Blefuscu Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I'm modelling a 313 in 1:120. I'm straying out of my build thread for some help with the handrails, which are flat. What do people generally use for flat handrails in 3mm or N? I think the rails should come up about 0.3mm in width. I have round wire, but at this scale I think the roundness of round wire will be noticeably round. I have considered square rod. Looking online, the only square rod I have found in this thickness is styrene. Working with 0.3mm styrene doesn't sound appealing. I would prefer steel or brass but I've only seen only square brass rod in 1mm so far... I have discovered some flat/ribbon resistance wire on eBay - by a vaping supplier I think. Nichrome or steel are available, but would they be too soft? I'm reluctant to 3d print them as I'd almost certainly have to solidify them to the body. Thanks, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted January 23 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23 (edited) I have made wire flat by tinning a sheet of brass, soldering wire onto it and filing it flat. It doesn't have to be absolutely precise. You can do both sides but at that size, just getting a flat on the outside facing surface should be enough. I hope that is a possibly helpful suggestion. Edited January 23 by t-b-g typo 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Asterix2012 Posted January 23 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23 (edited) These guys do square brass and copper wire down to 0.5mm in copper also do half round wire useful for beading I have bought from them before no issues https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MetalClays4You?ref=related&from_page=listing&listing_id=536176488&search_query=Brass just search copper for the copper wire Edited January 23 by Asterix2012 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bécasse Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Staples can be a useful source. I have collected a considerable number in a surprisingly large range of sizes over the years, culled from magazines and advertising booklets before they are added to the "recycling" bin. They can usually be pressed in a vice to remove their inherent bends, they are robust for their size and they solder well. New unused ones can be useful too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheatley Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Use the 0.3mm wire but crush it slightly (not wafer-thin) in a pair of flat smooth jawed pliers. If that makes it flat but too wide one of the metal section suppliers (K&S ?) does 0.25 or 0.2mm wire instead. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citadel Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I've generally gone down the filed down brass wire route so far. Annealed to make it readily bendable, formed to shape in a crude jig which also holds the front face flat when filing it etc. Quite pleased with the result, certainly better than the etched ones I got with the kit - see part way down Page 16 in the thread attached for a more step by step explanation: But staples would seem to offer interesting possibilities as well 🙂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted January 23 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23 What about square point rodding (Wizard Models do it in from memory 0.5 by 0.5mm). Not sure if anyone else does a smaller grade for smaller scales 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnylinny Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 13 hours ago, The Fatadder said: What about square point rodding (Wizard Models do it in from memory 0.5 by 0.5mm). Not sure if anyone else does a smaller grade for smaller scales Actually slightly closer to the desired size - it's 0.4mm square nickel silver: https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/shop/tools/ls006_2/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 14 hours ago, Wheatley said: Use the 0.3mm wire but crush it slightly (not wafer-thin) in a pair of flat smooth jawed pliers. If that makes it flat but too wide one of the metal section suppliers (K&S ?) does 0.25 or 0.2mm wire instead. That's exactly how I have created a few lamp irons and the like in OO scale. It works, albeit, it can be a little tedious to do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blefuscu Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 Thanks for all the suggestions. For some reason I wasn't getting any notifications for this thread, so I'm just catching up now. The Etsy shop and Wizard models sound like the sort of places I was looking for, and I've bookmarked both of those, but using staples is a lovely idea. I've got some on the shelf next to me measuring 0.47mm so I'll give those a go first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blefuscu Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 15 hours ago, Wheatley said: Use the 0.3mm wire but crush it slightly I'm keeping this in mind too - I have a plier wrench that I think will make a fairly quick job of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Daddyman Posted January 24 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24 (edited) Avoid the staples - too thick. I'd have thought crushing will make the wire slightly wider than the looked-for 0.3mm. I always go with filing as per @t-b-g and @Citadel. Citadel has even shown how good it can look. A refinement on t-b-g's sheet of brass, though, is to tack solder to a slab of PCB (less flex). Edited January 24 by Daddyman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cctransuk Posted January 24 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24 22 minutes ago, Daddyman said: Avoid the staples - too thick. I'd have thought crushing will make the wire slightly wider than the looked-for 0.3mm. I always go with filing as per @t-b-g and @Citadel. Citadel has even shown how good it can look. A refinement on t-b-g's sheet of brass, though, is to tack solder to a slab of PCB (less flex). Staples come in a variety of sizes - and therefore thicknesses. Simply find the size that has an appropriate thickness. CJI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted January 25 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 25 I've used brass wire hammered flat for some of my N Gauge models. Steven B. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus1 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 I was about to mention brass wire hammered flat as well! Been doing that for many years for lamp brackets and now for diesel handrails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blefuscu Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 I started squeezing with a big knipex plier wrench, but for this job, they did seem to come up a bit wide - so I ultimately went with filing flat. Thanks everyone for the advice! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Seager-Thomas Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 A pair of ball bearings with a strap each side would do it. Set the bearings the appropriate distance apart.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted March 13 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 13 (edited) How about going for a rolling mill? Not one of those mega expensive jewellery trade ones but this cheapo: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323820195270?chn=ps&_ul=GB Assuming it will also do flat sheets? Edited March 13 by melmerby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradfordbuffer Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 3 hours ago, Blefuscu said: I started squeezing with a big knipex plier wrench, but for this job, they did seem to come up a bit wide - so I ultimately went with filing flat. Thanks everyone for the advice! One for next time dcc concepts do a stainless steel hand rail bending jig. Possibly feed wire through and twist ends under neath then file the front flat sounds like it would give the desired effect Several suppliers but one hear just to show jig picture https://www.jacksonsmodels.co.uk/dcc-concepts-dcgsr4-stainless-steel-scale-ruler-and-handrail-jig.ir?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwncWvBhD_ARIsAEb2HW8JV93HLyhKN1j3jPIa_WDPnXCXKnF1E7LN5UUaVxTbhzahNGL_LnYaAvN8EALw_wcB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blefuscu Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 The plier wrench was actually fine for pressing/flattening - but I would have had to have down a another 0.1mm I think to compensate for the flattening. I don't think I could justify the rolling mill for the amount of work I'm carrying out (or the space I have).... that handrail jig looks very useful though. Small enough that I might just smuggle it in without any justifying too. Need new pliers too... my 'fine' point pliers are old enough to have accrued some sentimental value now, but are really no longer up to fine work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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