I am using Caboose ground throws with Atlas turn outs and need to locate a few of the throws beyond the reach of the arm. Sounds like piano wire perhaps in a copper tube is what would work. Where do you buy piano/music wire and tubing. Size recommendations? Thanks
If you have a piano retail store in your vacinity, I’d call them up and ask them. They can either tell you where to get some, or maybe the store has some extra wire around the store that they can snip off some for you.
Tom
Another source for hard wire might be your local fishing equipment / bait shop.
I got a package of sigle strand chrome nickel alloy leader wire .041 a number of years ago that I use in tortoise switch machine throws. I have no idea what fishermen in the midwest ( were I live ) would use it for but it certainly would be useful for salt water fishing.
Now that I think about maby the midwestern fisher men were all closet modelers. Just a guess. [:D]
Joe
Joe,
Maybe the midwesterners only fish in salt water! What a shame that would be.
I was lucky to find “piano” wire at a hobby shop that specializes in RC aircraft.
BB
Most hobby shops carry piano wire in several sizes. Most carry small diameter brass tubing too. I use the smallest wire size that will give me the rigidity for the situation. Usually 1/32" or so. I don’t like to put it in brass tubes unless the run is long and the wire need stiffening. I have a couple of ground throws an inch or more from the turnout arms. I left the wire on the surface.
I do this technique on my layout - except I went to a Michael’s craft store and got a slightly heavier gauge wire (than what you would make floral crafts with)… and rather than buying brass tube - I cut a piece of 14 gauge wire and carefully pulled out the copper wire. I then glue the plastic tube right to my layout ,With a hot glue gun. It’s bendable and Voila ! Works really smoothly.
At the LHS they should have RC stuff,A thing called NYE-RODS used in RC planes works real well or like stated above small plastic tubeing and wire,I have even used this systeam to move the throwout to the other side of the track!!
JIM
Walthers carries spring (piano) wire in varous diameters. It comes in pieces about 18 inches long, with several pieces in each plastic tube.
I’ve been doing this on my shelf layout. Go to RC plane section of LHS. I used a .032 push rod; used for throttle control; comes with plastic tube and flexible cable 3 ft long. I also bought .032 music wire to use as the cable in kit would not bend to use as control. I hot glued plastic tube to bottom of layout to keep it from flexing.
I was thinking of maybe standard copper tubing available at hardware stores, and plumbing supply houses. It comes in sizes down to 1/8" if that’s what you want, it’s easy to bend without kinking, can be cut to longer lengths if needed, and best of all… It’s Cheap!!!
Any good hardware store should have both piano wire and brass tubing. The large chains such as Home Depot don’t, but Ace does, at least here in Arizona.
guitar strings work well for me and can be found at any music store