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Choosing the Right Adhesive for Plastic Model Building

By Gerald Voigt on June 7, 2017 in ,

Glues, Cement and Solvents for Plastic Model Building.Our last post on glues, cements, and solvents for plastic model building promised a part two – tips to help you know which adhesive is best for your particular project, as well as useful tools for precision placement of your adhesive.

First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each adhesive …

Tube Glue or Model Cement is a gel-like substance that contains a chemical, such as Toluene, that when applied to the joining surfaces of a plastic model forms a membrane that bonds the two surfaces together. A tube of model cement is inexpensive and can be purchased at most hobby, craft and hardware stores. It’s also available in a non-toxic, odorless version. But, model cement can be stringy and messy if proper technique isn’t used. It yellows with age. It also crystallizes and loses its adhesion properties over time.

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Restore Model Railroad Equipment Using Precision Tools

By Tom Piccirillo on June 4, 2017 in

Tom Piccirillo Author and Master Model Railroader

Tom’s Corner

Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

One of my favorite hobby activities is rebuilding old model railroad equipment that I have acquired over the years from friends, estate sales, and flea markets. I think it’s really cool to transform what appears to be a pile of junk into a high quality model. So, the time came to restore a beat-up O scale brass model of a Pennsylvania P54 coach that’s been in storage for about 35 years.

While placing the model on my workbench, I got to thinking that, when you look at all the minute detail being applied to railroad models, you can’t help but notice that they have a jewelry-like quality. It’s true . . .  many of the processes used to fabricate the various components that go into detailing a locomotive, passenger car or freight car are the same as those used to produce jewelry. For example, the art of lost wax casting is a process that produces miniature parts in brass with remarkable detail and accuracy. Obviously, tools designed for use in the jewelry industry would be ideal for use in assembling highly detailed railroad models, as well.

Just as factories equip their workers with the tools needed to fabricate, position and assemble miniature components into high quality models, the scratch builder or rebuilder can benefit from the use of professional quality tools to make or refurbish high quality models in his own workshop.

Many of the parts on this model needed to be soldered back in place; they were hanging loosely . . . ready to fall off. Over 51 years of model building experience taught me that, to achieve the best results, I would need to use precision-made pliers to hold these parts while soldering them back in place. I used a Xuron® Model 485 Long Nose Plier to hold the model brake rigging components in position during these soldering operations.

Xuron® Model 485 Long Nose Plier is used to hold components during the soldering process when restoring a vintage model railroad car

This plier has fine tips that are precisely shaped to the contour needed to carefully grasp and position these detail parts during re-assembly. The jaws extend into hard-to-reach places, and the comfortable rubber handles let me apply just the right amount of pressure to hold the parts gently, yet securely. Plus, the smooth jaws prevented marring the base material. Xuron® brand  precision-made pliers make it possible to restore old models to perfect condition.

Xuron® Model 485 Long Nose Plier

 

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Q&A With Ceramic Raku Jewelry Artist Marianne Kasparian

By Abby Robey on April 23, 2017 in , , ,

Marianne Kasparian, known to most as Mak, is a ceramic raku artist and the visionary behind MakuStudio.

Marianne Kasparian Ceramic Raku Jewelry Artist

 

What inspired you to begin creating?

In second grade, I wrote a little book about myself and the about me section said, “My favorite subject is art”. I have always loved art…it’s just a part of me. Unfortunately, life got in the way. I finally hit a low point and decided to do some soul searching. I was reading the book, The Artist’s Way, and one of the things it said to do was look around your home and see what it is that you love. I loved my ceramic pieces that I made in high school and decided to take a class…and then another…and then another. For those of you also looking for that spark of inspiration inside you, I highly recommend taking a class in something that you love.​​​​​​​

What would you like clients to gain from your work?

Clients…I don’t know if I’ve ever used that word. I think of you all as my friends! And, to each and every one of you, I am truly grateful! I want you to be inspired by my work…inspired in your own work, inspired to carry on the day, inspired in the very moment. I want you to smile and feel joy.

Ceramic Raku jewelry pieces created by Marianne Kasparian

What do you find the most gratifying about designing and creating?

I love working with my hands…I need to work with my hands! I love the peace I feel when I’m working with the clay. It’s my therapy. But mostly gratifying is to be able to inspire you all. When someone (slightly grumpy, tired, or zoned out) walks by my booth at a show and decides to stop…pick up a piece…have a bit of a conversation, and then leave with a smile on their face, I feel very gratified that I could brighten someone’s day…even for a few seconds or minutes.

 

Besides raku and ceramics what are you passionate about?

I love to travel and learn about different cultures…talk to random people and hear their stories. I need to do more of this soon. I also love healthy eating and learning about functional medicine and crazy dna stuff.

 

What is your creative process? How do you develop new designs?

