Hi all,
I’m using Atlas code 100 flex track and I’m new at this. How do you go about cutting and trimming the flex track? If anyone can give me an idea on how to cut the rails and how to trim the plastic rail ties so the rail joiner’s will fit would be of so much help.
Thank You All, Jeff L.
You can do it a number of ways. For about $10-20 you can by a pair of rail cutting pliars that do an exccelent job. Xuron is one brand. One side will give a you a smooth cut and the other side will give you a v cut so just put the flat side toward the side you are keeping. Earlier most of us used a Dremel tool with a cut off disc. This reaaly is inferior to the pliars today. The easiest way for me in regard to ties is to remove them slightly beyond where the rail joiner will be and the put thinner ones back under the area after the track is down. Some people use wood ones others sand doen the bottom of the plastic ones.
A wise small investment is the Xuron track cutting tool, You will probably get your monies worth if you are going to build the layout, cut the ties from underneath a couple back with a small saw, then cut the track,
Atlas also sell thin ties to put under the rail joiners… sanding the ones you cut off is cheaper…
I just use a diagonal cutter on the ties. Make sure that you use your Xuron rail cutters on rail only. Other uses will damage them…
Xuron cutters are the ticket. Make sure you cut the rails from the side instead of overhead. This produces a cleaner straight cut for me. And watch for flying pieces of rail when you cut they zing across the room. By the way, I bought the atlas rail end inserts. No go for code 100, they are code 80. Havent found them being made for 100 yet. Trimming old pieces of ties and sliding them in place has worked for me.
Thank You All,
For all the great information, I do have Xuron rail cutters picked them up a few days ago and they work great. I’m now laying my track and feeling good about it and how to go about it, thanks to you folks. My table lay-out is in a L shape 4x8 by 4x8. Also cutting the ties and trimming them down works great.
Once again thank you all for your help, Jeff
The first couple times I used the Xuron track cuting tool, the track twisted and broke the ties. I solved it by holding the rail with plyers.
As for joining rails, I highly reccomend learning soldiering techniques. It’s only hard if you don’t know what to do. It took me about 10 trys to get it right. Getting soldier to flow well is tricky. The result I look for is a very thin layer of soldier so the inside rail can travel through the ties. This also allows me to soldier the inside and outside of the rails without interfering the flanges. Always soldter the rails straight, even if it’s going to be curved. The way I soldier is touch the soldier to the rail a 1/8" from the joint, put the soldiering iron right next to the soldier, as soon as it starts to flow I move the soldier and iron to the joint and past it another 18". Sometimes I run into a rail that doesn’t want to line up, then I soldier it in the wrong position, break it apart then hold the mispositioned rail into position with a standard screwdriver and then run the iron accrossed the joint holding the rail till the soldier sets. (the soldier dulls when it sets)
I work in N Scale and I swear by my Xuron cutters. You can cut close to your lenght, then hold in place and nip just what you need until it is PERFECT (BTW I only solder, so it is perfect for me.)
I have used my dremel on occasion, and it is not to be overlooked, but for major tracklaying… buy the XURON. You will use that tool for cutting plastic parts from the sprue, cutting rail, cutting your toenails… oh wait, that was a slip.
Xuron cutters and a Dremel with a flexshaft and cutting wheel. I find using the Dremel to cut the rails and the Xuron to cut the ties works for me, but it’s all how you work. Either way, these products will make your life easy.
One other thing you MUST get is a good pair of safety goggles! The Dremel cutoff wheels break easily. Protect yourself.