Large Scale Central

Tunnel Portals - Easy with the right tools

Track and Trestles
#1

Several of you helped me decide on a table saw this past spring. I also read everyone’s comments on pin nailers and bought a small compressor that came with 3 nail guns, one being an 18g gun. With these new tools I was able to strip down some old 4x4 PT I found into 3/4" strips and nail together some tunnel portals. I looked at some pictures I found on the net to help get an idea how to make them look. Then I just cut and nailed until I got what I thought looked good. Having the right tools made this project doable.

Ugly tunnel entrance

Testing the fit.

Good portable tools makes it a lot easier.

Another tunnel portal.

I used special walnut for the stain.

Now I got to do something to the inside of the tunnel. Thanks for everyone’s help with the tools.

#2

Thanx for the pix…looks good!

#3

Nice work.

#4

Nice work Ward. One thing is that 18 guage nail gun is a brad nailer. A pin nailer uses 23 guage wire,great for really small stuff. That brad gun should do you just fine.

Dave

#5

good looking portals…

#6

Looks good and nice work…the right tools always help the job along.
Dave M is correct …you actually have a brad nailer and this has worked for me so far.
I would probably be dangerous with a pinner :wink:

#7
David Russell said:
I would probably be dangerous with a pinner ;)
I can state for a fact that I am.

I have managed at one time or another to pin one of my fingers to the work bench…:wink:

#8

Somehow, this reply ended up in the wrong thread yesterday…

Very nice looking portals. I agree about the portable tools. Mine are not, so I load them up in the garden trailer and haul up to the railroad with a garden tractor. Much quicker working where the job is rather than traveling back and forth to the saw etc.

#9
Ken Brunt said:
David Russell said:
I would probably be dangerous with a pinner ;)
I can state for a fact that I am.

I have managed at one time or another to pin one of my fingers to the work bench…:wink:


Been there done that with 2" finish nails on a Paselode butane gun. The nail will follow the grain “EVEN ON FIR”…
blew right out of the side of the piece I was holding.

#10

Very nice work! I really like the color stain, looks great on those portals.

#11

Thanks guys!,

Now I have some experiance I am planning on a bridge and some trestles.

#12
Ward Hutton said:
Thanks guys!,

Now I have some experiance I am planning on a bridge and some trestles.


Cool!
We want pictures!!!

#13
David Russell said:
Cool! We want pictures!!!
You can't handle pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#14

:):):slight_smile:
Are you saying that with the Jack influence ??
Your right I can’t!!!
I love Jack…
Red Rum

#15
Ward Hutton said:
Thanks guys!,

Now I have some experiance I am planning on a bridge and some trestles.


You may want to consider adding a 23ga pinner to your repertoire. They are great for holding a glue-up until it is dry without showing a head or splitting the wood.
Bill

#16

Bill Gebhardt said:

Ward Hutton said:
Thanks guys!, Now I have some experiance I am planning on a bridge and some trestles.

You may want to consider adding a 23ga pinner to your repertoire. They are great for holding a glue-up until it is dry without showing a head or splitting the wood. Bill

I’ll second that. The pinner made building my first scratch built car a breeze… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/EBTTank/Wood_Flat_6_1200.JPG]

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/EBTTank/Wood_Flat_6_700.JPG)

[/url]Click to enlarge

#17

I think Ward has probably seen this pic before, but others may not. The management of the O&NF were impressed with the Moffat Tunnel (East Portal) and decided that they would have a similar portal built.

Lightweight building blocks were sawn and carved into shape. There are two tunnels on the line: this one is named Oshkosh Tunnel.

#18

http://www.lscdata.com/dirlist.php?id=great_western

This link was supposed to accompany the previous post. Ah! well. I’ll get used to things eventually.

#19

Here’s your photo Alan…

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/great_western/_forumfiles/ONF%20RR1%20003.jpg)

Looking good :smiley:

#20

Aw! Thanks John. As Sheriff B.T.Justice would say “much obliged” lol