I grab a bunch of clay and I make stuff lol! I keep making stuff until my head stops spinning. I don’t draw out new designs, it just happens.

Marianne Kasparian creating ceramic raku jewelry

Marianne Kasparian's ceramic raku pieces before fiiring

 

What is something you love and why?

I love my GSD (German Shepherd Dog), Obi…because he loves me back! Follow him on my Instagram page (MAKUstudio) on Mondays with Obi!

MAK and her German Shephard Dog named Obi

 

Raku firing requires the pieces be fired at very high temperatures over 1,500°F (816 C).  Typical jewelry wires can not withstand this heat. Mak uses nichrome, which is a nickel chromium alloy.  Nichrome is a “resistant” wire, meaning when heated to red-hot temperatures it creates a barrier that prevents any oxidization and therefore retains it’s integrity and strength.

Marianne Kasparian using the Xuron Model 2193 Hard Wire Cutter
Xuron’s 2193 Hard wire Cutter is the perfect tool for cutting the nichrome wire.  It is designed to cut hard wires that typical wire cutters cannot handle.  The 2193 is also great for cutting memory wire, steel, music wire, and other hardened wires. 

For more about MAK and her work, visit her web site and follow her on Facebook.

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Building A Model Trolley Pantograph

By Tom Piccirillo on January 28, 2017 in

Tom Piccirillo Author and Master Model Railroader

Tom’s Corner

Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

Back in the 1960’s, when I was a teenager, I used to ride my bike several miles to view the annual model railroad show at the Central Jersey Model Railroad Club in Westfield, NJ. Although I liked watching the huge O scale steam and diesel locomotives hauling their heavy trains down the main line, I found myself highly fascinated by the operation of the model trolley cars that plied their way from one town to another on the layout . . . over, under, and around the main line tracks. I was hooked. Modeling O scale traction was to become my life-long passion. Collecting electric current from the wire suspended over the tracks in order to power the cars was the ultimate in realism, and I had to prove this could work in reliable fashion, even in model form.

Many trolley models collect the electricity using the customary trolley pole, which has a shoe or wheel pressing against the wire. As in prototype operation, the poles often come off the wire, and freight locomotives performing switching duty had to change the pole trolleys from one end to the other when they changed direction. This was a real nuisance on both the prototype and on the model. So, the pantograph was developed to collect current no matter which way the car or locomotive was moving. Reliable it was, and so remains to this day.

A pantograph is a rather ungainly, complicated device. To construct one, especially in model size, requires many forming operations to shape thin round rods into the configuration needed to complete the assembly.

building a model trolley pantograph

Anyone who has tried to build a pantograph has found that, to simply grab a piece of brass rod in a regular plier and force it into shape with his fingers, leads to disappointment. The resulting bend is rarely uniform, and kinks cause breakage. So, I use the Xuron® #575 Micro Forming Plier to bend the rod into the shape I need. A few gentle squeezes of the comfortable rubber handles are all that’s needed to form curves of exacting shape.

The Xuron® Model 575 Micro Forming Pliers bend and form wire to contruct a scratch built pantograph

The contours of the plier’s jaws act like a bending die to curve the rod without distortion or breakage. The rounded edges of the jaw grooves minimize marring the surface of the brass rod. Although the assembly is still pretty tricky to solder together, the #575 Micro Forming Plier eliminates the difficulty of forming the parts.

After giving the “pan” a coating of graphite, it’s mounted on the roof of a car and off we go . . .

Tom Piccirillo's finished model trolley pantograph

We shouldn’t overlook other model railroad uses for the #575 Micro Forming Plier. As one example, it’s especially handy for adjusting the trip pins on magnetic knuckle couplers, which must hang at the correct distance above the rails to work reliably. They’re quite small, but made of tough steel to be magnetic. This makes them difficult to bend without using the correct tool. With the Micro Forming Plier, we have complete control over the amount of bend in the trip pin to set it at the correct height.

Adjusting model railroad trip pins with the Xuron® Model 575 Micro Forming Pliers

 

 

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Glues, Cement and Solvents for Scale Model Building

By Gerald Voigt on January 20, 2017 in

Glues, Cement and Solvents for Scale Model Building.Once upon a time … or as we say now … “back in the day,” when you purchased a model kit you also picked up a tube of model cement for the assembly process. If your parents were like mine they knew when you were scale model building instead of doing your homework. Model cement had a strong distinctive odor that permeated the air throughout the house. It was the mainstay product to stick those pieces and parts together, and it all too often bore our fingerprints if we weren’t careful with how we applied the cement.

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FAQ: What Is the Warranty on Xuron® Tools?

