Grab Irons... there's got to be an easier way!

Randy Stahl Jan 22, 2012

  1. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am building a large fleet of passenger cars. The cars are built with brass car sides from Athabasca,Brass Car Sides and GHQ. So far I have 350 cars nearing completion . Each car has about 12-14 grab irons. None of the grab irons are "standard" sizes. Quick math tells me I have to make and apply 4900 grab irons. Is there a better way then doing them painstakingly and slowly one at a time ?? Any nifty tools or gadgets to keep me being driven over the edge into the vodka bottle??

    Randy
     
  2. seanm

    seanm TrainBoard Member

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  3. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow , thanks , I knew I saw this someplace I could remember for ther life of me where it was ... I think its worth a shot and the price is tolerable
    (about the same price as a bottle of good vodka, with better results) I ordered it immediatly of course.

    Randy
     
  4. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    randy, if you really need that many grab irons i would give craig from blma a call and ask him to do a custom run of 5000 grab irons. maybe even a matching drill jig.
     
  5. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    Did you look at the sizes it bends? I'm not sure it's going to be really useful.

    FWIW, I've used a Feeler Gauge in the past.

    [​IMG]

    I find the measurement I want and tape it together. Definitely not perfect, but it does work.


    Jason
     
  6. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thats a very attractive option as well , I will give him a call tomorrow and see what can be done. I feel that the bending jig may be useful anyhow (besides ..I love tools) I have feeler gauges but I think for a project this size it would be not much different than making them one at a time ...
     
  7. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

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    You can custom make your own jigs. I would use HO scale spikes mounted in plywood to bend them up. It would be easy to have a few different jigs mounted on the same board to cover the different leingts that you will be needing....Mike
    PS the bottle of Vodka would be a good compainion :)
     

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