Fiber Pens

[flyingyankee616]

Hello,is there something that I can use other than Fiber Pens to isolate sections of track. Thankyou

[Jim Duda]

This might be fun to see all the different kinds of "insulating pins" all the folks have used in an emergency...
1. Nothing - just file the rails so a "gap" exists
2. Correct diameter toothpicks
3. Correct diameter plastic tubing
4. Etc...

Lionel sells them in O27 and O gauge diameters...not expensive at all.

[Buckeye Riveter]

The plastic sprues from models. (I think that is what they are called.) [8D]

[jkerklo]

The "fiber pins" have a shoulder that keeps the rails from shifting and touching each other. Useful, even when the track is screwed down.

I know some operators that slice the track rail with a Dremel cut-off wheel and fill the gap with hot-melt glue. I have tested this and found it satisfactory, but have not used it on my layout yet. The advantage is, it can be done without lifting the track from the platform. A wire can also be soldered to the rail without lifting the track.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[ben10ben]

I often don't find it necessary with O tubular track. Rarely can I force the sections far enough together that it would make contact anyway. I've found also that it's physically impossible for an O22 switch to contact the rails of another switch or section of track even without an insulating pin.

Keep in mind, though, that I just have a floor layout, so nothing is permanant.

[Jim Duda]

Here's a pic of the Insulating Pin Mr. Kerklo mentioned above...note the "shoulder"...
Click to enlarge it...

[Dave Farquhar]

I've found that the bamboo skewers the grocery store down the street sells are the right size to fit in O27 track. They're a bit small for O31. I have no idea if there's a standard size for those things or not but if you happen to have them around, give one a try.

In a pinch I have also used the un-cottony bit of a cotton swab. It's a little big for O27 so it might fit O31. If not, since we're already playing MacGyver here, you can wrap a couple of layers of tape around it to thicken it up a bit.

I've compensated for the lack of shoulder by shoving a small piece of cardstock in between the track sections to hold them just far enough a part. When the track is screwed down, it holds the card stock in place. If you want to make a shoulder, a dab of Elmer's glue or similar glue would do. Or, as John suggested, hot glue.

The fiber pins are inexpensive, but it seems like I'm always doing the work that requires them late at night when all of the stores that sell them are closed. The one time I went into a shop intending to buy a package of pins, they were out, so I ended up buying a package of Evergreen styrene rod that looked like it would fit and cutting a few pieces to length. But I've been just as happy with the skewers and the cotton swab bits.

[flyingyankee616]

[:D] Thanks Guys,I will try all the suggestions for they all make since. The closets train store is over Sixty Miles from me. Thanks again