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Post by Tel on Nov 17, 2009 7:33:46 GMT
Sorry for the delay - 'ad to find a bit of rail to run through it.
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Post by drjohn on Nov 17, 2009 7:47:44 GMT
That link doesn't work in the Fiddlepines - says your download is invalid or somesuch - is there no other way you can post that pic? I only get this -  I only run broilers, not layers, so new eggs don't apply! ;D ;D ;D DJ |
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Post by Tel on Nov 17, 2009 7:57:25 GMT
Gimme a few mins to put it up on Webshots and I'll post it
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Post by Tel on Nov 17, 2009 8:03:05 GMT
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Post by drjohn on Nov 17, 2009 8:05:19 GMT
OK, so you just sort of clamp the rail to something like the right radius then pull it through?
Sort of sideways rollers.
DJ
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Post by Tel on Nov 17, 2009 8:10:24 GMT
You might have to do it in two or three passes with steel, but any big-arsed vise with some rollers attached should work
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Post by drjohn on Nov 17, 2009 8:12:12 GMT
Looks easier than making 1 1/2" rollers - I'll give it a try. Thanks for that.
DJ
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Post by ilvaporista on Nov 17, 2009 16:07:50 GMT
I am sure you have written it somewhere but what is the minimum radius? For our Aluminium Flat Bottomed track in the UK we found under 30 feet radius had to be put through the rail bender. For the track made from plain bar it bends OK on it's own down to about 15' radius but you need to weld the cross ties. Having helped corrupt Stuart on the concept of plain bar see his rail bender and notes www.freewebs.com/hoginwood/railbender.htmI only made one curved section just to see how it stood up but I have no problems. |
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Post by drjohn on Nov 17, 2009 22:16:32 GMT
Minimum radius is 27 feet, so it's quite feasible with enough hands to lay the track without pre-bending.
As well as the wooden sleepers, every 6 feet I am puting a steel sleeper made from angle bar which will be bolted with a couple of bolts to the track bed. Initially the bolts will be tightened down while I lay the track and weld it to the angle bar, then when completed, I will loosen off the bolts a little to allow expansion movement (the holes will be drilled oversize from the outset.)
I just felt that some degree of pre-bending would reduce the strain on the whole structure.
DJ
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Post by drjohn on Nov 18, 2009 3:14:17 GMT
OK Tel - here's my version. Will try it tomorrow when I find something substantial enough outside to bolt it down to.  That's an offcut of the rail poked in to see if it fits. I reckon I'll have to go in very small increments of bend as the rail section looks quite hefty in the bender. DJ |
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Post by Tel on Nov 18, 2009 6:40:23 GMT
Yeah, you might have to sneak up on it by the look of things, still there's no reason for it not to work.
One thing that might ease things a bit is to space the two rollers on the moving jaw a bit further apart.
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Post by drjohn on Nov 19, 2009 3:26:16 GMT
I thought about the spacing Tel, but two reasons for keeping the rollers close - Firstly, it bends almost to the end and secondly, my heavy handed helpers are likely to overtighten and make a kink in the rail.
I tried an offcut just pushing it through with finger pressure, and 4 passes had it bent to the required radius.
DJ
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Post by Tel on Nov 19, 2009 6:49:51 GMT
Good stuff, 4 passes isn't too dusty for a job like that. It was always gonna work, just a matter of how much tweaking you had to do.
Now a little refinement, you could mill a block of something to slip between the vise jaws to halt inwards travel when the required radius is reached.
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Post by drjohn on Nov 19, 2009 7:21:00 GMT
Good stuff, 4 passes isn't too dusty for a job like that. It was always gonna work, just a matter of how much tweaking you had to do. Now a little refinement, you could mill a block of something to slip between the vise jaws to halt inwards travel when the required radius is reached. ;D ;D ;D c'mon Tel, this is just the Fiddlepines - not rocket science! DJ |
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Post by Tel on Nov 19, 2009 7:40:08 GMT
... where perfect will do - but only just!
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Post by drjohn on Nov 19, 2009 7:43:32 GMT
Not all the curves are the same radius, but I may do that for the two major half-rounds at top and bottom.
Starting to get impatient now - there's no cement waterprooing stuff available on the island, so I may just gofor old engine oil and get cracking laying the track.
DJ
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Post by Tel on Nov 19, 2009 10:55:23 GMT
I can understand that - its a wonder you haven't got a section down already
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nigelh
Involved Member
North Cyprus
Posts: 89
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Post by nigelh on Nov 19, 2009 13:12:32 GMT
It's looking really good, John - very well done.
cheers
Nigel
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Post by drjohn on Nov 19, 2009 14:39:04 GMT
Hi Nigel
Thanks for the comment and welcome to the forum -- and again many thaks for the satellite pics.
DJ
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Post by drjohn on Nov 19, 2009 14:40:26 GMT
I can understand that - its a wonder you haven't got a section down already Patience is a virtue seldom found in pith-helmetted 'borigines!! ;D ;D DJ |
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