I've always wondered...

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

…how do modeler’s cut/drill/shape brass? Do you need special tools? I handle wood and styrene with your basic tools, and i’m not experienced enough for brass, but i’ve always thought that question when i’m scratchbuilding something. Especially now when I need to make some hand rails.

2

Most of the same tools that you would use for drilling and cutting plastic can be used for brass too. For shaping hand rails I use a few pliers. Brass cuts nice with a sharp file, Dremel with a few special bits, and a saw. I have about 15 different pliers. From little tiny needle nose to 10 inch Chanel locks. Each has a particular use and shape. One word of advice is do not use your track cutting pliers for anything else but nickle silver rail. Using them for brass or spring steel wire will dull them fast. There is no need for a bridge port, lathe or any other large machine for making hand rails.

Pete

3

Hey, thanks, you’re a big help. With that in mind, i might have to start expirementing with some brass…

4

Hello brass is soft for a metal not as soft as lead or white metal but not as hard as steel. So you can drill in to it with a pin vise you can cut it with snips,hack saw, dremel. You can file it with small files. You do not need a lot of big tools to work with brass unless you making something big. For hand rails get some rod the size you need and some of the Kaydee trip pin pliers they make nice smooth bends in brass rod. If you are bending tubing fill with water and freeze then bend the ice will help keep it smooth. Just take your time it’s not that hard. Hope this helps Frank

5

I’ve done a few hundred handrails, grabs, etc. and this is what I have learned:

  1. The hardest part is not bending and cutting, it’s bending and cutting in the right spot. Buy extra stock because you will need it and once it is bent and you find that it is a few thousandths off, it is difficult to straighten and then bend again. Take notes and good measurements so you can minimize the trash.

  2. Hobby shops will also sell steel piano wire for handrails. This works almost as good but is less ductile, making it more likely to snap when making tight radius corners.

  3. Buy straight wire only. And if you got a spool of wire with a kit, throw it out and buy staight wire from the LHS. No matter how much time and effort you put into straightening it, spooled wire will always look bent.

  4. make sure you have the correct size drill. If it makes too big of a hole, it will look like junk. Plus, if it is a snug fit, it will hold better and require less glue and less chance that it will break off.

here’s a pic of my F3’s. I did all of the handrails and grabs in brass prior to painting the locos.