After the post about soldering, the light bulb went off. How about a listing of your favorite tools you use for anything and everything on your layout. [?] What specifically do you use the tool for?
For example, a tool that I just love is a Phillips Head Screwdriver made in Germany. It is red and black and the top rotates such that I can keep good pressure on the screw as it is turned. I use this screwdriver to take apart engines and cars on both the O gauge and G gauge layouts.
The tool I use most frequently is the good old lineman’s pliers, wrapped in special insulation to prevent electrical shock (the insulation had to be heated in water to make them slip over). I find myself using these pliers for just about everything: spiking, bending metal, cutting nails (the cutters never seem to dull after years of cutting steel), holding metal that has been heated or needs grinding, hammering, etc etc.
When you first get a pair of these pliers, they are a bit tight and need breaking in. The best way I found to break them in is to heave them repeatedly from a 10 story building onto the pavement.
They are the pliers to the extreme left with the red handles. My friend, who is a telecommunications expert, first introduced me to these pliers. They are from Home Depot and were not cheap (forgot price). Had to purchase the slip over handle covers separately.
“Flexx Tuff” gloves - keep the hands from being torn up when putting track together
digital volt-ohm meter - test the electrical connections as I try new layouts
diagonal cutters - crimping tubular track sections tight against the pin
needle nose pliers - various things
4-in-1 screw driver with two different sized phillips and flat head points
crimper - crimping spade ends onto wires
wire stripper/cutter
Cordless Drill,
More POWER AH AH AH.
laz57
Make sure you tell us what you use the tool for as it relates to trains. [:)]
To me, the 2 most essential tools are knowledge and a sense of humor. All the conventional tools I’ve used have just been pulled from my tool box. And I really can’t pick any that were “essential” But knowledge is the one thing that moves me forward when I’m in a jam or can’t figure something out. I ask a question here and get the right answer much more often than not. When I can’t seem to do anything right, a strong sense of humor comes in handy. Otherwise, my train room would have a lot of holes in the walls from things being thrown at a high velocity.
Jim
variable wattage/temperature soldering iron
wire strippers
Needle nose hobby pliers (these are one model, I bought a pair of 6" cresent at Ace instead of these 4")
Brad/Tack Hammer (for setting track nails or any other small nail)
Precision screwdriver set
Digital Multi-meter
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A foam engine cradle. No need to buy a fancy one. Start with a cheap piece of 6" X 6" X 18" cushion foam. Just cut out a central channel roughly 3" X 3" X 14" with a sharp box knife. Neatness doesn’t count either, just as long as you don’t cut through the sides.
This jig comes in handy for any number of jobs. Soldering, disassembly, lubrication, etc. It holds the work steady and saves the finish.
Bruce Webster
For scratchbuilding structures from wood slatting - this is the cat’s butt:
The “Chopper” lets you set up and cut equal length slats at a number of different angles - really great for making loading docks or structures with slatted siding.
A small pair of needlenose pliers - I use them for everything - grabbing, adjusting, bending.
A small regular screwdriver with a flared head. It can work on both smallest and the largest screws and leverage things open too.
A surgical scapel - it’s more than five years old and still extremely sharp. I use it to mark or nick very delicate items.
And if none of the above work “One Big [censored] Hammer”. [banghead] [(-D]
Mini needle-nosed vise grip pliers, long-nosed pliers, lineman’s pliers. diagonal pliers, umpteen scredrivers of all sizes, Weller soldering gun, 4 oz. ballpeen hammer, awl, wire stripper, many sizes of clamps and wooden spring-loaded clothespins, spray bottles, several drills, Moto Tool, spiral saw, allen wrenches, AC volt and amp meters, vise, table-mounted lighted magnifier, hot wire cutter,razor knives, hobby knife, razor saw, mini-files,metal straight edges, and asprin,etc, for “train-back” and “train-neck” (for after working under layout).
Is that how you do that!!![:O][wow]
that be it - would never get all these deck slats the same size without it!
This is my power unit when working on trains or accesories. It is an 8B 100 watt transformer with built in breaker, with a voltmeter and ammeter on the track terminals. The power clips are color codeed and are base white, red track (variable) and two black 15volt, one is continious, the other black clip is 15volt connected to the pushbutton PBNO switch. There is a wooden dowel to hold the clips when not in use to prevent shorting things out. This is mounted on a piece of plywood so it is portable, so after working on a loco on the bench, I can move the rig to the test track an see how the loco works on the track with a load, if in spec. In the picture the rig is attached to my test track.
Jim
For those who speak only Lionel, “base” is American Flyer for “transformer common”.
A great little screw driver that I got from The Train-Station. it has phillips head on one side, and slot on the other. The heads are made specifically for the Lionel screws and it fits about everything. Another must have is the Dremel Tool, great for cutting track and cleaning up some corrosion.
Dennis
My wife thinks I use vise grips for everything. They’re great for holding a piece while I work on it, as a clamp in a pinch, for clamping onto the sides of stripped screws for removal, for yanking out track pins, and I’m sure I use them for at least 50 other things too.
This little level has earned it’s pay with me.
Most of teh work I have done on my layout is either ascending or descending due to the small space I have to work with. I have to keep the trackside industries fully upright. I have no idea where my Dad got it, but I know it sat around his workbench for a long time.
It depends what phase of a project I’m in. If benchwork, a powered mitre saw, a cordless drill and level. For wiring I have a small pair of wire stripper/cutter than are invaluable and a VOM. With the current activity of redoing passenger cars, a good used tooth brush and an aluminum, through away, roasting pan.
As I said, it all depends what today’s job is.