Installing LEDS Help and Tips

 On my diesel shed, I threw some LEDs up in the ceiling without much thought. I used heavy green Christmas light wires with hot melt glue holding it in place. That was a mistake as when someone bends to look inside the building, they see those heavy green wires sloppily thrown up there.

 I marvel when I see modelers use tubing to run the wires to look just like the real thing. So take your time and conceal the wire inside mini conduit. Look at the real thing and capture the look of that era. Even with modern LEDs, it's still possible. Don't throw them up there thinking no one will see it! When you take a picture, everyone will see it!

I hadn't even though of a conduit, I may have to look into sourcing some of that. As I kind of lead to, this is a trial run, as practice makes perfect and I'd rather have a better final product when it really counts. Thanks!

look down the page for Norm C's shop and how clean it looks

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...54#79142442661826554

We use small brass tubing. It cuts easily and paint sticks. Dave’s wax has always held it fine.

We have also used the wax to fill small cracks and painted over it. It works well when lighting vehicles also.

Give Dave a call at Evans. He is a big help with ideas, etc.

Just an FYI always think outside the box on projects... For conduit, If you happen to be at a Ruby Tuesdays take notice of the drink stirrers small black thin plastic tubes. Great for hiding wires. The straws are larger black plastic tubes. Talk to your server and you will have years of tubing for your projects.

Also many don't know that Low temp Hot Glue comes in colors. For attaching these tubes I use Black Hot Glue I also use this to block light ie: corners of buildings led's installed in vehicles.

Hot Glue guns are not all the same they make them with extended longer tips for hard to reach places,

Google will find this for you.

NelsonW posted:

Just an FYI always think outside the box on projects... For conduit, If you happen to be at a Ruby Tuesdays take notice of the drink stirrers small black thin plastic tubes. Great for hiding wires. The straws are larger black plastic tubes. Talk to your server and you will have years of tubing for your projects. 

Get them while you can, days of plastic straws may be numbered.

Wow that shop is clean! That is some awesome work. Clearly I need to add a low temp glue gun to my arsenal. I like the idea of straws for my cheaper buildings, but brass tubing in the future should be the way to go.

Ain’t that the truth with plastic straws, pretty sure a few towns over from me already banned them.

I use magnet wire/enamel wire, like from a field coil or armature.  Comes in many colors and gauges. You can run it (even side by side) in tubes easy too, no rubbery insulation to drag during a push or pull. Thin, strong,hides well. Use a,flame to heat the ends. It burns off the coating and allows you to then solder to it. Paint with acrylic if needed.

Hot glue isn't all the same either, soft, hard, craft, wood, high heat, chemical tolerance, etc. etc.   I use hot glue on led/wire very often.

    I miss paper straws and actually preferred them for soda pop (younger folk: learn to ask for an extra or two if you don't drink fast),,A fat plastic straw in a extra thick milkshake is hard to beat though... I'll miss that.

To bend plastic straws with heat, so they dont collapse, run a piece of soft solder inside, maybe greased, and lightly heat the plastic. (Boiling water, fast flame, etc.) Then pull the solder. There is a learning curve.  Notching the inside or outside edge of the bend can leave the exposed side looking better and allow an easier bend.

I can get a tight bend on plastic, not on brass. I only do straights with metal tube, leaving corners open, which is prototypical in some old, or industrial, or control/communications applications as well.