Xuron

makes great tools.  I’ve only needed to replace a pair of flush nippers because I used them so much.  Their heavy duty wire cutters for piano wire are a wise investment.

i don’t think Micro-Mark sells them, I don’t remember.

Nick

Xuron 489

The Xuron 489 Combination Tip Plier should work; It has one jaw side for forming rounded bends and the other for square bends.  If you want something less expensive, look for a resistor lead beding jig or check your LHS military section for a grab handle jig.  You can make your own forming jig with a wood base and wire- do a web search and there are several tutorials out there.

Here’s a MRH link that discussed making grab irons which is the same principle-   https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/grabiron-jigs-12186260

Lou in Utah

Jewelry tools can be used for

Jewelry tools can be used for handrails.   You can pick them up at a craft or hobby store.   Electronics side cutters are made for copper and cutting harder materials will damage them.  You will need a needle or chain nose pliers, a round nose pliers and a side cutter.

Micro mark has a nice set of

Micro mark has a nice set of pliers for bending wire. I bought one of their wire jigs because it was inexpensive at the time and it looks like it will work. I had not discovered the pliers till later, if I had it to do over I would buy the different pliers for the jobs needed.

make it

As a professional model builder (only two trains at work, so far) I end up making some of my own tools.  My pliers I use for handrails are Stusa NX54G.  The tip was small for tight bends but I ended up grinding and polishing them to an even finer point and now I can also bend lift bars, etc.  I use .02 brass for handrails and .012 for lift bars.  I use Xuron cutters on the brass wire.  I've done handrails for at least a dozen locomotives this way.

Paul

Follow

I'll be following this thread.

Bending you own handrails

Hi Jcubie,   I bent the handrails for this locomotive by using just a pair of needle nose pliers and flush cutting rail nippers and Brass Wire from Detail Associates. 

Brass wire is very easy to form, but still holds it's shape very well.

Build a jig

I have built jigs from styrene. If you need a 18" long grab, drill a hole one or two sizes larger than the wire for the first leg 18" from the edge, insert the wire and bend then bend the second leg over the edge. The will wear out, but it is an easy (and cheap) way to make consistant parts. 

" an easy (and cheap) way to

  another way is to use tapered point needle nose pliers and  slide the wire up or down the taper to select the desired grab iron width. A sharpie mark on the jaws makes it easy to duplicate multiple parts.Drop grabs can be made by bending the width over the jaws then turning the bent grab iron 90 degrees and grip it in the edge of the pliers to make the drop bend. ....DaveB

Here's a question

Here's a question, we are talking about hand rails, but what I need are metal truss rods for older MDC/Roundhouse freight and passenger. Most of mine have the thread and even though sealed with glue, the thread is starting to get pretty rough looking from handling.

Has anyone done these and if so, what size brass wire did you use?

@ Tim

Tichy has phosphor bronze wire that might be a little smaller in diameter and easier to bend.  Piano wire is stiff and I’m not sure how fine it gets in diameter.  1” HO = 0.0115” actual, a #80 drill is 0.0135” for reference.

Nick