Going to help a friend put a loop of track around a bar. I was thinking of Gargraves flex track. Went to the site and really did not explain how to go about it. Is there a general instruction packet around for basic questions. How to cut? How to connect? etc.
Thanks in advance
You can cut it with a hack saw, dremel, etc. Depending on the method used you may or may not need to file the ends smooth,. GG track connects with pins much like Lionel tubular track does so that part is easy. The hardest thing to deal with when it comes to GG track is bending it smoothly. It isn't terribly easy but obviously not impossible. You may want to draw your intended track centerline on the table and then do your best to slowly bend the track to match.
Fred
Its going to be running along a ledge so the route will be pretty well defined which should help. What is the best way to bend? Do you start screwing down the track and then bend by hand as you go? Seems like radius will be between 54 and 90 inches. Is that OK?
Thanks.
That's a pretty large radius. GG track gets harder to deal with smoothly the tighter the curve gets. With a radius that large you probably won't have much issue and could probably eyeball it pretty easily. Just take your time and you should be fine.
At the York Train Show last October, I talked with Gargraves' staff about bending track. They recommend a jig cut from plywood to bend the track smoothly. They clamped the 1/2 circle to a table and then bent the track around the outer edge. A saber saw on a radius bar was used to cut the plywood. Of course some filing and sanding would be needed to finish the jig.
If fact, if you emailed Gargraves, they might have instructions for making the jig.
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Dittos to all the above. I'm laying a tinplate layout in Gargraves right now. If you buy a box of GG track you'll get a sheet of bending instructions with the box. These instructions are the BEST. I looked at magazine articles, other web sites, only to find the manufacturer's instructions to work out the best. The plywood bending jig is highly reccomended. I use a Dremel to cut my track. Don't buy those cheesey Dremel cutoff wheels though. Use the Gyros brand ones that Gargraves reccomends:
http://www.gyrostools.com/Cut-Off-Wheels---Fiberglass-Reinforced/c5/index.html
I use the HT style wheels, and have found them to last a good long time.
A few pics of my first time working with Gargraves Std ga track:
Regards,
CJ Meyers
That is very helpful. A couple more questions:
1. Do you need to file the track after using the dremel?
2. Can you soldier wire on just like regular old Lionel track?
dochooter That is very helpful. A couple more questions: 1. Do you need to file the track after using the dremel? 2. Can you soldier wire on just like regular old Lionel track?
Not being great with the gyros wheel I needed to file the ends of the rail. No problem though. Yes you can solder wire to the rail. I think it best to scrape the center rail down to shiny metal though as the blackening makes (or made) it difficult for me to attach wire & solder.
When using a cutoff wheel for track, it would seem to me that an indispensable tool for the Dremel would be the flexible shaft attachment.
To shine blacken rail or dirty wheels, I have purchased Scotch Guard disk wheels at train shows. They really work.
For Gargraves track....and for that matter just about any metal cutting I use diamond blades from Harbor Freight www.harborfreight.com
There are 5 in a package, come with a mandrel and they are only $5.99. They last a long time, I bought a package in October and I'm still using the first blade. My track bends very easily but then I have gauge 1 Gargraves 3 rail for prewar Marklin. I'm sure the extra width makes the bending a lot easier.
underworld
Gargraves use to have a DVD for sale on their website that had tips and instructions for using their track.
Bill T.
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