Ski lift brass pulleys?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Does anyone know of a supplier of Brass pulleys. I am looking for either a 8 or 10mm to use for the guides on the lift.

So far everything I have found online comes from across the pond and shipping is expensive. I only need 6 or 8 pieces.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Harold. `

2

Have you looked at model shipbuilding supplies? I did a quick check and found some wood pulleys that might work for you. They might have brass ones, but I didn’t see any.

3

That is what I was checking but did not find any in the US.

Do you have any websites?

Harold

4

Harold,

I was doing some searching myself and most of them are in the UK…I wonder why that is? US can’t make brass pulleys? Anyway,I ran across this place and although they are based in the UK.they have distributors,here, TECHNOBOTS www.technobotsonline.com pulleys&cams,5,6,7,8mm pulleys…Maybe,they can help…In the mean time I’ll keep looking,LET US KNOW,IF YOU FIND ANYTHING…

Cheers,

Frank

5

Thanks Frank

This is what I keep finding. If I have to I will but I hate to pay those kind of shipping cost. I can’t beleive the US doesn’t procuce brass pullys.

6

This may sound a bit nuts but don’t ignore the pulley like parts that come with musical instrument strings, such as electric guitar strings

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Electric-Bass-Guitar-Nut-Strings-Retainer-String-Tree/563145971.html

There are also some intriguing parts that go into a piano

Some jewelers also create tiny pulleys

http://www.rockclimbingjewelry.com/charms/pulley.htm

Dave Nelson

7

Or maybe some of the pulleys that come with logging equipment, and crane parts. I’ve also made some parts by chucking a piece of sprue into a drill, like a lathe, and using files to shape what I was looking for.

Mike.

8

Mike,

Your suggestion,is fine for a static display,but,this has to be,functional with cable moving,all the time,plastic,will wear out…

Cheers,

Frank

9

Harold,

Found a couple more,http://hardware.scalemodelco.com/haren/main.html

and,http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/,,,,,,Maybe,worth a try…

Cheers,

Frank

10

I have a little more time to look but I might have to go to plan B.

As you may remember from my original drawings I made the lift wheels with 2 HO train wheels glued with the flange on the outside. This caused a slight v in the center. Since we scale the lift down I might go with the same concept except with N SCALE wheels.

I would prefer real pulleys but what the heck.

Keep thinking. I appreciate it.

Harold

11

Harold,

I agree,with you,rather than sitting on our hands,go with the N-Scale,wheels,After all don’t we have the,‘‘Best Mechanical Engineer’s’’ working on this project?? Heh,Heh…

Cheers,I’ll keep looking,

Frank

12

OK .Then try this one. What is the diameter of the center hole of an N Scale wheel.

I will have to get new axles that the wheekls can spin on.

13

Harold,

I don’t have any,N-Scale axles,but I’ll bet,whatever the size, I’m sure you can find a brass,tube that will fit…

Cheers,

Frank

14

Frank, your right about anything plastic. Just tossing out some ideas, as I’m always digging through my various parts and “junk” boxes, looking for something, that will work for whatever project I’m on. Another idea, I have a couple of the wrecking cranes, both of which are fully operational, and they have metal pulleys.

Just thinking out loud.

Mike.

15

Thats my hope. I still can’t beleive no one in the US carries the pully.

16

Here’s a site a came across a few weeks ago, looking at various gears. According to their phone number, their brick and mortar store is in NJ. :

http://www.hobbymasters.com/contact-us.aspx

Mike.

17

Mike,

Thanks for your help,I just checked,they don’t have what Harold,needs…

Cheers,

Frank

18

I find it hard to believe, too, but I believe I suggested, in your original thread, to check out the ship-builders supplies either at your LHS or on-line.

If you want pulleys suitable for the job, why not simply make your own? Determine the approximate outside diameter needed, then buy a length of brass tubing of that diameter. Buy a second length of tubing in the next smallest diameter, and a length of piano wire similar to that of the inside diameter of the smaller tubing.

Clean the inside surface of the larger tube using fine wet/dry sandpaper (use it “dry”), and do likewise to the outer surface of the smaller tube. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to clean the inner surface too far into the tubing, so you’ll probably be able to make only two or three pulleys at a time. Apply a little flux to the outer surface of the smaller tube and insert it to the necessary depth into the larger tubing, then heat and apply solder. You can use either a good-size soldering iron or a propane torch, similar to that used by plumbers.

Cut off the protruding portion of the smaller tube, then shorten the larger tubing so that only the double-walled portion remains. Insert a similar length of piano wire into the tubing (this will prevent the tubing from being crushed by the chuck) and chuck one end into a drill. Clamp the drill into a bench vise, then, with it running at medium speed, use a cut-off disc in your Dremel tool to cut a groove for the cable. Don’t allow the cut-off disc to go any deeper than the thickness of the outer tubing, and when the groove is satisfactory, use the cut-off disc to cut the pulley from the stock material. Your initial efforts may be less than satisfactory, but should improve with a little practice. Work slowly and be sure to wear eye protection, both to safegua

19

Wayne,

I like your idea,whether or not,Harold does,that is his decision…

Cheers,

Frank

20

Try googling “Miniature pulleys.” I found a number of sites that way.