RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted September 30, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2009 One way to get perfectly straight track is to use a cheap laser level, this also shows how we use superglue to "pin" track down This technique was used when we extended the fiddle yard on Charlotte Road :- We used a templot printout to get the rough position And then the laser ensured straight track The track is glued into place, temporarily held down by weights ( the paper nozzle was temporary whilst I took the shot!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted September 30, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2009 Does it work on curves Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted September 30, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2009 Does it work on curves Yes - use fibre optic cable curved to the radius you require Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 You can use the laser to lay very long sections this way. On the fiddleyard we laid 15ft lengths. Saves time having to keep marking stuff out and its much more accurate. See http://thestorageyard.fotopic.net/p35753212.html Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted October 1, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2009 You've reminded me to get a cheap laser level for myself with this thread, Dave, because it would certainly help laying the remaining straight track on the new DRAG test track. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ian Posted October 1, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 1, 2009 You've reminded me to get a cheap laser level for myself with this thread, Dave, because it would certainly help laying the remaining straight track on the new DRAG test track. ...and you can also use it to blind obnoxious rivet counters at your next exhibition Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 You've reminded me to get a cheap laser level for myself with this thread, Dave, because it would certainly help laying the remaining straight track on the new DRAG test track. We tried that when marking out the alignments Tim, but we couldn't get a decent clear line from the laser (and mine looks similar to the one in the photos). Dave, any special trick in achieving that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Would a mirror at the other end of the straight assist? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted October 5, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 5, 2009 Hi Rod, remember "cheap" is a comparative term, the one we used cost ??40 - cheap compared to the professional ones but not pennies, I suspect that's the issue, cheaper ones don't have the glass to keep the beam on track . hth, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 That's probably it Dave, mine is a freebie for renewing my car insurance or something Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted October 9, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hmm, question is, do I want to spend ??40..... although it would be a great way to deal with the other 5 boards... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted October 9, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hmm, question is, do I want to spend ??40..... although it would be a great way to deal with the other 5 boards... Sounds like the ideal sort of tool for DRAG to buy and then lend out to members, hint hint.... I know that I'm thinking about going down this route if/when I build the next layout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted October 9, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hmm, question is, do I want to spend ??40..... although it would be a great way to deal with the other 5 boards... As i said in the old place "The price is forgotten long after the quality remains" You could buy one between you all and make it a "DRAG/SWAG/xxAG" one ? Would it be possible to use the Laser Guide one finds on some circular saws and the like?Just a thought as it would at least mean getting two tools for the price (Yorkshireman mode on!!) Not sure - the issue tends to be the spread of the light, and over the length of a circular saw it will be acceptable, but over several (more) feet it (might) becomes an issue - it would need looking at but could be a winner for you Yorkies Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted October 10, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 10, 2009 You could buy one between you all and make it a "DRAG/SWAG/xxAG" one ? Good idea matey, although I'm not sure about sharing stuff with the 'x' rated part of the group.... We were actually considering buying a Noch Obergrassenhausenmeister between the Area Group members... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Piszczek Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 remember "cheap" is a comparative term, the one we used cost ??40 - cheap compared to the professional ones but not pennies, I suspect that's the issue, cheaper ones don't have the glass to keep the beam on track If brightness is an issue there are green lasers available now, quite cheaply, on ebay. Our eyes are a lot more sensitive to the green than red (50X), thus for the same laser power level, there is a huge difference in brightness. I haven't seen the green ones used in tools yet, but a lump of clay and a green laser pointer might be a cheap option. The green laser I purchased, which is the standard 5 mw power rating, leaves a visible beam in the air in all but sunlight... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penrhos1920 Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 And then the laser ensured straight track That's some powerful tail light in that Virgin Voyager. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted October 10, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 10, 2009 Would a mirror at the other end of the straight assist? Maybe - Normon Solomon uses a mirror to assist in laying straight track by eye, and it works very well. But be careful when using a Laser at the same time, because the Laser will be reflected back at you - and a Laser in the eye isn't funny. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Hi all, Nice idea. Although the thought of ??40 being cheap isn't in my book of 101 bargains A cheaper method I've thought of which might yield similiar results would be to use one of those laser pointers that you see teachers and lecturers using. The theory being that if you mark out the start point (A) and finish point (B) of your straight rail you can securely place the pointer at (A) and adjust it so that the beam hits a marker at (B). A bit like a brickies plumb line when he's building a wall. See what you all think best regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted October 11, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 11, 2009 Hi all, Nice idea. Although the thought of ??40 being cheap isn't in my book of 101 bargains A cheaper method I've thought of which might yield similiar results would be to use one of those laser pointers that you see teachers and lecturers using. The theory being that if you mark out the start point (A) and finish point (B) of your straight rail you can securely place the pointer at (A) and adjust it so that the beam hits a marker at (B). A bit like a brickies plumb line when he's building a wall. See what you all think best regards, Re "Cheap" - you are mixing something which is a few pounds which is financially cheap with something which is about half the price of a professional equivalent, which is cheap, as I have already explained The teaches laser stick may work, give it a go and report back :icon_idea: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Indeed Dave Things can cost a lot but be superb value or cost little and be a rip off. Even at ??40 if you value your time at as little as a fiver an hour, this method only has to save you a mere 8 hours of marking out and it pays for itself. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Hi, don't get me wrong I didn't mean to have a go. But for someone like myself who is building a small layout with hardly any straight line trackwork anywhere, judging by 'eye' and a straight edge will suffice. I was thinking of the other members who are lucky enough to have the space and who need to build lots of straights. Like you say ??40 is cheap compared to the professional version, but not so cheap if you have a limited budget and every penny needs to be spent wisely. Mind you saying all that just find someone who already owns one and ask to borrow it for a DIY project best regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted October 11, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 11, 2009 A simple cheap and cheerful way is to use taught string B) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 That works as well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I know the topic is about the horizontal alignment of trackwork, but once the trackworks all down then.... I have used a Laser Level to check that the baseboards are level, both at home and at Exhibitions. I can't remember how much it was, but certainly not around the ??40 mark, I should say ??10 + in somewhere like Lidl's. And it's been excellent value for money - it has even been useful for shelves etc!!!! I set the Laser level on the track at one end of the layout, making sure the 'bubble' reads level, then run a wagon up the layout checking the beam's position on the wagon is constant - or of course start adjusting up or down. This photo shows a Laser dot, but it can also be a thin horizontal line. I do have 7 baseboards plus a fiddle yard at each end, overall 31' in length, so some checking is needed. Penlan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Reading the earlier posts and giving some little thought to the Laser Beam ........ It had not occurred to me to use the level on it's side with the thin wide beam to mark out a straight line in the baseboards, but here's how mine would look - OK not on a straight length of track, I haven't got any, but it shows the principle. Penlan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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