Removing recessed moulded handrails

[ClikC]

Afternoon all,

 

Before I embark on an attempt with a scalpel, I wanted to ask what tools/ techniques people use to remove recessed handrails on locomotives, as I have some concerns that the scalpel may not be the best in terms of finish.

 

Regards

 

Matt

[AY Mod]

Have you got a dental probe around to use as a hook?

[The Johnster]

Cheapo disposable sacrificial watchmaker's/modellers screwdriver, blade wide enough to lift the moulded handrail, sharpened, and tapped gently with a taffyhammer.  Try on a scrap model first to develop technique.   When you come to fit the proper handrail, drill the locating holes top and bottom for it and cut the wire about 1mm longer than the actual length needed so that you can 'spring' it into position.  Unless you can feed it through one of the holes (probably the bottom one), in which case do that and trim the excess afterwards.

[ClikC]

32 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

Have you got a dental probe around to use as a hook?

 

Hi Andy,

 

Something akin to pictured on the right?

 

 

I guess you'd use it like a scribe, and slowly part the handrail from body?

 

 

19 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

Cheapo disposable sacrificial watchmaker's/modellers screwdriver, blade wide enough to lift the moulded handrail, sharpened, and tapped gently with a taffyhammer.  Try on a scrap model first to develop technique.   When you come to fit the proper handrail, drill the locating holes top and bottom for it and cut the wire about 1mm longer than the actual length needed so that you can 'spring' it into position.  Unless you can feed it through one of the holes (probably the bottom one), in which case do that and trim the excess afterwards.

 

Might be challenge on two fronts, I've only got Wera screwdrivers to hand, and not much to sharpen them with, short of a file.

 

But tip about springing the wire into place will defiantly be investigated!

 

Regards

[Buhar]

21 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

taffyhammer

Is that the implement required to get you out of the pub on a wet and windy night when rostered with a miserable driver?

Alan 

[Flying Pig]

Search for "modelling chisels" and a variety of suppliers and tools comes up, with blades down to sub-1mm widths.

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, ClikC said:

Something akin to pictured on the right?

 

 

I guess you'd use it like a scribe, and slowly part the handrail from body?

 

That's it, I have a few different types in the tool tins, if you can get the hook behind the handrail, even a fraction, close to the end you should be able to pull them out. Useful for all sorts of other jobs too, scribing clay etc.

[ClikC]

9 minutes ago, Flying Pig said:

Search for "modelling chisels" and a variety of suppliers and tools comes up, with blades down to sub-1mm widths.

 

Hopefully just ordered a suitabe model, shall we say, of likely import origin.

 

11 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

That's it, I have a few different types in the tool tins, if you can get the hook behind the handrail, even a fraction, close to the end you should be able to pull them out. Useful for all sorts of other jobs too, scribing clay etc.

 

Gave it a go, have to say was skeptical it might take several minutes work, but honestly came away within only a few scrapes. Tidied up with a knife-blade needle file.

 

 

 

[AY Mod]

Doh; I hadn't read the important 'moulded' word in the title!

[MPR]

Swan-Morton SM61 blades (and associated SF1 handle) are useful for this sort of thing.

[Steamport Southport]

Small Swann Morton chisel blade.

 

You can get them with very small widths of about 1mm.

 

Posted same time as above. That's the number. Look on eBay or at model tool shops. Don't buy from medical specialists as they can be extortionate.

 

Jason

Edited June 6, 2023 by Steamport Southport

[97406]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

Doh; I hadn't read the important 'moulded' word in the title!

Sounds like it worked, though. Curved implement with a pointy end to nibble away at the sides of the moulded handrails from the back.

[Halvarras]

One Christmas many moons go a seasonal cracker deposited a pack of three tiny flat-bladed screwdrivers into my lap (or dinner.......can't recall now). The clear handles appeared to have been moulded from sugar and disintegrated as soon as I tried to put them to use - I was about to bin them when the idea of sharpening the metal bits into chisels for use in the pin vice occurred to me - and as a result something of lasting usefulness was actually procured from a Christmas cracker for once, as I still have them and occasionally use them for this purpose as they proved ideally suited to the task, as well as digging stuff out of awkward corners.

 

Probably not useful information in June but just in case these things still go into the crackers - you can chuck the red foldy fish, spinning top and jumping frog but be sure to save any sugar-handled mini-screwdrivers which may fall into your gravy 😜!

[JeffP]

On 06/06/2023 at 18:41, AY Mod said:

Doh; I hadn't read the important 'moulded' word in the title!

And you being the boss man, no-one dared correct you😁

[JeffP]

Was going to add: if the recess has s curved bottom, a suitable chisel can be made from a piece of brass tubing of the correct diameter.

Cut the end at 45 degrees and sharpen inner edge with a needle file.

Or try lino-cutting tools.

Edited June 7, 2023 by JeffP