By Abby Robey on December 29, 2016 in , , ,

How to manage a warranty claim for a Xuron® tool

Xuron Corporation guarantees its products to be free of defects in materials and/or workmanship for the life of the tool providing the tool has been used as recommended by Xuron Corporation. Unless specified otherwise, Xuron® Cutters are not intended for use on any type of hardened wire.

At Xuron Corporation, we are exceptionally conscious of the fact that you have spent your hard-earned money to purchase our products and we want you to feel you have received what you’ve paid for (in quality and value). Our internal quality control process is comprised of multiple steps from incoming inspection of raw material to testing each tool before it leaves our factory. We are, however, human and mistakes can be made or flaws missed. This is why all products manufactured and sold by Xuron Corporation come with our warranty.

If you have a problem and need to make a warranty claim:

Easy, contact us. Send an email to, sales@xuron.com or call 207-283-1401.

We will ask a few questions:

  • Where was the item purchased?
  • How long have you had it?
  • What is the claim for – brokn blade, spring, etc?
  • What do you use the tool for?
  • If the claim applies to a Cutter, what type/size material are you cutting?

We may ask you to return the tool to us for evaluation.  It’s important for us to determine if the issue is related to a defect in the material or manufacturing process, or if it is due to normal wear associated with use.

A side note, but an important one.  Always be sure the tool you are using is appropriate for your application.  This chart provides a handy guide.

reference-chart

 

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Chainmaille Pliers: Three Xuron® Brand Essentials

By Abby Robey on October 10, 2016 in , ,

The Xuron Model 475 Short Nose Pliers for chainmaille work

Every chainmaille artist owns at least two different pliers and each has his/her own preference for brand and style. Having had the opportunity to meet with many different artists and designers, we’ve isolated three essential Xuron® brand pliers for chainmaille work.

The Three Chainmaille Essentials:

Model 475 Short Nose Pliers

Short, flat blades firmly hold jump rings.  Two of these, one for each hand, is sufficient for any beginner.  Tip: When holding jump rings, try to use as much surface area of the pliers blades as possible.  This will allow extra stability and control when opening and closing jump rings. 

 Xuron Model 475 Short Nose Pliers for chainmaille

Model 487 Chisel Nose Pliers

45 degree angled blades hold jump rings without obstructing the open area of the ring.  

Xuron's model 487 chisel nose pliers with 45 degree angle blade holds jump rings without obstructing the center of the ring.

 

Model 486 90 Degree Bent Nose Pliers

90 degree bent nose lets you quickly pick up rings and allows for an easy transition into closing and opening rings while keeping the wrist in a natural position. This version was developed in joint cooperation between Xuron Corp. and HyperLynks.  

Xuron model 486 90 Degree Bent Nose Pliers for chainmalle.

 

In this video, Michelle Brennan, co-owner of HyperLynks, shows us how she uses the 90 degree bent nose pliers:

Join our monthly e-newsletter for more fun jewelry making tips and inspiration!

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Putting The Finishing Touches on Ol’ Number 36

By Tom Piccirillo on September 19, 2016 in

Tom’s Corner: Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

Author Tom Piccirillo.Somerset County Traction System’s huge interurban combine had been in the shop for two months. “Ol’ number 36” (as she is affectionately called by the shop crews) was being rebuilt from the rail up. She got new trucks, new motors, new underbody equipment, new seats, new lights and a new paint job in brilliant Traction Orange. Finishing touches involved installing the handrails . . . now that the paintwork and lettering were complete.

Even in O scale (which is 1/48th real size), handrail stanchions are miniscule cast metal bits that get placed into tiny holes drilled in the car’s door frames. Installation involves picking up the stanchion, dipping the stud-end into a small puddle of super glue, and then pushing the stanchion into the drilled hole, making sure the holes for the railing line up properly. This has to be done without the stanchions flying off into space and without crushing the soft metal from which they’re made.

This job would be difficult to perform without the proper tools. Thankfully, Xuron Corp. makes the right tools for such applications.

Xuron® TweezerNose™ Pliers with finely tapered tips are excellent for handling small items like stanchen pins

Using their Model 450 and Model 450S Tweezer Nose™ Pliers, installation of the handrails is a “breeze.” All Xuron® pliers have finely-shaped, tapered jaws that align perfectly with each other for a secure, “no-twist” grip. Fine serrations in the jaw surface of the Model 450S pliers let you pick up and hold objects gently, yet securely, without excessive, damage-causing pressure.

Xuron® Model 450 TweezerNose Plier being used to put the finishing touches on the Someset County Ol' Number 36

The smoothly operating pivot-points are optimally placed for just the right leverage, and the handles have just the right “feel,” so that you can apply the gentle, controlled grip you need to hold small, soft parts without damage.

