see how I get on with them. At least they can be put to their intended use if I don't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted August 16, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2016 Not a lot of cop with gangwayed passenger stock. And some of us do split such formations. Regularly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert17649 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Not a lot of cop with gangwayed passenger stock. And some of us do split such formations. Regularly. sometimes accidentally Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 The only passenger stock I have is some Athearn RDCs, and they rarely get a run-out - The cut-down, half-pint RDC currently abuilding [awaiting some putty for crack filling] will only ever run by itself. I would have thought that gangwayed stock was very difficult to uncouple without magnets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 16, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2016 Dont forget the new Rapido magnetic under board mechanisms. I have one to try out when I get time to fit it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted August 16, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 16, 2016 Looks a great idea and on my next visit to Morrisons I will get some. I take it you are all aware that Kadee have a uncoupling tool in their range. Terry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 I find the actual Kadee tool is a bit hit and miss - Barbie sticks work better for me - but this "bristly" version seems to work every time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 16, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2016 The few times that I have used the Kadee one (not mine) I havent had much joy. I tend to use a small jewellers screw driver when not using the magnets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 The best tool I've found is the RailCrew uncoupler. I was a firm believer in chopping the tails off and using a skewer as most other magnet-derived methods never quite seemed reliable enough, until I discovered these. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I have the plastic Kadee uncoupler stick, hardly use it, I find the bbq skewer works best...but I will definately try these mini-brushes, especially since I have been using them for years on my teeth and have a drawer full. And I never ever thought of trying them to uncouple my cars Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I did a quick recce in the local shopping centre this afternoon and Superdrug and Boots had a good range of the Tepe brushes going from 0.4mm to 0.8mm. Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on the Tepe brushes. But they also had another brand called Dentek with a pack of three sizes - 0.4mm, 0.5mm and 0.6mm. The Dentek pack of ten cost £4 and the Tepe packs of six cost £3.25 The Dentek brushes also look as though they might be a better shape, with a narrower, tubular body, than the wider Tepe ones. Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Jim, Given your username, wouldn't one of these be more appropriate? :-) Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 19, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 19, 2016 I've had a decent amount of success using handles from those cheap kiddies paint brushes that come with coarse nylon bristles. Cut off the business end and give the handle a rub with some fine wet-and-dry to remove the moulding lines and away you go. All mine have had an oval section which seems to work better than the circular one of cocktail or kebab sticks. Most are brightly coloured, too, so fairly hard to lose! I think I have a packet of those interdental brushes lurking somewhere so I'll give them a try. I agree that the "official" Kadee tool is either pretty ineffective or I haven't got the knack of using it. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Personally, I find a cheap and nasty cross point screwdriver, as sometimes found in Christmas crackers, ideal. And it cost nothing. Simon Crackers with screwdrivers in them?? Christmas sounds like a scream at your house, Simon!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractor_37260 Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 I'd also found the Kadee uncoupler tool - a bit hit or miss in use........ As a bonus - the smaller versions of these dental brushes are also ideal for cleaning your airbrush nozzles................. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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