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 Posted - June 11 2008 : 3:11:13 PM
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I've been running trains the past few days (since finishing the ballast) and I've found that there is a joint on one of the rails that is not perfectly lined up. The rail joiner on that joint is a little loose. I know that some people solder all the joints on their tracks. Could someone explain to me how to do this?? Thanx
-cheez
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Posted - June 12 2008 : 1:54:36 PM
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Not real hard, but take a light touch and patience, need soldering iron with small tip, electrial solder, it's very thin and an alloy type...hardest thing is to keep the rail down and in place..with some type of weight, not metal as it draws away the heat.., you might need flux also, first clean the track with some abrastive material, just around the joint area, emery cloth works,cut your solder in to tiny pieces, place some flux on both sides at the bottom and then place a small piece of solder on each side, apply the iron, carefully, as the heat builds the solder should start to flow, remember solder flows toward the heat. use just a lillte solder or you may have to remove extra with a file or dremel..go slowly...
I might try another approach first, try crinping the jointer first, this may take a little while to do needs to be done from the top and sides, gently, pry it back off one of the tracks and recrimp. then side it carefully back in place...Now I never tryed this but it should work...get some jb weld, mix it and apply a touch to the bottom of the rails at the joint, side jointer back in place and place a weight on top of track to make both sides same level, a little dap should hold it... I am not much for soldering, an I am pretty good at it...would try another approach first...Garret
"Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, SHARKS will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship's decks, like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved, ready to bolt down every killed man that is tossed to them . . ." by Herman Melville
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Posted - June 12 2008 : 9:17:16 PM
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| Agreed on crimping the joiner before resorting to soldering. I can solder OK but I hate doing so. At any rate, you need to have a precision touch because those plastic ties will start melting before you can say "damn it"!
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Posted - June 12 2008 : 9:18:25 PM
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| Thanx Garret. I'll give it a try when I have time and let you know how it goes.
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Posted - June 12 2008 : 9:48:22 PM
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Hey Cheez:
I'm curious too. Let me know what you learn...
-Gareth
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Posted - June 12 2008 : 10:31:36 PM
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Make sure the tip of the iron or gun is clean and polished (use 400 - 600 grit paper to clean it if it's oxidized), and tinned with bright, shiny solder. Use a moist sponge to wipe the excess solder off the tip and keep it shiny.
You might want to practice on some old sections of track if you're unsure of your skills. Some extra flux on the joint will make the solder flow quickly.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - June 20 2008 : 9:24:37 PM
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Well...ummm...it's not the prettiest thing ever, but it seems to have helped[:D]. I soldered the joints on either end of a piece of flextrack...I kinda screwed it up when I was laying track 6 months ago[:I]. But the trains seem happier now that I've soldered it[:p] Thanx for the help everyone.
-cheez
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