Uncoupling with Skewers

I have been reading some of the older posts on uncoupling and there have been references make to uncoupling using bamboo skewers. Could someone enlighten me as to how to do this?

Richard,

A quick google of “bamboo skewers and uncoupling” gives you your answer and a demo:

http://www.allpointsnorthmrrc.org/files/tech/uncoupleskewer.htm

Tom

As Tom, above showed in that animation, that’s how you do it. However, there are some “rules of physics” that must be remembered. 1) couplers need to be at uniform height, and 2) use couplers by the same manufacturer on all cars and locos. If one or both of these “rules” is not adhered to, it may often be difficult or impossible to uncouple in this manner. I know this from experience! Not having upgraded/updaded my rolling stock at this point, I have some cars with other than Kadee couplers on them. Additionally, there are some cars with drooping couplers. Both of these conditions make uncoupling either difficult or impossible. In that case it’s time to bring in “the 0-5-0”! Not very prototypical or convenient. I might also add, Kadee couplers are the way to go. they are the most reliable and durable of all the products out there, in my opinion.

One more thing I’d like to add would be that it works best when there isn’t tension on the coupler. ie make sure the cars are bunched up and not strung out.

You might want to try a 5mm mechanical pencil workes great for me

I find a small flat tip jeweler’s screwdriver works quite well. They are not as economical as bamboo skewers. The trick is to make sure the end has a flat spot to uncouple the cars.

I have made uncoupling picks by cutting the skewers in half, cutting a 4" length of 3/3" diameter dowel, drilling a hole in one end, and gluing the skewer into it. They work great! I have even color-coded the handles, because my operators like to grab the closest one, not the one they were given.

The same brand couplers always work together well though I have used different brands with success,

That’s close to what I use. A Kobalt precision screwdriver with a 1mm flat tip. It works very well.

Here is one I use on My I&S N scale layout…

Just stuck it in old ball point pin…Jerry