Can anybody give me any tips on the best way to cut flex a few years I tried the hand saw the hobby shop sold me that was a disaster i would like to use mostly flex track as there would less joints I will have enough joints with the turnouts and sidings
Get the rail snipper from Xuron. It’s the one with the orange handle. Cut the rail with the flat side of the snippers towards the piece you are going to use. This usually produces a very clean, nice cut, but I keep a small file handy to trim it up. It’s one of the most useful model railroading tools you can have around. Keep it just for rail snipping, though, so it doesn’t get nicked or worn out from cutting other stuff.
I use a dremel with a cut off wheel. first I mark where it needs to be cut, then I cut it off being carefull not to take to much off and that it is as square as possible. A little cleanup with a file and good to go.
I use a square nippers. I have used the rail nippers mentioned above and it does a good job also. The one I use came with a set of pliers and wire cutters I bought and it does as clean a job and is a little stronger as well. I agree that using the razor saw is the hard way to go. Why take two minutes when you can do it in two seconds.
The Xuron rail cutters are my favorite tool. They get the job done now!
Tim[:D]
There is a COPY CAT rail nipper from Micro Mark, DO NOT BUY THAT ONE! very bad results. They sell the Zuron alone or in a set with sprue nippers and hard wire cutters, a good value.
When using the Xuron nippers on HO flex, is it better to cut with the nippers vertical (pointing down toward the top of the rail) or horizontal (pointing into the side of the rail)? Or am I overthinking trhis?
Cut HO Vertical
Another vote for the XURON. They make quality tools. And do not cut ANYTHING else with it. Technically - nothing harder than nickel-silver or brass rail. Things liek the actuating wire from a Tortoise WILL damage the tool, it’s not hardened for those types of materials.
Don’t skimp on cheap imitation tools, they never last as long and they end up causing headaches in the long run Get good tools, they just work better, and with proper care will last a lifetime and then some.
-Randy
Also there is a top and bottom jaw on the zuron nipper as per on the instructions, I filed a scribe line on the top jaw. What is neat is marking to top of the rail with a fine mechanical pencil, Keep his in mind, if you cut one single wire with it…it will cost you ten bucks…for another on account if you buy one, works so great it will be the only way to cut tracks, gives very accurate cuts…Just my 2 cents…John
Another vote for XURON…and use it for your RAIL ONLY, or you’ll be buying another one. Go ahead, ask me how I know that!!!
Guy
My choice for cutting flex track is the dremel much faster.Xuron rail nippers are fine also too.I purchased one about a year ago was using it until i got a dremel this past xmas.
I have a Dremel and I love it! But not for cutting track. Xuron rail nippers are the way to go for me. Once I cut my first piece of track with it I sold.
to bnsfncoal: How do you know that?
Another vote for the Dremel with a cut-off wheel. I don’t know what I would do without it.
Word of caution if using a Dremel with a cut-off disc, wear eye protection.
Word of warning with ANY metal cutting tool - wear eye protection!
The Zuron tool is great, but it can produce a dangerous (to the eyesight) projectile if used to clip just a little off the end of a rail.
That said, I prefer the mechanical cutter over the cutoff wheel because it doesn’t produce any metallic dust to get into unwanted places and cause shorts. Also, you can hold the rail (or flex section) in one hand and cut with the other. I wouldn’t recommend doing that with a Dremel.
Dremel with a flexible shaft and cutoff wheel. I agree with above wear eye protection with either of the above. Also, if you’re in the basement, I recommend that you use a GFCI outlet - you can buy one that plugs into a regular outlet.
Enjoy
Paul
My choice for cutting flexi track is the dremel, it’s much cleaner and faster. That’s okay if you own a Dremel. If you don’t, the Xuron rail nippers are a great tool as well. I suppose a Dremel and some Xuron rail nippers are handy tools for a railway modellers tool box.
That’s a very good point. Just because it’s not a power tool doesn’t mean that it can’t send a small piece of metal flying across the room. When I’m trimming a small piece off the end of a rail, I make sure to hold the track and nippers so the scrap flys out and down. Sometimes it even puts a nick in the foam when it hits.