Track laying tool questions
#1
Hey guys:

I'm going to be moving on to track laying at last and am starting to put all my ducks in a row. I'm modeling in HO, using Peco code 83 flex track and Peco turnouts on cork roadbed, with industrial spurs laid directly on foam, using the caulk method. I do have prior track laying experience but want to do a much better job this time. I know the NMRA gauge is essential, but I have a few questions about other tools:

1. Would the Micro-Mark tool set be worth buying? And does the ballast spreader tool really work?

2. My soldering iron isn't very good, so I'm considering an upgrade. I've never used a soldering gun before, would that be better than a conventional iron? I'd be doing electrical work with it too.

Thanks,
--O'Dave
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#2
I had the Miller ballast spreader and it was more of a pain then it was worth. Easier to just pour the ballast out and use a foam paintbrush to shape it and brush off the tops of the ties - you can cut the brush so it fits between the rails nicely for this purpose.

For a soldering tool, consider a soldering station, temperature controlled. Unlike a regular iron it doesn't continually heat while it's on, it goes to the set temperature and that's it. My 45 watt one was inexpensive and has worked well for everything from building electronic circuits and installing decoders to soldering track together. I also have a 100/150 watt gun I use to solder feeders to my #14 bus wires, as 45 watts just isn't enough for the heavy wire.

--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad of the 1950's in HO

Visit my web site to see layout progress and other information:
http://www.readingeastpenn.com
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#3
odave Wrote:... I know the NMRA gauge is essential, but I have a few questions about other tools:
1. Would the Micro-Mark tool set be worth buying? And does the ballast spreader tool really work?

O'Dave, in the past I have hand laid my track ... code 83 and code 70 rail on wood ties on homosote on plywood. I have all of the first four of those tools (from whichever company sold them back in the seventies.) I've used them all once. I did use the soldering one with the two cut-outs more than once, but if I knew then what I know now ... I would pass on those tools. They look good ... but ...

If you feel you MUST have them, PM me with your address and I'll send you the ones I have.

odave Wrote:2. My soldering iron isn't very good, so I'm considering an upgrade. I've never used a soldering gun before, would that be better than a conventional iron? I'd be doing electrical work with it too. Thanks,

I don't know what you mean by "isn't very good," but for track you need something that will heat relatively large pieces of metal quickly so as not to melt the plastic ties. And then for electrical/electronics work you need something that you can use a couple of different tips on as well as vary the temperature on, as small stuff like decoder wires and soldering magnet wires on those tiny surface-mount LED's (that make great ditch lights) can't take the kind of heat that you would use for soldering rail power feeder drops.

I have two irons and a gun. The gun was my Dad's ... I never use it ... well, I've used it in the garage under the "dashboard" of the little "flying shoebox" I'm building out there. I use the two soldering station irons ... the larger one for track and Bus Wires and the little "variable speed" one for electrical and electronics ... especially the electronics.
biL

Lehigh Susquehanna & Western 

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." ~~Abraham Lincoln
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#4
I agree...The ballast spreader isn't worth its weight in poo... 357

Also get yourself a Xuron track cutter, a nice set of jeweler's files, needle nose pliers, track nails, a small hammer (such as an upholsterer's) and an Atlas #400 "Super Saw". This should get you through most track-laying obstacles.

For ballasting, I use a small plastic spoon with the front end cut off to about the track width, a small sable brush to spread the ballast, a spray bottle, and a "squeeze" bottle to apply the diluted glue.

If you have joints on a curve, solder the two (or more) pieces of flextrack together to avoid getting a kink at the joint.

Good luck on your new venture..!! Thumbsup
Gus (LC&P).
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#5
The only tools that I've used for track laying have been a multi-purpose Atlas saw (mainly for cutting flextrack). I've simply used a small cardboard drinking cup or my fingers for spreading the ballast. I've also used a thick artist's brush for brushing ballast off the ties & rails. Otherwise, I haven't used any of those tools and I suspect you could very well get along without them.

I'm not great at soldering (a little sloppy) although I like to think it's improved over the years! The soldering tool looks interesting but again, I'm not sure if you really need it.

The ballasting, spacing tool & other tools, on that website, do look useful but, again, I suspect you could easily get by without them by simply measing your distances and using a brush and small cup, etc.

Rob
Rob
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#6
I'll vote no with the ballest spreader, the rail cutter is good and as for soldering if you have the resorces to affored it a resistance tool is the best other that that a controled temp station is my next choice.
jim
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#7
Thank you gentlemen. I think I'll invest in a better soldering iron and skip the gadgets. I've already got a rail cutter and the other tools mentioned above, so I should be all set.

Thanks again.
--O'Dave
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#8
Instead of the soldering tool, get some metal track gauges. I have some nice brass roller gauges from England that can be placed right next to the work; otherwise I use 3-point gauges.
For track work -- is it mostly soldering wires? -- I use an Iron: now with a chisel point. A soldering gun has too big a tip for HO trackwork but is useful for making a quick single joint in the wires somewhere.
I have the tools that fit over the track and use them when cutting rails if it's a situation where I can't take them up or I have to saw/Dremel with the ties on.
I also use a collection of radius templates -- I like Tracksetta for the length but they don't have a complete selection of radii.
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
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#9
Pick up a used resistance soldering station (not cheap, but won't melt ties),
Spread ballast with a clean, unused small paint brush,
Get a "rail nipper" set of flush cutting diagonal cutters.

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