Questions, Answers & Tips - 4
better visualize
the surface I
was working
on. The thought
struck me
that a wedge
would provide
better support.
So I pulled
out a block
of soft foam
and started
shaping it with
a razor knife.
What I wound
up with is in
the photographs, which are self-explanatory (3). It works
equally well for rolling stock and diesel units.
The foam surface has a very high coefficient of friction,
particularly with other pieces of similar foam. Once placed
on the surface, the block or wedge will not readily move,
yet it provides unparalleled simultaneous access to both the
sides and the bottom of the unit under repair.
– Matt Hardey
Blade Disposal
Most model railroaders collect odds and ends that may come in
handy later. A few years ago I was pondering the safe disposal
of X-Acto blades and razor blades. Many areas still have manual
garbage pick-up and unless the blades are protected there is always
a chance that a trash hauler or landfill worker could get cut.
3a - 3b (opposite): Flexible rubber foam on
the workbench protects models from dam-
age. Cut blocks and wedges from soft foam
scraps to hold the work safely in place.
3b
As I was thinking about how to dispose of the blades safely, I just
happened to open a Tic Tac container to pop a mint. Voila! The
mints were almost finished, so I quickly consumed the rest and
tested the opening for the knife blades. They slid in perfectly. To
store the used razor blades, the paper on the container needed to
be split between the cap and the body to allow a bigger opening.
Once this was done (using a dull razor blade), the cap could be
pulled out and a razor blade safely stored.
Any small plastic container big enough for a razor blade works, but
the candy/mint containers are
heading to the trash anyway, so
why not use them?
GET $25 PER TIP
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.
For only a few minutes effort, you could fund your next piece of
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bonus of $10 per photo we use with the tip.
3a
MRH-Nov 2013
