Buy good quality tools!

Before installing the skeletons, I need to gap the rails near the frog. This isolates the frog. Power is then fed to it based on the way the switch is thrown. This requires an SPST set of contacts that move with the switch (ground throw, tortoise, microswitch etc). I’ll be using Caboose Industries ground throws on this module.

I would normally reach for the Dremmel for this sort of job. However, Tim Warris at Fast Tracks recommends using a jewelers saw in preference to a motor tool for gapping the rails as it is more controllable and produces a finer cut. So I bought an Xacto jewelers saw at the local hardware store. 

Although I am generally happy with Xacto knives, this Xacto saw is poorly made with a cast metal construction. Don’t waste your time or money on it.

The adjustable arm is a good idea and is a feature found on many jewelers saws. The clamping mechanism on the Xacto is a thumbscrew that tightens a small soft metal (some sort of zinc alloy) square onto the arm to prevent it from moving. However, the design is lousy. The parts fit together poorly and the soft metal gave way almost instantly when I gently tightened it, stripping the thread on the metal square. Hey presto, twenty bucks worth of junk!

You can see the little metal square just above the movable joint in the arm. This is the part that is supposed to hold the arm in place but it only contacts a tiny sliver of the main arm and it strips easily.

Out with the old…

I just ordered a new jewelers saw from Music Medic. There are plenty of others vendors on the internet who’ll sell you one for about $20. Just google ‘jewelers saw’. The one I ordered came with free shipping.

I like the look of the adjustable arm clamp. hopefully it is better than the Xacto. They also claim better blade life due to the tension adjustment shown in the  inset picture. We’ll see how it goes.

Bottom line is don’ buy junk tools. They just let you down. Buy quality tools. I’ll let you know if this new one is any better.