N scale coupler trip pin pliers

Been searching for true N scale trip pin plyers for a long time. Been using the Kadee pliers that they claim work for both HO and N scale but they are too big for N scale coupler trip pins. I ground the points down and they are better but still not very good for N scale trip pins.
I see that MicroMart sells a set (80600) of pliers for HO and O and another separate set (80892) for N. No brand name given. Has anyone used a set of these N scale pliers from MicroMart? What do you think of them? Do they work?

Another possibility is a Xuron 90125 575. Has a similar tip and used to bend wire. Xuron claims it it can be use to adjust trip pins also. Anyone try this set of pliers?

 

I bought some concave pliers off eBay. They work good. I can’t find the listing to describe them better. I recall they were listed in jewellery making supplies.


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If you search for concave and round nose pliers on eBay you’ll find a number of options that should work for under 5 bucks,


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My ones from eBay were under "hollow round pliers" and/or "round forming pliers". There are stepped ones for fixed radii and conical ones for any radius you want.

 

I think the "forming pliers" should work for me. The plain round nose pliers rely on pressure at the coupler to form the curve. Do not want that. Pressure on the coupler itself should be zero to avoid damage to the coupler.

 

I have always just used small needle-nosed pliers on both ends of the pins without any problems.

Doug

 

Geez 'model' tools are such a ripoff unless needed for scale.
Long nose pliers are available in short and long shank versions are are strong and pliant enough to do this and many other layout work.
d

 

I'm with Doug and nd-rails - I use needle nosed pliers as well. Have been for over 30 years -- works great.

Wolf

 

If you can find a pair of smooth jawed needlenose, they come in handy for all sorts of model projects, including bending those trip pins. They're nice for bending brass wire for handrails and stuff too!

 

I cut all of my coupler trip pins off! It is a lot easier now for me to uncouple cars with either a bamboo skewer or a Rix pick, I can also pick up the car and not have the trip pins snag on the couplers.

 

What brand of cars are you guys finding that you need to bend the pins? I'm Micro-trains centric and have never had to mess with any of the pins.

 

As they come, the pins are usually OK but sometimes they hang a bit low, usually as a result of coupler sag, and snag on switch rails. I have gotten into the habit of bending them a little higher than where the the gauge sets them (.010" above the rail head) to guarantee they don't snag as it's a little unsettling. Sometimes, it can even lead you to search for other causes of derailments for far longer than you should before the realization that a coupler pin is catching and abruptly throwing a car off the track.

Doug