Any one else bend their own locomotive or rolling stock coupler lift bars? What materials and tools do you use? Do you use jigs? I’m very curious as to how others bend em’, especially the locomotive lift bars. Looking for new and easier ways to mass produce them! Right now, all I use is a piece of wire and a pair of needle nose pliers. There has to be a quicker way(short of buying them).
As far as I am concerned, it is worth the money to buy grabs and lift levers. I do on occasion have to fasion my own and do the same thing you do, albeit a pain the****.
I generally hand bend all the grabs and cut levers for my steamers, since they’re relatively unique to each engine. It’s simple, cheap, and takes seconds. I don’t bother with jigs.
I generally use .010" brass wire. I mark the bend locations with a fine-tipped Sharpie, and then whip out my pliers. For mostly 90-degree bends, I use small, flat faced, non-serrated pliers, and just make the bend (getting close to 90 degrees by eyeball isn’t that big a deal). Four round bends, I use a pair of chain nose pliers. Once all bent up, the cut levers or grabs are added to the engine with either Detail Associates rings or Bowser stanchions.
I’ll admit that I cheat when it comes to freight cars, and just buy grabs and steps in bulk from A Line or Westerfield.
I never thought of using a sharpy to mark the bend locations. That’s a good tip, Orsonroy! Thank you.
I usually bend lift bars for diesels and the hardest part is getting both sides even where the bar connects to the locomotive with the lift rings. The tool for it was right there under my nose. Go figure.
I use a fine sharpy myself. I normally draw out a template on paper. I usually only screw up about 1 in 5.
It only takes a few minutes!! I have built several for my locomotives. i use a small pair of needle nose pliers, then some paint and thier done.
This is one of my Locos with the “Home made” lift bars installed. Price; maybe $2.00 for a 50 foot roll. I got it from a craft store. I have used the same to make hand rails and stanchions as well!! Oh and it makes great MU hoses too!! Works great for me. Great for me.
I often buy them unless they’re of an unusual design. I won’t buy any more of the Detail Associates “modern” lift bars for freight cars, though. It’s just an “L”, one bend. I like the older style ones they make. When I do bend them myself I usually use fine brass wire, as it’s easy to work with.
I will make my own depending on the situation. Here is a pic of some “bent wire” I did for a scratch build project I did a while back.
Dan Pikulski
www.DansResinCasting.com
Wow, Dan! Even soldering handrails! Someday I’ll have to learn how to solder.
Here are some pics of my bend, bend again, and re-bend coupler lift bars.
Front
Rear
These took to long and I can only get 1 lift ring on each side to fit. [banghead]