I work in a train store in Ohio and a customer told me he was considering using metal studs and framework for his layout. What would be the downside to this type of constuction for model railroads? Would electrolysis be a problem down the road?
lowrents
Electrolysis occurs when there is contact between two dissimilar metals. Any wiring going thru the metal work would be insulated. The wire clamps (strain relifs) that are used to pass wires thru circuit breaker boxes could be used to avoid the chaffing that might wear away the insulation.
Standard wooden construction exposes you to the possibility of splinters. With metal studs, I would be careful about being cut by rough edges. An article run a while back in the MR indicated that metal studs are cheaper than wood. With the recent upswing in raw material prices, this may not be the case anymore.
It is recommended that wooden benchwork be painted to seal the wood from the moisture in the air. The normal seasonal variation in humidity can cause wood to swell or shrink. While this is not the case with metal studs, exposed metal should be painted to avoid rusting if the studs are not galvanized.
Metal studs would require different cutting blades in your power tools but they are also lighter in weight to transport and handle (with work gloves).