Template or jig for bending Gargraves?

Years ago I made a half dozen templates out of 1/4" masonite on my band saw. The practice at the time was to bend around the arc of the template. Long since gave them away after using them once on a friend's layout. You can get a local cabinet shop or the backshop of a lumber yard to cut you some if you lay out a pattern on cardboard.

On three layouts in the 20 years since then I have found that laying out and marking the centerline for my track on the benchwork and bending and fastening the track to the line as I advanced was a great way to lay Gargraves Flex perfectly.

Briefly,in my case I used split cork roadbed, laid the cork to the marked line and then bent the track center rail to the cork seam placing a track screw about every 9 ties.

I used a tape with holes in it to swing on a laid out pivot point and mark the centerline of my curve arcs on the benchwork--27"R hole for 054 ,36"R hole for 072,42"R for 084, 48" for 096,etc, etc. [if you are to make paterns/templates you will need to do this anyway on the masonite, plywood or whatever]. With flextrack you can lay out a curve arc for about any non-standard curve you desire to fit a unique space on the layout.
There have been several detailed write-ups on the Forum of laying and bending as you go.

I have laid some before following the centerline. Wasn't hard but it seemed like there could be an easier way. I want to try and lay down sections pre-bent.

I was thinking about an adjustable template so that I don't need to keep numerous cutout curves. I would only have one piece of small plywood that could handle multiple sizes.

If I make one I'll post a picture.

Matt,

I have laid alot of Gargraves track. The template method never seemed to be accurate enough as I needed curves of a variety of demensions.

It is possible to simply use the side of a 5 gal. paint bucket (works better if the bucket is full) to use as a guide, make your bends in multiple points along the track [on S-curves often have to do this on both sides of the track]. Thus, the track can be pre-bent to match the midline of the road bed.

I used the black drywall screws (the shortest ones) that come in boxes of 100 at Home Depot (and other home improvement stores). If you are careful you can pre-drill holes and cut a small counter-sink so the screws end up flush with the track. These screws are the same color as the ties on Gargraves track, so it is almost impossible to see them after balasting.

Remember that the screws transmit the vibration and sound from the track. If this is something that bothers you, you may want to plan on gluing the track and take screws out after the glue sets, or, you may want to plan so the screws do not end up in plywood or hard surface. This is a factor of what material is under the road bed and how long the screws are.

Hope this helps in some way!

Mike B

Seems like there would be some 'springback' after removal from the template which would be difficult to calculate in advance.

To bend Gargraves I use a tool I have a lot of money invested in... my stomach.

I wouldn't worry to much about marking a track center line, mark the edge then you don't have to subtract anything .So if you want 0-99 curves use a screw,some masonry cord and a pencil.
Make a mark at the center of the curve, where you want the curve to be. This will be the center outside of your track .Drop back from the curve 49 1/2 inches and make another mark screw the screw in at this mark and tie one end of the string around the screw go back to the other mark and tie the pencil on it so it's sitting on that mark . Now walk to the left and right as needed to make your curve. Lay the outside of your track on that line . 0-99 curves made simple.

Bend the track against your stomach as you go start at the middle and work your way to the outside.

David

Thanks for the input guys!

DPC - have you applied for a patent on your track bending tool?

Mike - I was thinking that a template would at least get me close to the curve I need and I would only have to make minor adjustments once bent. I've put down a few sections before following a center line and bending as I go. Perhaps I am over thinking the process.

John - I made a setup as you suggested and marked the various curve sizes on it.

Thanks

Someone mentioned spring back: Yes, that happens, however the moment it happens you just go back and bend it a little more.

Someone mentioned using your belly to bend Gargraves track. I have done that as well and it is also very easy for fine tuning the curve you are trying to duplicate.

Gargraves is very forgiving and if you bend it a little too far, just bend it back a little to match a curve.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Matt15237:
Thanks for the input guys!

DPC - have you applied for a patent on your track bending tool?

Mike - I was thinking that a template would at least get me close to the curve I need and I would only have to make minor adjustments once bent. I've put down a few sections before following a center line and bending as I go. Perhaps I am over thinking the process.

John - I made a setup as you suggested and marked the various curve sizes on it.

Thanks

No patent yet and my wife told/ordered me that one of my New Years resolutions would be a reduction in the size of my track bending tool

David

quote:

Originally posted by SoCalStu:
Seems like there would be some 'springback' after removal from the template which would be difficult to calculate in advance.

Some of the "spring-back" is caused by the ties. Adjust the ties and a lot of the spring-back is gone

Al

I also used the belly tool on my track. You just have to be careful to not kink it

How exactly does one go about un-kinking one's belly?

Just in case it happens to me. More than likely.

Regards,
Jonathan

My local hobby shop owner also recommended the belly fixture. I ended up using my water heater.

Haha, its a secret.

It won't kink if you start in the middle and work your way to the outside.

Now if you've got a kinky belly that comes under what my kids call TMI which in todays talk is To Much Information


David

Using all of the methods described, what is the smallest radius you have managed with Gargraves? I would like to complete a return loop for the trolley portion of my layout and thought of creating a template with 027 and then forming the return loop on the inside of that. Once the loop was created the 027 would go away. The thought is it would give me something close to the 21 inch Super Streets loop without having to try to use the "Y" turnout.

According to gargraves, o-27 is the tightest

Because I am doing an around the room layout, cutting the plywood in a ribbon style and running tight to the wall, a few inches matters a great deal. So, I print sections of the layout scale 1:1 in RRTrack and lay the track right over the paper on the plywood. It's a little time consuming because you have to take the track back off, cut the plywood, glue down the underlay and relay the track, but I can get good easements and curves this way. It's worked well so far. Having nice easements really made a terrific difference for close tracks and higher speed operation.

Mike

Hi,
For bending gargraves track, I found my water heater to work the best. Start in the middle and slowly bend the track alternating to both sides of the initial bend. You will have to cut the ends to get them square. For tight bends, I bought their sectional track, it works best and doesn't kink.