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I am a great fan of Jack verducci I think he is one of the best in the business and I have followed what he recommends and it works for me in a hot highly humid environment. Removed all rail joiners on points (switches) and only use Hillman clamps direct on the rail none of this over the top stuff you are just looking for trouble. Clean all rails and joiners thoroughly and solder them, this is easy with a jewelers gas torch, it takes a bit of practice at first not to melt the sleepers (ties) but after a while its is easy. It is best to do all this when the track is new but when the track is old and this is my own idea, I soak the ends in white vinegar, the cheaper the better. Then remove as much as possible and rinse it in clean cold water then again remove as mucgh as possible. To solder I flood the rails and joiners where i want to solder with a liquid flux (don't use paste) I use Bakers fluid.The I heat the rail and joiner evenly from the opposite side the which I am going to solder. Then when the solder melts into the joint just a smidgen once it starts running. This not only gets rid of all joiner problems as far as conductivity is concerned but improves their mechanical strength out of sight. I have not had a single problem with anything to do with this for several years. Conductivity is imortant for the best reticulation of power to your layout and it is measured in Mho's which the opposite to Ohm's for resisteance and i have cut mine down to about 44 millimhos per 10 metres (33') of track. The old bogey of expansion problems is not applicable unless as some of the guys do have a big temperature range to deal with, high temperature is no problem as we have had over 40 degrees C here during the last mnth or so and it has just got under 20 dg C for the first time since last September. I asked Hillman about tropical use of their stuff and they asured me it is ok however several of my Hillman clamps are developing an odd green growth on them Incidentally they have a yellow handled Allen key device (costs $3) that is the best thing since sliced bread. They also have expansion clamps other specialised clamps that are a big help. Regards. Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.
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