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what do you cut your track with

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Monday, October 24, 2005 9:23 AM
I'm with Doug.

I mark the tops of the outside rails, then cut straight down, leaving the flanges intact. Then I hold the track upside down in my left hand, sight with one eye across the cuts, and make the center-rail cut in line with the others. Then I flex the track until the flanges break, spread the rail apart as Doug describes, pinch the tops of the railheads flat with the tip of long-nosed pliers, put in a 3/32" punch, squeeze the rails back together, take out the punch, and squeeze a little higher if I want it to grip a track pin tightly.

It's very fast and makes no debris, particularly no steel dust.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Monday, October 24, 2005 8:36 AM
DITTO with TOM.
Dremil tool with disk.
Takes about 2minutes.
laz57
  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Monday, October 24, 2005 8:29 AM
A tin-snips / heavy duty wire cutter - then I re-open the 'squeezed' rails with a screwdriver - pop in a connector and squeeze 'em together again.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Willoughby, Ohio
  • 5,231 posts
Posted by spankybird on Monday, October 24, 2005 5:46 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by nitroboy

Good old dremmel with reinforced carbon disks.


I do the same [;)]

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:45 PM
Variable speed moto tool with a 2.5" diameer fiberglass re-enforced carbide disk. A small draftsmans triangle and sharpie marker to mark the track for cuts.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Columbus, Ohio
  • 426 posts
Posted by nitroboy on Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:31 PM
Good old dremmel with reinforced carbon disks.
Dave Check out my web page www.dmmrailroad.com TCA # 03-55763 & OTTS Member Donate to the Mid-Ohio Marine Foundation at www.momf.org Factory Trained Lionel Service Technician
  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 22 posts
what do you cut your track with
Posted by boxcar2217 on Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:30 PM
I cut my track with a 2x4 piece of wood with 3 routed out grooves for the track to sit in then clamp it down and use a hack saw. what do you use to cut 3 rail track.

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