Subsistute for Peco code 55 rail joiners?

[videobruce]

The specific rail joiners for Peco code 55 track seem to be expensive at $.10 each (24 for $2.50 best price I could find). I understand Atlas rail joiners are a different fit (narrower). Can they be used as a less expensive substitute?

 

[SilverBlade]

I'm using Atlas joiners with Atlas code 80 Flex track and Peco turnouts. They work fine.

 

[railfan]

I saw a video of a guy who made a special tool for this. He cut a piece of a single peco track rail about three or four inches long and put some kind of a small handle on it. Then he uses it to pre-widen each rail joiner before putting his track sections together.

 

[videobruce]

Elsewhere someone complained about the look of the Atlas joiners. I just picked up a package of Peco's and they are smaller than what I remember Atlas to be.