Hi all. I am just about finished laying flex track on my third layout. First layout was fifty two years ago. Second was three years ago when I got back to the hobby. When I got back into the hobby I was using Atlas snap track because I was very intimidated by flex track and soldering. Well, thanks to you all and the Kalmbach publications I am laying flex track down on curves and grades like I have been doing it all my life. In fact my rails are abutting so close and smooth I have to cut a small gap in a few to allow for some expansion. My thanks for all the excellent posts on how to do it!!!
JUST put a biz. card down for space between the joints. (They should remain tight and still allow for expansion - if you don’t solder them).
SOME solder alternate joints 1-2, 3-4, etc. but DCC track-delivered signals are stronger with BUSS wiring to each & every track segment.
Nickle silver has higher electrical resistance than brass (or copper).
thanks. Iam taking home some business cards today and it gives me a good excuse to buy a Dremel
Frisco, I found a cheap source of styrene to use as rail insulators, as well as for a hundred other projects. I buy the large plastic “For Sale” signs at Wal-Mart. I cut strips of the sign about 1/16 - 1/8 wide. I don’t know the exact thickness, but if I use a thin Dremel cut-off disk (not the heavy duty ones) the strips are snug. After I cut the cap, I put a drop of thin CA on both sides, and the gap is snug enough that I use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to push the strip into the gap. I bend the strip back and forth once, and it breaks off. After the CA has set, I trip the excess with a sharp (new) Xacto blade. Once I weather the rail, you’re hardpressed to see where the gap was.
thanks. Sounds a lot cheaper than buying stryene grom the LHS.
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Do we really need expansion gaps in a room that stays pretty close to the same temperature year round?
Am I off base using the insulated rail joiners?
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gordon:
Yes. RAIL expands from running. Wood expands (grainwise) from moisture.
A HUMIDITY controlled environment does not account for electrical heat from sparking wheels.
GAP RAIL JOINTS with metal rail joiners. (Don’t solder). Insulate blocks for DC & signals or for ‘Power Districs’ with DCC.