Soldering instead of lockons

[Train-O]

Great job John,

My brother and I were taught by our father, who started soldering as a kid in the late twenties.

I don't know what the pay is, but soldering like yours would qualify you to work in an electronics shop.

Ralph

[SleeperN06]

This is the only way I'll ever do. Those cheap lockons are worthless and the terminals break off. They just aren't worth the money. The only thing I like is the indicator light so I know if the track has power, but there are other ways for that.

I normally use doorbell wire, but this piece of track was on a bridge and I didn't want the wire to be seen, so I made it look like a conduit up the bridge pier

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have a 60W temperature controlled soldering station for finer soldering.  It controls the temperature so you can solder on even delicate items.

[Train-O]

Good going Kevin,

Merry Christmas to all,

Ralph

[RRaddict]

That's great thanks for the encouragement everyone. I had no problem  with the MTH track the solder adhered to the copper points easily.

Kevin

[jeffrey-wimberly]

For things like soldering rails I use a Weller 100/140 watt soldering gun. For things like electronics and small wires I use a batther powered Weller BP645 6 watt soldering tool.

[rtraincollector]

mine is a weller 7200 it actually states intermitten use only 1 min on 4 min off

[Train-O]

Weller soldering guns are something.
I have two that were my Father's, which he gave to me.
They are from the '50s, one larger than the other and they have illuminating lamps, which give light in enclosed dark areas of electrical items.  Off hand I don't know their model numbers.
My Dad used to repair radios, phonographs and televisions.
When visiting, Dad would bring his tools (excuse me Dad) instruments, test equipment and spare vacuum tubes, especially the #5U4G vacuum tube, because he'd be asked to check some electrical item.
In a T.V., the first thing he would check was the 5U4G tube, because it was the Main Man in a T.V. set and for the most part, when the 5U4G went, so did everything else.

Maybe, he'd find a broken capacitor joint needing soldering, or some other electrical part requiring solder, so having the Weller soldering guns came in very handy and well needed.

Ralph

 

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have an old Weller 8200 100/140 gun that I've used for at least 20 years, still going strong.  The only reason I replaced the one I had previously was that it dropped from on a ladder to a concrete walk, and even a tub of epoxy wasn't enough to put it back together again!

[rtraincollector]

on my Gargraves I slide ( well I have to spread from underneath enough to get the wire up there ) the wire up into the rails then fill in with solder to hold it there so I can drill right under it and send my wire underneath out of sight. on my shelf layout i still do that but run it to the side and i just don't use contact anymore I need to get a better soldering gun as I can't really solder track together as this doesn't get hot enough it was only a cheap $14 soldering gun.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

On the big layout at the Lionel visitors center all the track is soldered. If I remember correctly they used tubular rail on that one.

[gunrunnerjohn]

Ditto, I also solder between any track sections that are going to be difficult to get to, it solves the problem of having to disassemble a tunnel or mountain to fix the track.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It shouldn't cause a problem. In fact it gives a better electrical advantage in that no corrosion can develop between the rails and the wires. I've been soldering wires to rails of all sizes over the years, from Z to G.

[lionelsoni]

I don't see any problem with soldering to any kind of track that will accept solder, as long as you don't damage any plastic parts.

[RRaddict]

I just need to know if I made a huge mistake by soldering wire directly to the contacts underneath my MTH Realtrax..  I wanted to hide the wires and lock ons as the MTH ones are very large. If I shouldn't do this please let me know I don't want to burn down the house.