Rail Joiner Tool

[C_O_Fan]

I made this rail joiner tool to help slide rail joiners in place

By making 2 side by side cuts with a hacksaw, 1 would be enough for N guage

the grove fits over top of the rail and the ends push the joiner in place

Much easier on the fingers and it doesn’t crimp the joiner like my needle nose pliers

The pointed end is great for spreading the plastic insulated rail joiners to make the easier

to slide on.

Do you have any special tools that make modeling easier ?

[jimrice4449]

Yes, I’ve got what I consider my best tool. It’s basically a 2’ piece of 2"X3/4" bar stock. When I explained what I wanted to a friend who’s an amateur machinist he agreed to try to do it just to see if he could! What he did was to machine 4 grooves in each of the corners the depth of 2 thicknesses of masking tape and to the width of 1", 2" and 3" (HO scale)and on the 4th grove the distance between horizontal ribs on an Athearn F-7 radiator grill

To use it I lay out two strips of masking tape, cut a straifgt line w/ a single edge razor blade, lay the appropriate groove against the tape and cut along the bar and Presto! two strips of 1 2 or 3 scale inch masking tape.

[C_O_Fan]

Yes, I’ve got what I consider my best tool. It’s basically a 2’ piece of 2"X3/4" bar stock. When I explained what I wanted to a friend who’s an amateur machinist he agreed to try to do it just to see if he could! What he did was to machine 4 grooves in each of the corners the depth of 2 thicknesses of masking tape and to the width of 1", 2" and 3" (HO scale)and on the 4th grove the distance between horizontal ribs on an Athearn F-7 radiator grill

To use it I lay out two strips of masking tape, cut a straifgt line w/ a single edge razor blade, lay the appropriate groove against the tape and cut along the bar and Presto! two strips of 1 2 or 3 scale inch masking tape.

Wow thats really cutting a fine line

So do you use the tape for masking a loco when painting ?