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Reply to "3 railing a Lobaugh Berkshire"

Sorry.  There are topics I look for, and if they are not at the top of the list I miss them.  I should flag this one, I guess.

I use .032 HH brass sheet.   I cut it in roughly 3/32" strips, straighten them and file where necessary.  Then, if they are to be caboose or Berkshire tender ladders they need the arch at the top - a 180 degree bend in the wrong direction.

Heat that end of the strip with a pencil burner torch until glowing red, then plunge into a glass of cold water.  That renders the end dead-soft, and it can easily be bent into the arch shape.  It will harden as you work it, and you may have to anneal it twice.  Good pliers help the task.

The final step is drilling holes for the rungs and soldering.  Use a magnifying glass and a good spring loaded center punch to get the holes exactly right, then drill .032.

I use a wood block with grooves for the rungs, and small machinists clamps while soldering the .032 wire in place.

Practice a bit with annealing and bending.  Don't attempt drilling without one of those $50 Harbor Freight drill presses and magnification.

Questions?  I will check back.

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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