Home-made truck tuner/axel bearing reamer?

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Here's a bit of an odd question for you all. Is it possible to make a DIY truck tuner/axel bearing reamer? The internet A.I. says it can be done, but I'm suspicious of anything that says. Has anyone actually tried it? I've looked online, and they are very difficult to find. All of the less expensive models are sold out and out of production at the moment. It would be a very useful tool, but the Micro-Mark model seems a bit pricy to me.

 

[santafewillie]

We had a member here try a few years ago, but he gave up. In my opinion, even paying the Micro Mark price is worth the cost if you have a fleet of more than just a few freight cars. I have 800 of them, but the tuner is needed only once when I took them out of the box for the first time. They can be found cheaper and are just as good. I've had mine (not a Micro Mark product) for over 30 years now, and if I recall correctly, cost me $12.95 in 1993. You may find a fellow modeler with one and borrow it.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

We had a member here try a few years ago, but he gave up. In my opinion, even paying the Micro Mark price is worth the cost if you have a fleet of more than just a few freight cars. I have 800 of them, but the tuner is needed only once when I took them out of the box for the first time. They can be found cheaper and are just as good. I've had mine (not a Micro Mark product) for over 30 years now, and if I recall correctly, cost me $12.95 in 1993. You may find a fellow modeler with one and borrow it.

Yeah, I was wondering if making one was worth the effort. From what I read online it sounded like making one is more trouble than it's worth, I just figured I'd get a second opinion. I don't know anyone within driving distance who wouldn't mind loaning one to me, and I sure wouldn't want to chance sending it back and forth through the mail. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 pieces of rollingstock, not to mention steam locomotives with tender trucks, trailing trucks, and outside bearing pilot trucks. I'll definitely have to keep looking for one. Thank you for the info!

 

[Kusojiji]

I think it’ll be a good investment. I have used the heck out of mine as i was 3d printing my wagons. Good to get them old cars rolling nicely again as well.