bluex5 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 A little while back in a magazine I remember seeing a handrail jig which was basically an etched sheet with a matrix of holes which you matched up to the required handrail length. Does any bright spark know whose product this is? I've got a load of diesel handrails to make in the upcoming weeks and fancy getting hold of one of these at York show if possible. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfwit Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Made by Bill Bedford Models. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted March 30, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 30, 2010 Mine came from Bill Bedford, but read this from Eileen's Emporium first Eileen Bedford or Bill's Emporium Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 photo of one on my blog http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/?app=blog&blogid=53&showentry=1038 Simple but very effective. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluex5 Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 Excellent, thanks all! I'll see if it's become available from Eileen's as yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Note he does a rectangular one as well as the one shown above that caters for longer handrails. I have one of each. My only criticism is that the etched hole size is more suited to a thicker handrail than I would use in lots of situations. Another one would be good with small holes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Langley Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Instead of starting a new topic, I'm going through the process of updating a few Lima OO locos with proper handrails, and was wondering what wire I should use, or rather what wire you, the experts, use for making up your handrails? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Brass - depends on scale and the "hand rail" ... and for me how much battering it is likely to get. Something that is likely to be handled a lot on/off the track will get a thicker wire. Typical 0.3-0.5 for 4mm 0.5-0.8 for 7mm - simply scale the actual size, and then I think it looks a bit heavy so reduce it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I believe Alan Gibson hand rail knobs are drilled for 0.45mm, there was a guide picture floating around somewhere showing default sizes.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Gibson are drilled .45mm, and nickel wire is also available from Eileens Emporium and others, along with straight brass, the Gibson heights are not in his list, but are short , medium and long, (mainly for GWR boiler sides), the short size suit most Diesel uses. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted January 24, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2011 I would agree that Gibson .45mm wire, which you can get from Mainly Trains, will do the job in most instances. I try and make sure I've always got a spare pack or two lying around as I go through it very quickly... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted January 24, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24, 2011 I find the n.silver wire (0.45) is more robust than the brass. 36E Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 The Handrail knob sizes seem to be 1.2 short, 3mm long, and one between, but I have no sample to measure the middle size, and I have to assume the others I have to hand are Gibson, as they are fine sized and drilled .45mm If you want you own bending jig, and have access to a pillar drill, or mill, the take piece of 1/8th brass plate, and drill two lines of .5mm holes on parallel with the edge, and one at an angle to connect the smallest expected size to the largest in .25mm steps, or however many you want. This is easy in a mill, it will need careful drilling in a pillar drill to get spacing right, but extreme accuracy is not needed, just repeatability in bending. There is secret to the line of holes parallel to the edge they are drilled at about 4/5 degrees off vertical, angle inwards to the bottom. The brass plate edge is then sanded on a belt sander till the holes are half through, like a comb edge.(or use a miller or a file!!!) To use take the wire and bend it over the edge, the extra degrees will ensure a right angle or a touch more, the wire is then turned and dropped though the hole matching the length required and the wire bent over the edge again, and pulled of the plate, and can then be tweaked true. Each wire bent in this manner will be exactly the same length. The jig is a jewellery and watchmakers tool to ensure consistent bent wires. In bigger sized versions the holes are connected by a groove, made in a milling machine to guide the wire, but it works with small wire without. the grooves. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I believe Alan Gibson hand rail knobs are drilled for 0.45mm, there was a guide picture floating around somewhere showing default sizes.. Gibson handrail sizes are 1.5mm short, 2mm medium, and 2.5mm long size for reference. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PaulCheffus Posted January 26, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2011 The Handrail knob sizes seem to be 1.2 short, 3mm long, and one between, but I have no sample to measure the middle size, and I have to assume the others I have to hand are Gibson, as they are fine sized and drilled .45mm If you want you own bending jig, and have access to a pillar drill, or mill, the take piece of 1/8th brass plate, and drill two lines of .5mm holes on parallel with the edge, and one at an angle to connect the smallest expected size to the largest in .25mm steps, or however many you want. This is easy in a mill, it will need careful drilling in a pillar drill to get spacing right, but extreme accuracy is not needed, just repeatability in bending. There is secret to the line of holes parallel to the edge they are drilled at about 4/5 degrees off vertical, angle inwards to the bottom. The brass plate edge is then sanded on a belt sander till the holes are half through, like a comb edge.(or use a miller or a file!!!) To use take the wire and bend it over the edge, the extra degrees will ensure a right angle or a touch more, the wire is then turned and dropped though the hole matching the length required and the wire bent over the edge again, and pulled of the plate, and can then be tweaked true. Each wire bent in this manner will be exactly the same length. The jig is a jewellery and watchmakers tool to ensure consistent bent wires. In bigger sized versions the holes are connected by a groove, made in a milling machine to guide the wire, but it works with small wire without. the grooves. Stephen. Hi Bill Bedford used to supply an etched handrail bending jig I think I got mine from here http://www.wizardmodels.co.uk/ListallProducts.php?param=1&pTXID=0 Part numbers E017/4 Small and E019/4 large. Cheers Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Bill Bedford used to supply an etched handrail bending jig I think I got mine from here That would be the one shown in post #4 wouldn't it? (note to self: must stop using that invisible ink) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Hi Bill Bedford used to supply an etched handrail bending jig I think I got mine from here http://www.wizardmodels.co.uk/ListallProducts.php?param=1&pTXID=0 Part numbers E017/4 Small and E019/4 large. Cheers Paul Supplied via Eileens now, see the 3rd post in the topic.. I quite like the method Bertiedog mentions as you'd get a decent thickness of material. The two problems I found with Bill's was that the holes were etched a bit too big and that it isn't thick enough to hold the first bend squarely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Another problem is keeping the bends in line with each other - easy to correct with a slight twist Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PaulCheffus Posted January 26, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2011 That would be the one shown in post #4 wouldn't it? (note to self: must stop using that invisible ink) Hi Doh. I must have viewed this thread previously and forgotten then later thought oh Bill Bedford does one of those. Note to self try looking up the thread again first before posting. Cheers Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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