I did not find an answer on point in my forum search. I need to glue some nickle silver code 83 rail (no ties) directly to styrene. I was planning on using super glue, but some of the posts mention issues with this. What are your recommendations? Also keep in mind that in my situation the joint between the two will be visible on an elevated dump structure, so something too bulky is not good, but some mess is ok (Steel Mill area) since the system will be weathered with coal dust/debris.
I started laying rail to styrene CVT ties and found Walthers Goo contact adhesive works great. CVT recommends Barge Cement but I could not find any in my area.
Pete
What issues were brought up with the CA? Personally I would use Goo or other contact-type cement such as the Barge (Ace Hardware Stores) but the Goo might show up as a thick layer (paint might cover it?). Give Gap-filling CA a try but rough up the styrene first and clean the rail with Acetone or alcohol to remove any die oils leftover from manufacturing. I’ve had CA metal to styrene joints fail if they are flexed but had good luck gluing rails to roundhouse floors where there is never any shear forces involved.
You could use a method similar to that used for mounting rails for overhead cranes, which often sat atop the upper flange of large I-beams.
Use a sharp pencil to mark the location of both flanges of each rail on the styrene, then place short lengths (about one scale foot) of .020"x.040" strip styrene alongside both lines, using solvent cement to hold them in place. Space them at 3’ or 4’ intervals. Set the rail in place between the strips, (it should be a nice, snug fit) then cement a 1’ length of .020"x.060" atop each .020"x.040" strip already in place - align the outer edges, with the excess width overlapping the base of the rail. Use a brush to also apply solvent along the entire length of the rail where it touches the styrene, then set the assembly aside to fully harden overnight. The rails, even though they’re not really glued in place (there is some bonding between the bottom of the rail and the styrene) are held in place by the overlapping bits of styrene. Once you paint and weather everything, the fact that there aren’t any bolts holding them in place won’t be noticeable.
Wayne
So far I have had good luck using Plastruct glue and Tenax 7R for gluing rails down in a round house and back shop structures. Micro Engineering recommends Walther goo when using their bridge track but the ties are styrene but I believe if you apply it sparingly it will work fine. If you plan on painting and weathering the rails it usually hides any trace of glue that may come through. when ever boding tow dissimilar materials it’s usually a crap shoot as to what works best.
I used a two-part epoxy for just this situation. It worked very well. I have also used Gorilla Glue. Just use it very sparingly…too much and it will expand like insulation expanding crack-filling foam. Marine Goop will work as well.
-Crandell
Thanks all. I am placing rail on top of an I-Beam. I like the system Wayne used. I forgot that in addition to installing the rail, it needs to “look” like the rail is secured.
Allan, you may need to check those strip sizes which I gave - I measured a piece of code 83 rail with calipers to get an idea of suitable sizes, but it’s been some time since that crane runway was built. Also, it used code 100 steel rail. I employed a similar method and the same type of rail for the crane itself, which was built almost 40 years ago.
Wayne
Pretty creepy, I was just logging in to ask you what code rail you used. I was drawing (AutoCAD) and measuring (with digital caliper) my design, which will use code 83 rail. I get the rail base at between 0.015" and 0.017". Was concerned the Code 83 rail would swim around, atleast on paper. Thanks for the heads up. I am going to test some different sizes (not at a lack of styrene around here …). Was thinking about using a 0.010 piece for the base, and the 0.020 x 0.060 for the cover you suggested, but will see. The main point is you opened my eyes to the need for the visual system. BTW that crain is superb !!! Thanks again
E.P.O.X.Y.