Nice job of promoting something usefull, if I was a retailer i would use your photos in my ad.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Nice design. but would be better with the use of philips or torx head screws. Flat heads can slip out especially working at any kind of an angle.
-Brian
altterrain Nice design. but would be better with the use of philips or torx head screws. Flat heads can slip out especially working at any kind of an angle. -Brian
Precisely why I prefer Split Jaw, with the "ball cut" head on the allen wrench, works at all angles.
Tom Trigg
One thing about these types of designs I do not like, is that the pressure you must maintain to keep the driver in the screw works against tightening it, your force downwards works against the screw and the rail foot. It's hard to support the rail from underneath to counteract it.
I'm not bashing this product, it's an inexpensive alternative to more traditional rail clamps. It's a much better version of what Aristo sells, but a little more expensive.
I use split jaw exclusively on SS rail.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
It's nice that someone else is coming up with a rail clamp, but the use of a slot head screw definitely would make me think twice about using these. I have used Split Jaw and Hillman's rail clamps, and like their use of the recessed hex head screw. The down side to a slotted head to me seems to be that you would have to hold one or two fingers under the clamp so you could exert enough pressure to keep the screwdriver tip from slipping out of the groove, and when it does slip out it's going to gouge your finger(s). A phillips or hex head screw would be much preferred over the slotted head.
cacole . . . .seems to be that you would have to hold one or two fingers under the clamp so you could exert enough pressure to keep the screwdriver tip from slipping out of the groove, and when it does slip out it's going to gouge your fingers . . . . .
Remember: If you fail to use your allotted quota of bandages, You are adding to the length of unemployment lines.
I Agree Sean,
I Too, like the simple design, and also agree with the KISS principle, the screws look solid and nicely designed and the slot is nice and deep and wide for a good solid screwdriver tip to fit into, some people evidentally "maybe" just don't really know how to properly use GOOD tools, so some of the comments here expressed seem to indicate....I love their track bending tool....simply the BEST.....
I may well try some of these in the future....I like how they look from the viewing perspective of the outer side of the rail, after the ballast is added, they look more real than the other brands mentioned, that I do use now....I do think I will definitely try some of these in future expansion to my line....thanks again for all of the pictures.
Byron
Byron, if you have NEVER had a straight slot screw chew up, or slip a screwdriver in a slotted screw, send me your address, I want to come over and kneel down to you because you are the ONLY person I have ever met in my entire life that has this success.
Seriously, your insult is noted. I have good tools and am very handy. I take your comment as an insult.
Why is that if not everyone has a complete and glowing agreement with the author - someone has to feel that there is bashing going on?
I have an excellent rapport with Axel, in fact talked to him again today on a great Zimo decoder I am using from him, and the track bender is great.
But, insulting people because they PREFER a different head type on a fastener is inappropriate in my opinion.
Greg
I have to agree with Greg on this one, I too feel that a flat slot screw is indeed a poor choice for this application!
OK guys, lets play nicely else we'll have to start passing out some "time outs". I will say that I used to hate Philips head. Now my hands are not steady enough to handle a flat tip. To be perfectly honest, if it were not for cordless drills and phillips tips I couldn't even handle them, or at least very many.
To all : I didn't like Aristocraft track jointer screws But the new deeper ones are well worth the few extra dollors. BTY I have installed soooo many of the old type I've worn out two of the driver's, but they still work with the new type /
No insults intended everybody, only the observation of choosing good quality tools for a particular job and use, as I have 30 plus years of experience in the automotive industry, knowing that the choice of a good quality tool is always first and foremost in the accomplishment of any job, no matter what the fastener may be. Granted many fasteners are not designed with much forethought in many industries now days. And as Sean pointed out in his use of these fasteners, they were very useful in certain close applications, and as I too pointed out, the screws, any way as I personally observed and think, were thoughtfully designed to allow for a very adequate application, if proper good grade tools were chosen and used. They indicated good forethought in design by giving a nice deep groove, and the use of a proper good grade screw driver should yield good results in the application for which these were designed.
My first thought when I saw these was "great idea, big improvement on the Aristos (which I like for some uses), but why did they use slot heads? It's certainly workable, but slot heads are less convenient all around.
The slot head is a legacy of the days when it was hard to make a phillips head. Slots were easy and cheap; the phillips style head was hard to make. That hasn't been true for decades now, and there's a whole industry grown up around cordless drill/drivers. I'd have hated to have redone my basement with slotted screws.
Split Jaws are more expensive though and you have to buy over 100 just to be withing .40 per on Train-Li's..........
I’m impressed with the simple design of Train-Li track connectors. I didn’t feel any of the comments were insults, but options, which the author seemed to ask for. That said I’ve always liked Aristo/USA track and connectors. They look like a fishplate (only two bolts but who’s complaining). Their newer hex screws with deeper heads are a great improvement. Hillman Clamps have always worked well for me in tight places and ease switch change out, I also know the family. Many adapt to the Kiss principle, I think I’m more an old dog that won’t learn new tricks.
Have fun, Rob
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