Essential tools for MR

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi all:

I am starting a list of essential tools everyone should have and want to know if I missed anything:

Pin vise for drilling small holes

Track cutters Xuron makes the best.

Small Jewelers file for cleaning up said track cuts

Tweezers for holding small parts like track nails.

Set of small screwdrivers numerous uses. Even the dollar store variety seem to work.

Soldering Iron.

Multimeter for testing Mine came From Lot-Less and works fine.

Trip pin pliers

Kadee coupler height gauge

NMRA gauge

Cordless drill.

Needle nose pliers

Wire cutters

Exacto knife with sharp blades

Scissors

Paper Cutter (I use a lot of photos from Textures.Com) for fences manhole covers sewers etc.

White glue

CA glue I buy it in a plastic bottle not the messy squeeze tubes.

There is one tool I have that has gotten little use but might be handy a Dremel tool.

Ok what am I missing?

2

Pin vise for drilling small holes - check

Track cutters Xuron makes the best - check plus Demel w/ cut-off wheel

Small Jewelers file for cleaning up said track cuts - check

Tweezers for holding small parts like track nails - check

Set of small screwdrivers numerous uses. Even the dollar store variety seem to work - check

Soldering Iron - check

Multimeter for testing Mine came From Lot-Less and works fine - check

Trip pin pliers - don’t have but needle nose get the job done.

Kadee coupler height gauge - check

NMRA gauge - check

Cordless drill - for benchwork mainly (built mine with cordless drill and sabre saw only)

Needle nose pliers - check

Wire cutters - use wirecutter, stripper tool

Exacto knife with sharp blades - check

Scissors - check

Paper Cutter (I use a lot of photos from Textures.Com) for fences manhole covers sewers etc. - you mean like chopper?

White glue - check

CA glue I buy it in a plastic bottle not the messy squeeze tubes - check

also Tenax 7R for building and Testors liquid cement, add on Testors canopy cement

There is one tool I have that has gotten little use but might be handy a Dremel tool - Demel is my primary track trimming tool - I use Xuron to cut rail quickly to size but then trim for a precise fit with the dremal always. It also comes in handy for grinding off sharp drywall screws that stick through benchwork wood, and grinding wood down in places with appropriate attachments.

more tools:

Heat sinks and flux for soldering wires and rail.

Yard Stick, Trammel, rulers etc.

Bubble level for bencwork and square.

Hot Glue gun for various things, scenery, attaching wood in places etc.

Box Cutter

Sanding blocks for evening subroadbed track surfaces.

3

Optivisor for geezers like me.

4

My number one tool is a cordless Dremel it just about replaced my pin vise for drilling holes.

My tool box contains modeling tools including a Xacto saw,small side cutters,pliers and jewelers files and hammer…I also have sprue cutters.

I never found much need to yard sticks,heat sinks,wire cutters and other like tools. I do use a level and cordless drill though.

Ya just don’t need those tools when you build small ISLs with a small fascia and bracing that is set up on a 8’ folding table. I don’t need blocks even on a 12’ long ISL.

I “eyeball” my track to ensure its straight. That may be old school but,it still works.

5

It took me three tries to finally get a pin vice that works with the teeny drills.

I’d add a “truck tuner” to the list if not there.

On the nice to have additions, I’d include a digital caliper, for measuring wheel axle lengths, about $24 or less (check HF on sale). And if you’re into soldering loco wiring (e.g., for DCC) a soldering station (about $55) is a real treat worth considering.

For heat sinks with rail soldering, I use alligator clips, so a supply of them is handy for several reasons. And clothespins for simple clamps.

6

A scale ruler and a regular ruler.

A pair of desk lamps with the adjustable arms so you have plenty of light and no shadows.

Enjoy

Paul

7
8

Hi all

I would add

magnet corner clamps very handy for structure building.

a 3"engineer’s square

The NMRA and kadee gauge I think need grouping together,

and given a different name as while essential for US modelling.

Are no use if modelling European trains, but the equivelent std gauges would be needed to match the Euro standard or any other set standard being used

on the nice to have list put track setta gauges.

Has anyone said apropriate scale rule I would put that on the definate must list.

The one I personaly want and can’t find is a steel set square I know some one must make one, but I can only find plastic ones and you can’t cut square corners with a plastic one.

regards John

9

Unless you have far better eye sight than I do you will need a Ledu Clamp-On Fluorescent 42” Swing Arm Magnifier Lamp with a 5” 3 diopter Lens, or equivalent. They provide excellent light as well as good visual amplification. I have a LEDU ($$$$) as well as the Harbor Freight lamp ($40). I bought my LEDU back in 1963 when it cost the same as the HF lamp so the LEDU really last.

My main stay bench tools include a small 1½” wide jaw bench vise with a minimum opening of 1½” (HO).

A Panavise Vise Junior for working on and painting model railroad goodies. They have an adjustable ball clamp to hold your goodies at any working angle. The Panavise Junior Jaws open to 2⅞”.

A good regulated variable power supply, 0-20 volts with at least 2 amps output.

A bench mounted miter box, I use the Excel from Hobby Lobby. It is rather deep so an Atlas Snap Saw won’t work in it, I have to use a saw blade with a 1” cut.

10

I would make that 2 sets of files, one set for track work, and include a flat mill file, one set for plastic model use only… Nothing will kill the nice file job on a plastic model like a bit of metal shaving getting stuck into it.

