Do tubes rust more than other track types?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

And why is that so?

2

Dave,

The tin-plate track (tin/cadnium plating I’ve heard) is steel with a thin electro-plated layer on the surface, so it rusts fairly easily if in a humid environment.

Most other track is brass or nickel silver (solid) - which only oxidizes (silver oxides are conductive - brass/copper oxides are not). Rust is destructive and oxides in these cases are not.

I have been curious of the solid steel track offered by some - but at some point it has to rust if the environment is poor. Steel is also not as good a conductor as brass or NS.

Regards,
Roy

3

Roy,

I use 027 and although it hasn’t (yet) rusted, I notice blackish spots on it that don’t come off (not dirt).

I’ve thought about eventually getting some Atlas N/S and doing an outdoor layout, btw

4

Dave,

That is likely a discoloration from a chemical (solder flux, adhesives, ?) and in some cases the start of some rust if the chemicals penetrated the tin plate.

WD-40 is a good thing for protection. WD stands for Water Displacement. They used to spray the commutator of a 110vac electric drill and then lower it into a clear bucket of water so you could watch it run. Thus it is also conductive!

Regards,
Roy

5

thanks, Roy for the tip.

I’ve done some experimentation with tubes, trying to “plate” them with solder, since rosin core solder resists rusts. The results were not too good with the soldering so I uniformly heated the entire tube with a propane torch. The solder tends to bead up and not melt uniformly. End of experiment.

6

You can get a nice uniform coat of solder on a piece of metal by wetting the entire piece, as you did, then shocking it to get the excess off, as, for example, by dropping it on the floor. A little reheating will polish it. Pure tin will stay white, while tin-lead solder will darken with time. However, I’ve never tried this with a rail.

7

Thanks, Bob.

I suppose you mean to hit the rail while it is still hot enough to slake off.

I’ll give her a whirl.

Back to the basement

8

I haven’t experimented with one yet, but there are plating kits available. That would give you a more uniform coat. Cost is about $40.