Where can I get the wire for making handrails?

[DFORD]

I would like to be able to make a single handrail instead of buying an entire handrail set. Where can I buy stiff wire like the wire that Athearn uses to make their long handrails? Thanks.

[MisterBeasley]

Go to your local florist. Ask them for a couple of pieces of floral wire. It’s perfect, cheap, and available just about everywhere.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I’ve used paper clips

Jim

[davidmbedard]

Piano wire…available from music stores.

David

[GAPPLEG]

Piano wire…available from music stores.

David

[#ditto]

Although most hobby shops also carry it. I keep a stock of different sizes around for all sorts of uses.

[cacole]

Any well-stocked hardware store will have “music wire” in various diameters. A good hobby shop probably will, too.

[andrechapelon]

I would like to be able to make a single handrail instead of buying an entire handrail set. Where can I buy stiff wire like the wire that Athearn uses to make their long handrails? Thanks.

Precision Scale ( http://www.precisionscaleco.com/ ) carries brass wire in all kinds of various sizes. Your local hobby shop should carry it. That is, it will if it’s a real hobby shop.

This should link to the pages where the wire resides: http://tinyurl.com/y9v2z7

Andre

[santafemikie]

I like using phosphor bronze wire. It is available at most hobby shops and comes in several sizes. You can work and bend it easily with pliers, but it resists bending and deforming on your models. Creative Model Associates market this through Walthers.

Mikie

[jackn2mpu]

Piano wire…available from music stores.

David

I tried that at a few local music stores (not just Guitar Center or Sam Ash) just for grins and all I got was: “What’s that? Try a piano tuner/tech” Even the piano and organ specialist places don’t carry this kind of stuff unless they have a tuner/tech on staff, which most don’t. Of course, you could try using light gauge individual guitar strings, with the lightest non-wounds being in the .008 to .012 inch diameter.

[jackn2mpu]

I would like to be able to make a single handrail instead of buying an entire handrail set. Where can I buy stiff wire like the wire that Athearn uses to make their long handrails? Thanks.

Precision Scale ( http://www.precisionscaleco.com/ ) carries brass wire in all kinds of various sizes. Your local hobby shop should carry it. That is, it will if it’s a real hobby shop.

This should link to the pages where the wire resides: http://tinyurl.com/y9v2z7

Andre

And beware that Precision has a $30 US minimum for direct orders from them; you might want to go through Caboose Hobbies in Denver if you want to order online; their minimum might be lower.

[andrechapelon]

I would like to be able to make a single handrail instead of buying an entire handrail set. Where can I buy stiff wire like the wire that Athearn uses to make their long handrails? Thanks.

Precision Scale ( http://www.precisionscaleco.com/ ) carries brass wire in all kinds of various sizes. Your local hobby shop should carry it. That is, it will if it’s a real hobby shop.

This should link to the pages where the wire resides: http://tinyurl.com/y9v2z7

Andre

And beware that Precision has a $30 US minimum for direct orders from them; you might want to go through Caboose Hobbies in Denver if you want to order online; their minimum might be lower.

Don’t need to. The Train Shop in Santa Clara, CA stocks all the PSC wire anyone would ever need. They don’t have a 'net presence, but I have the PSC catalog and have The Train Shop’s phone number committed to memory. Besides, one of my 3 grandchildren resides with her parents not 5 miles from the place. If that’s not motive, I don’t know what is.

Andre

[Anonymous]

Go to any local welding shop or place that tig welds and they’ll run you off a few feet of it for a dollar . It works great and does’nt bend if you happen to pick up a car touching the handrails .