Once I had glued down all of my Kato Unitrack, I found several uneven rail joints. I used and small hobby file to even them out and it seamed to work. After I did this I started second guessing myself and woundered if shouldn’t have filed the rail. Is fileing an acceptable method for smoothing out uneven rail joints?
Sure it is, as long as you dont file to far and get into the web. The real railroads do it but use multiple files(grinders), thats quit a show around dark.
Unless your train is bouncing or derailing I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it. After my train ride the other day I didn’t realize trains bounced so much, almost scary!
Filing the rails should be OK. The biggest concern is that those areas will become dirt collectors, which will make them a bit harder to keep clean, and which might cause conductivity problems. Just make sure to keep those areas as clean as possible!
I have filed a couple of rails, but then I go back and poli***hem with fine emery paper.
Ray may be right, the filed areas may need a close watch for cleanliness, but they also will need that if you leave them misaligned.
Jack W
I have used a dremel tool to smooth out rail joints. I use only the finest sandpaper and only running it over lightly. You have to be real careful but it works. I mainly use this to fix some bad solders I made between the rails.
Andrew Miller
Chris,
I think you made the right choice. I have tried both methods in the past and find that working on the roadbed to make sure the rails line up is the better way to go. My results have always been that if you try to reshape or force track into the position you want it, down the road you will have problems.
Also, and this relates to another topic this evening, if you experience temperature and humidity changes the track will be less likely to move out of position.
Tom
Chris,
I also use Kato Unitrack on a somewhat uneven board. I ,however nail the track down Except turnouts. Still I must use shims at some turnouts to avoid derailments.
Good Luck!
Jim
I’ve known guys to file the joints so that they would get that ‘clack’ ‘clack’ noise just like on the prototype
just whack it with a hammer
Smooth, level rail improves tracking. File off just enough of any sharp corners so a rail cleaning cloth or finger tip won’t be snagged. File the inside of the railheads to match perfectly so flanges won’t bounce. File the tops of the rails as necessaery so everything is perfectly level. Files with both ends bent up at a 45 degree angle and used like a plane across both rail heads at once are a great help keeping track level. I made one from a 10" mill file and another from a 5" ignition point file.