Soldering track

[oplholik]

What wattage iron is best for soldering track? Also, I think I've seen mentioned someplace on this forum that the thickness of an NMRA gage is good to use for spacing between track pieces, am I remembering correctly? This for N gage.
Thanks.

Paul.

 

[UP2CSX]

Yes, one of the purposes of the NMRA track gauge is to make sure the two rails are in gauge with each other.

For soldering N scale track, I'd get a 25 watt pencil type unit. If you're good with soldering, you can use a 50 watt Weller but you've got be fast or you start melting ties. One of the ricks I use is two of the small Vice Grips. Clamp one one each side of the rail where you are going to solder. They make excellent heat sinks and are handy tools to have a round as well.

 

[kenw]

a 3-point track gage is a good tool to use while soldering track, it will hold the rails in gage while you solder. The way I used it was to place it so that the 2-legged side straddled the to-be-soldered joint, holding the rails on either side of the joint while soldering. Once that joint cools, turn it around and do the other rail.

 

[oplholik]

Yes, one of the purposes of the NMRA track gauge is to make sure the two rails are in gauge with each other.

For soldering N scale track, I'd get a 25 watt pencil type unit. If you're good with soldering, you can use a 50 watt Weller but you've got be fast or you start melting ties. One of the ricks I use is two of the small Vice Grips. Clamp one one each side of the rail where you are going to solder. They make excellent heat sinks and are handy tools to have a round as well.

Where does one get small vise grips. The ones I've seen look too big and heavy. Thanks.

Paul

 

[Larry]

You can get small vise grips at Sears, Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Lowes, harbor Freight & some Walmarts & targets.

 

[jbaakko]

You could always buy one of these nifty tools:
http://www.rodneysrrtools.com/n3n1info.html

I have the HO scale version, as wells as one Rodney custom made for me with half length sides to fit switches better.

 

[Larry]

Josh, I have one like that, but mine is made out of that Nylon/Plastic that extreme heat doesn't bother. It doesn't absorb heat like the metal ones. LOL
Rodneys has some nice tools. I use a 5ft straight edge for straightaways though.