Tools, tips and tricks

Chuck P's picture

Weller iron and soldering to frogs

As work progresses on my new layout (old was DC), I've now soldered my first feeder to the frog of a Micro Engineering switch, that little nub underneath.

jmt99atsf's picture

Layout Update: End of June 2015 - Part 3

The staging level had been completed and running for several months and I had been inching along on the main level due to a lot of diversions to my time in the layout building. But now, I have finally been making some progress on getting a major portion of the visible part of the layout in working condition. 

jmt99atsf's picture

Layout Update: Mid June 2015 - Part 2

This video is Part 2 of Layout Update for mid-June 2015.  The first part described the track installation and this part shows how the paper plan for DCC electrical installation is translated to the physical layout. 

Rio Grande Dan's picture

Power Tool-- --Hand Tools Cheap Prices for Quality tools Try "PAWN SHOPS"

Many Model Railroaders just starting out just don't have all the fancy tools you see all the older Model Railroaders using. "WELL" FLASH try Pawn shops!!! I walked into a pawn shop this past Saturday while my wife was in the fabric store two doors down from it. It was to hot to set in the Car and I didn't feel like wandering around with a bunch of Old women looking at bolts of Fabric. 

jmt99atsf's picture

Layout Update: Mid June 2015 - Part 1

The current work area is located in the center of the peninsula on the upper or third level of the layout.  All of the track and turnouts for this area have been installed and it is now ready for the fun part, known as electrical installation.

Type of trees?

What were the trees on the hillside in Tom Patterson's purple weed demo? Name and source?

A Sub-$400 eBay Laser Cutter / Engraver - my experiences and observations

I purchased a laser cutter / engraver from eBay last week and have been enjoying learninig about it and experimenting.

So far I have been more than satisfied with my purchase. 

My primary objective was to automate the production of faceplates for various electronic devices that I build.  One such is my auto-reverse controller, the BARC.  Prior to purchasing the laser cutter I spent a good bit of time making each faceplate and labeling each control.  Now I can make them up in minutes.

JC Shall's picture

What's on your workbench - June-July 2015

I haven't noticed any workbench projects posted lately.  Let's see what's going on this month.

-Jack

Louisiana Central Railroad

$300 Laser Etcher

 As if the $300 3D printer isn't enough, there's also this:

https://imgur.com/a/BvHFD

Discussion with builder:

http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/38kv1e/in_my_high_school_engineering_class_we_were_given/

He builds model airplanes from balsa, which his 2W cutter can manage.


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