Is there a prefered flux for soldering N scale flextrack?
Activated Rosin or just Rosin flux.
I have a container of Rosin paste flux that I dip my solder into and apply a little extra to the joint-to-be. It also comes in a liquid form but is kind of messy.
Most metals, including nickel silver model railroad track, have a touch of protective coating or lubricant of some type on it as it comes from the dealer. I use a metal scratch brush to clean the rail and rail joiners before soldering.
Don’t use the Tix flux by Micro-Mark. It has an acid base.
I recently bought a 8 oz. bottle of No. 30 SUPERSAFE liquid soldering flux made specifically for electric and electronic applications. It is water-soluble and can be easily washed off if necessary. It was purchased from H&N Electronics at www.ccis.com. The cost of the 8 oz. bottle was $9.50 plus S&H. The owner, Harold, is a model railroader and was very helpful in answering some of my soldering questions. They also sell various kinds of solder.
Be sure not to use acid flux on any electrical or electronic applications.
Bob
I use flux that I bought in a tube from Radio Shack that is made specifically for electronics. It isn’t as thick as some past flux, but isn’t exactly liquid either. I use a tiny bit on the end of a toothpick on the outside of each rail at the joint on my N scale flex and have great luck with it. I use the same stuff for attaching feeder wires. Good luck, hope this helps
Ron
Because I paint and weather my track before wiring, I use a wire brush in a Dremel took where I need to attach a feeder wire, or where I want to solder two pieces of flex track and railjoiners together. That scratches the sides of the rail down to bare metal which helps (an earlier poster mentioned a scratching tool which is the same idea). i have been using the same bottle of liquid flux for some years, applied with a cotton swab.
I use the MLR solder tool (available in HO and N) which holds the rail in place during soldering, and counters any tendency for the ties to soften and change guage
Dave Nelson
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate all the guidance!
The H&N Supersafe is what I use, definitely a good product. It’s water soluable and easy to clean up. For track, I use the paste version, and put a small amount on the bottom and outside of the rail before sliding on the joiner. This really helps keep the solder where it needs to be and from building up in the flangeway area. If you do it right, the solder will wick in around the joiner and rails like thin glues like Tenax wick in between parts being joined.
–Randy