You'd think I could wire a dollhouse if I can teach 4th graders how to build series and parallel circuits along with electromagnets and how to make a light with a dill pickle, but the brass brad have me beat. I've gone through nearly 100 brads and only have 3 junctions created. They represent nearly 6 hours of work. Any tips on getting those brads into basswood walls?
l started with the requisite dollhouse tools: 1/8" brass brads, tape wire, pilot hole punch, brad placement tool,small brass hammer, transformer, junction splice, and lead-in wire. Got the junction slice in and working, but from then on it's been more frustration than the presidential election! Brads bend, fall out of tool, won't go in-- so I moved up to tiny needle nose pliers. Brads bend, fall out of pliers, won't go in-- so I tried using a push pin for pilot holes and that worked a bit better, and I got one junction done. Then had difficulty with next one. Started using larger hammer with mixed success. Have tried small drill hole--creates a loose fit of brad. Tried holding brad with fine tweezers, and the brads bend worse.
I know it should get easier with practice, but 6 hours seems like it should produce about a junction every 30-45 minutes. Am I being unrealistic? How long should it take? My husband thinks a larger single brad should work. I have 3/8 " brass plated brads which will work without puncturing the walls, but they are brass plated. What has worked for you? What advice can you share? I built full size kitchen cabinets with less frustration, and you really can light up a dill pickle.