And, in addition to the model glues, if using Tenax 7 (or similar) a touch&flow applicator.

Add, a quality air compressor and airbrush, for both clear coating and painting and weathering effects. (Harbor Freight has a very good quality airbrush for well under $100, if on sale you can get it and a good quality compressor for the cost of one of the name brand airbrushes sold elsewhere.) Even if you only use it for sealing and clear coating, it will be worth it. (You may start doing other things once you have it.) Along these lines, if you will be doing lots of airbrush work, a quality spray booth, to Evac fumes from your work area. (Or, do like me, spray into a old cardboard box to contain overspray, outside where there is plenty of fresh air.

Good quality paint brushes would allow for hand painting of small details, and for application of weathering washes as well. So both a set of small, detail brushes, and at least a 1/2 inch brush for washes. Disposable foam brushes work well for scenery/ballasting jobs.

Also, good quality wire cutters/strippers. These are essential for any wiring/electrical work and repair. If you do DCC, not only a regular sized set, but also the miniature wire strippers from Micro-Mark.

And, biggest one, has anyone mentioned the most essential tools, PPE? (Personal Protective Equipment.) You need safety glasses, and good quality gloves as a bare minimum. Gloves to protect from moving parts (Dremel and drill guns) and from glues/chemicals/paints. (These can be disposable, but make sure they are correct kind for the chemical/cleaner/paint you are using.) Additions beyond bare essentials mentioned, would be a quality repsperator (when airbrushing) and any other safety gear you might need. (Such as Knee pads, etc…

11

Great list! Been going thru it and checking off items. I have most of them but not a cordess dremel. I have a dremel tool but not a cordless one and its not so convenient, so that does it, I’m going to buy one.

Another “tool” I use all the time is a digital postage scale. Amazon has a wide selection and you can get them for under $20.

Tim

12

Tools accualy needed to build layout like mine 15x30’ are 1: begining cordless tool set (mine is Ryobi, for $80 you can get circular saw, drill, battery and charger 2: framing square 3: regular square 4: 4’ level 5: utillity knife 6: caulk gun. With this you can build any regular benchwork you can think of. Now for track laying you need a track cutter and an NMRA tool (other things are extra or are from list 1. Scenery is too involved to make a list.

13

Fantastic list! Perhaps the moderators can consider putting this as a ‘sticky’ to help anyone interested in the hobby. I would add the following few things:

  • sponge brushes

  • 1" brushes (removing plaster pieces or ballast)

  • drywall saw (cutting foam)

  • wood glue

  • liquid nails

  • spray bottles

14

What do you use for morning and afternoon roadbed?

Clamps

A power screw driver in additoon to the drill

15

A file-card.

Xuron track cutters for cutting installed track. they cut vertically

A small straight edge-could double as a scale ruler.

A tack hammer.

Rail spike pliers.

16

I think a lot of stuff has been posted more than once, but anyway, I bought what I need, when I needed it, if I didn’t have it already. Kind of like the tool accomulation that happens in the garage.

Working on, and restoring old garden tractors, the list never ends. And the same goes with my modeling. I think in the movie by Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino, when he told the kid next door, when the kid asked how did he got so many tools, and Clint, playing Walt Kowaltski, said that you “accumunlate them over time”.

Start with what you need to do the benchwork, and move on, while thinking about “what’s next”.

Mike

17

I would add one of these to the list. They are great for applying glue to small points, making a starting point for drilling, scribing a line and the handle obviously comes in handy for several abusive uses:

Be warned, they are terribly expensive to make (requires one whole sewing needle and a piece of scrap wood), and will take about 30 seconds to assemble.

When the glue builds up on the tip, just file it off once it is dry.

Dave

18

Hi all

Well plenty of tools showing up for the list.

I think we have all forgoten something a suitable box or rack to put them all in so the next time we need one we can find it.

A lot of the tools tend to be bought as required.

regards John

19

John:

Excellent point!

I lucked out on this tool holder many years ago at Canadian Tire. Sorry I can’t provide a current source. It is mounted to a plywood frame that sits on my workbench:

The other thing in the picture that is really handy is the simple slab of wood that is drilled to hold my most commonly used Dremel bits.

Pardon the (usual) mess! I think there are about three projects on the go in this picture.

Dave

20

Micro-Mark makes (or has made for them):

spiking pliers for lots of uses beside spiking

flush-cutting sheers

sprue-cutting sheers (very helpful for clipping plastic parts off sprues

ONE set of needle files? I have seven, including the first ones I bought nearly 60 years ago. I have regular 5" needle files and 3" mini-files, in both regular and diamond types (I build O scale locos)

I also have two sizes of jewelers drill presses and a micro-lathe, but I worked for 40 years with a Moto-Tool in a drill press frame–with foot rheostat and small bit adapter check

I was lucky enough to buy a ‘Monster’ mini hand drill and scroll saw, but if you’re going to drill a lot of holes, be kind to yourself and buy a cordless screwdriver and adapter drill chuck(s), MM has several kinds

BTW, I solved the problem of organizing modeling files 20 years ago by buying one of those 3-arm kitchen towel racks, filing grooves in the arms, and forming double-sided hooks out of wire handles from Chinese take-out containers

Model Railroading is Fun! Enjoy yourself!

Deano