After the stanchions were in place, it came time to install the half-hard brass wire used for the railings, so I switched to a pair of Xuron® Model 450 pliers. These pliers have the same configuration as the #450S, but the jaws have smooth surfaces that let me pick up and insert railings without leaving tools marks. A slight squeeze of the stanchion bulb with the #450 pliers secured the railings in place.

Well, here’s Ol’ number 36 ready for the evening commuter rush. She’ll be making her way from Fanwood to Lambertville on the SCTS, keeping her passengers safe and comfortable on their way home from the office.

The Somerset County Model Railroad Ol' Number 36

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Xuron® XBow Series Cutter and Pliers

By Abby Robey on August 16, 2016 in , , ,

Xuron® XBow Series Flat Nose Pliers

We are pleased to introduce you to our new, XBow Series, line of precision cutters and pliers for jewelers.  

  • Swiss-Made
  • Multiple configurations of pliers styles, including an ultra precise round nose and short chain nose
  • Cutters with three head sizes and three types of cuts (flush, full-flush and semi-flush)
  • Ergonomic hand grips

 

XBow Series Q&A

When will these be available?

We are officially debuting this new line at BeadFest/Philadelphia.  

What does XBow mean?

XBow is short for crossbow, the crossbow being a symbol of Switzerland representing strength, precision and innovation.

How is the XBow series different from Xuron’s made in the USA cutters and pliers?

The major difference is in the type of steel and the method by which they are manufactured.  The fine details of this are limited because the information is propriety, however there are also differences in the aesthetic, the hand grip, the spring style and the applications.

The cutters are further differentiated by the type of cut they offer.  XBow series cutters are compression cutters and Xuron’s USA made cutters are Micro-Shear® Flush Cutters, meaning they cut by shearing as opposed to compression.

Why offer another line of cutters and pliers?

Because jewelers like options!  

Can the XBow Series cutters be resharpened?  

Yes, they can.  We have made arrangements with a qualified re-sharpening service and can provide details as necessary.

A Brief Overview

Cutters  – Oval Head, Tapered Head, Tapered and Relieved Head and Tip Cutters

Xuron® XBow Series Cutters featuring small, large and extra large head shapes

Pliers – Short Chain Nose, Long Chain Nose, Stout Chain Nose, Needle Nose, Short Flat Nose, Long Flat Nose, Bent Chain Nose and Round Nose

Xuron® XBow Series Pliers featuring long flat nose, short chain nose and round nose configurations

Xuron® XBow Series Short Flat Nose Pliers

Xuron® XBow Series Round Nose PliersXuron® XBow Series Short Chain Nose Pliers

 

In the coming weeks we will be providing more in-depth information about this new tool series and reactions from BeadFest.

Questions?  Don’t hesitate to ask!

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Precision Pliers for Electronics and Wire Work

By Abby Robey on July 11, 2016 in ,

Every electronics assembler, engineer, repair technician and home hobbyist has a pair of pliers in his or her tool box.  There are as many different pliers types and styles available as there are applications for them.  

Choosing Pliers:

Fine electronics work requires a pliers with thin, precise blades for holding and placement of deliciate components. Xuron Corporation’s  model 450 TweezerNose is a perfect choice for this type of work.  The blades are designed to meet at the tip and close progressively as pressure is applied to the handles. This allows for ‘ tweezer-like’ manipulation and secure hold when working in small spaces.

Xuron® Model 450 TweezerNose™ Pliers have long thin blades for handling delicate electronics componets and reaching into small spaces.

Xuron® Model 450 TweezerNose™ Pliers

Maintenance and repair technicians need pliers for pulling, bending and forming wire.  A chain nose, like our model 485, is ideal for this purpose due to its wide, flat blades that provide extra surface area for gripping.

The Xuron® Model 485 Chain Nose Pliers has flat inside edges and rounded outside edges for working with electronics wire and cable.

Xuron® Model 485 Chain Nose Pliers

Other pliers are are designed for specific tasks.    Our model 496 Split Ring Pliers provide an easy solution for opening split rings (used to fasten objects together) and it will eliminate broken finger nails!

Xuron® Model 496 Split Ring Pliers is used to open split rings.

Xuron® Model 496 Split Ring Pliers

Offering the benefit of both a cutter and pliers, the models 475C and 485C Combination Pliers are useful for technicians and/or hobbyists who frequently need both types of tools for a single task, thereby eliminating tool box redundancy.

Xuron® Model 485C Combination Cutter and Chain Nose Pliers.

Xuron® Model 485C Combination Cutter and Chain Nose Pliers

The application will determine the tool choice, however, there are other factors to consider.  How does the tool feel in the hand? Is it well balanced, does it have a return spring, is the grip comfortable?   Xuron® brand pliers offer all of the above.

One final note — yes, it is correct to refer to a singular ‘Plier’ as a ‘Pliers’.  This is something that has confused us for years and we’re still getting used to it.

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