How To: Switch Stand Control Hardened Steel Wire Piano Wire

[Chaya]

I'm ready to begin laying track. I need to start working on making the mechanical linkages for all the turnouts in my yard. The thing I'm stuck on: all the linkages I've seen call for "music wire." What in the heck is "music wire," and where would I find it? A "music store"? (Which we have none of here).

[Tudor]

Guitar and piano strings I assume?

yes, any music store, or anywhere you can buy a guitar.

[alhoop]

I don't think it's that kind of wire.
Here is a link to Walthers music wire.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?manu=370&split=30&start=90

Scroll down to middle of the page.

Al

[J WIDMAR]

Music wire is a hardened steel. I think it was also called piano wire, used in pianos. You will need at least the .047" or larger size for turn out controls. A cut off disc is the best way to cut it, I've ruined a few small nippers trying to cut it. Some hobby shops will stock it.

[Fotheringill]

Be very carefull of the diameter of the piano wire.

I have HEARD that there is nothing that can be done to extend an Atlas under the table switch control machine.

The tortoise, however may be extended by either replacing the packed wire with a longer piece. It may or may not do the trick. Has anyone more information on this?

[Pete Nolan]

Piano wire runs from 0.003" to 0.375" or more in diameter. I often use the thin stuff for rigging on ships--it's about the same diameter as 2-lb monofiliament.

Hobbies & Stuff in Albuquerque has a good supply. The R/C folk use a lot of it for pushrods, landing gear, etc.

I have a dedicated pair of wire cutters for the smallest diameters, use cutting disks for larger diameters, and a hacksaw for the big stuff.

Once I get above 0.125" diameter, I buy mild steel rods from a metal shop. Much easier to work with.

[Fotheringill]

http://www.ksmetals.com/Homepage/default.asp?Title=Products

These are the guys that have it all.

[Richard320]

I'm ready to begin laying track. I need to start working on making the mechanical linkages for all the turnouts in my yard. The thing I'm stuck on: all the linkages I've seen call for "music wire." What in the heck is "music wire," and where would I find it? A "music store"? (Which we have none of here).Ask at the hardware store. A real hardware store, not a mega-warehouse-lookout-you-might-get-hit-by-a-forklift home center.

It looks just like any wire when it's rolled up, but it doesn't kink like soft baling wire/tie wire.

[r_i_straw]

I usually run it through K&S brass tubing as a guide. I bend a small "Z" one end before I mount it to take up shock so you don't over stress the turnout. I use electrical slide swithes with a hole drilled through the slide button to hold one end of the wire for my turnout control that also routes power to the frog.

[Chaya]

I bend a small "Z" one end before I mount it to take up shock so you don't over stress the turnout.

What a great idea. I had wondered how I was going to do that. Thank you!

[gpa]

I just bought music wire at Maximum Hobby (http://www.maximum-hobby.com/store-categories-Music-Wire_2614289.html) (http://www.maximum-hobby.com), pretty cheap and real quick delivery.

Greg

[spidge]

Do you have an radio control shop in your area. Thats where I was able to purchase some. There was a KS display with many sizes.