source for piano wire

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Tony Koester gave an excellent description of how to install tortise switch motors In the February 2006 issue of MR. He mentioned using a heavier piano wire than that supplied by Circuitron; but, he didn’t give a source for it. I’ve searched Micro-Mark, Clover House, and Small Parts Inc, all with no luck.

Can someone provide a source for piano wire?

Thanks,

Ed Knecht
Fort Thomas, KY

2

Old Piano’s. think my wife would freak if I disassembled her 108 year old piano that she uses to teach.

Realistically there are loads of music stores on-line.

3

Try K & S Engineering. Listed in the Walthers book under Mfg# 370. They list music wire in sizes .015" to 1/4" in 36 inch lengths. Many hobby shops stock the K&S line of metal shapes. Piano or music wire is a generic name for spring steel wire.

4

I have related follow-up question to yours: Koester describes drilling a 3/4 inch hole through the bottom of the plywood and rat-tail filing the pilot hole through the top subroadbed. In the same issue(Feb. 06) MR, Dave Methlie in describing his trackwork for the 4 X 8 Stoney Creek describes drilling 3 consec. 1/4" holes from the top(after removing the roadbed slot) through the plywood.

Seems to me, either of these methods accomplishes the same amount of swing room for the tortoise wire. Agree/disagree?

Also, any foam/plywood thickness limits for using Tortoise machines?

Thanks,

Jim

5

Larger piano wire is used by our model aircraft brethren for control linkages. Check the powered aircraft aisle(S) in your LHS.

Any method of achieving a slot in the roadbed will be fine for the tortoise. The hole doesn’t have to be round. It’s just that drills are round, not rectangular.

If the roadbed/subroadbed is too thick, the supplied spring wire can be replaced with a longer piece. Details should be in the instructions that come with the Tortoise.

Please note that I personally do not use the Tortoise. These are things I picked up from people who do.

Chuck.

6

Ed:

My father refurbishes and works on pianos for a living. As soon as I can get ahold of him tonight, I can let you know who his vendor is.

Mike S.

7

Any local Ace Hardware has piano wire and brass tubing. Most local hobby shops also stock piano wire, aka music wire, for turnout controls.

8

Just bought some 0.032 piano wire (tempered wire) at my local ACE hardware store. They carry a fairly wide variety of sizes. Our local craft hobby shop also carries it. Forget about Home Depot, they don’t carry it.
ROn K.

9

Ed;

Spoke to my dad, his supplier is Schaff Piano Supply in Lake Villa, IL. They only sell to dealers though, and you would have to call to activate an account with them. Probably would be more expensive than you would want to spend though. If interested, website is “schaffpiano.com”. You’ll find the phone number there. You could buy wire from any of the other vendors listed above, but it would not be “true piano” wire. Basically, you wouldn’t find ACE music wire inside of a redone Knabe or Steinway selling for $30k. But you probably don’t need true piano wire. GL to you in your venture.

Mike

10

How about a straight cutting bit in a plunge router? Would that work? Sounds easier than tryint to saw from hole to hole.

11

For a lot of stuff I just use my old guitar strings, but they are too flexible for this use.

12

I use .032 for Tortoises. Loy’s carries it as well as Hobbyland Hobby stores have it.

http://www.loystoys.com/loystoys/piano-wire.html