Well, I was ordering some other stuff yesterday and added a pair of Xurons. When they come in I will cut some rails and let you know what I think
JohnnyB
If you are going to buy a pair of track cutters, do yourself a favor and buy the Xuron brand. I had a less expensive pair that I bought from Micro Mark, but they did not hold up well. The Xurons are a very high quality product that will last you a life time if you take the precaution of only using them for cutting track.
modelmaker51 loathar dehusman You can also use "flush cutting pliers" which are intended for electronics work, cutting leads off flush with PC boards. Radio Shack sells them. Are these the RS cutters your talking about?http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062764I thought about trying a pair, but didn't think they'd be strong enough to cut rail. For code 83 or smaller those will probably do, but for code 100, I would stick with the larger Xuron's. After a while, the cutting heads/blades will develop metal fatigue and can break, so if you use the smaller cutters on the larger rail they won't last as long.
loathar dehusman You can also use "flush cutting pliers" which are intended for electronics work, cutting leads off flush with PC boards. Radio Shack sells them. Are these the RS cutters your talking about?http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062764I thought about trying a pair, but didn't think they'd be strong enough to cut rail.
dehusman You can also use "flush cutting pliers" which are intended for electronics work, cutting leads off flush with PC boards. Radio Shack sells them.
You can also use "flush cutting pliers" which are intended for electronics work, cutting leads off flush with PC boards. Radio Shack sells them.
Are these the RS cutters your talking about?http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062764I thought about trying a pair, but didn't think they'd be strong enough to cut rail.
For code 83 or smaller those will probably do, but for code 100, I would stick with the larger Xuron's. After a while, the cutting heads/blades will develop metal fatigue and can break, so if you use the smaller cutters on the larger rail they won't last as long.
Those Dremels are amazing, and to me - a must for the model railroader. I have a corded one from the '70s, and a cordless one from the '90s, and they both work like a charm. The funny thing about them is that there are so many different cutters and heads offered, and over the years about 99 percent of my usage has been with the cutoff discs and the sander/grinders.
Regarding tools, my mantra has been "buy the best you can afford, take care of them, and they will last a long, long time".
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Just my 2 cents worth. I soldered some flex track the other day and after I finished I realized I soldered both rails in the same place. DUH! So I got out my trusty Track Cutters (Xuron), cut one rail, slid it down a bit, 2 swipes with the file, and re-soldered in a different place. Done. BUY THE CUTTERS!
Modeling the B&O in the 50-60's
ds137 I also kept asking myself that question until I tried a pair.... I have used several brands of dikes and linesman pliers and although they did a good job of cutting through the rail, left both ends of the cut squashed and required a lot of filing to square it up, sometimes to the point that my rail joint wouldn't match up, then file the other rail, etc... now a quick pass with a file to put the bevels on and it's ready to go. Xuron pliers were on sale at LHS for abt $10.00 which is pretty good since I don't even blink at paying $30.00 for Klien's Linesman pliers. Good tools are worth their price and Xuron's are an exceptional value. Cuts rail like butter, quality construction. You won't be sorry you spent the money.
I also kept asking myself that question until I tried a pair.... I have used several brands of dikes and linesman pliers and although they did a good job of cutting through the rail, left both ends of the cut squashed and required a lot of filing to square it up, sometimes to the point that my rail joint wouldn't match up, then file the other rail, etc... now a quick pass with a file to put the bevels on and it's ready to go. Xuron pliers were on sale at LHS for abt $10.00 which is pretty good since I don't even blink at paying $30.00 for Klien's Linesman pliers. Good tools are worth their price and Xuron's are an exceptional value. Cuts rail like butter, quality construction. You won't be sorry you spent the money.
I've used both the Xuron track-clipper and the Dremel cutting wheel, and I've found that each definitely has their uses. With either, I find that I have to use a fine file to 'dress' the cut rail end, but that can be done in just a couple of careful swipes. But use the Xuron ONLY for cutting track--I made the mistake of using it to cut through some metal shapes one time and ended up having to buy a new one. It's really designed to do only just what it does--nip rails.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I use a Dremel with a cut off wheel. I gave up on cutters long ago, either they didn't cut flush and I ended up having to file anyway, or I tore the rail out of the ties. The Dremel makes short easy work out of rail cutting.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Hi!
I finally picked up a pair of Xuron track cutters and they work just fine. However, I still finish off the cut with a file and sometimes a Dremel cut off disc. IMHO, the point of the track cutters is to minimize crushing of the rail components - but you still need to dress up the cut end.
I'm still partial to the Dremel cut off disc when doing precision work.
ENJOY,
I once caught a train in my pajama's. How it got in my pajama's I'll never know... (sorry, Groucho)
RFinch Using them to cut harder materials will certainly ruin them for rail cutting.
..as will dropping them on a concrete floor. (You needn't ask how I know this.)
But, assuming you don't do that, Xuron is indeed the best.
I agree with Randy. I have used Xuron brand rail cutters and recommend them highly. They do a better job of cutting rail than other rail cutters that I've tried. They're available thru MicroMark, sometimes at a sale price. They're well worth their price for the time and frustration that will be saved during track laying. As mentioned above, you will still need to dress the cut end of the rail with a fine toothed file. Also heed the warning above about using the rail cutter for cutting only rail. Using them to cut harder materials will certainly ruin them for rail cutting.
Bob
If you want a smooth clean cut with no crushed edge that requires only minimal filing then use use a Dremel rotary tool with a reinforced cutoff wheel. You won't have to worry about pieces flying across the room either. As with any cutting tool wear safety glasses.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
SleeperN06 Well, I guess the key words here are squared & flush. Almost all my diagonal (side) cutters have a flat side & angled side and unless maybe its the angle of edge it self, I don't see it as I mentioned before. If Chuck has worked with them both for 30 years then I might just have to try some rail cutters. I have never used the rail nippers, but if they cut like some of you say, then I will be impressed.
Well, I guess the key words here are squared & flush. Almost all my diagonal (side) cutters have a flat side & angled side and unless maybe its the angle of edge it self, I don't see it as I mentioned before.
If Chuck has worked with them both for 30 years then I might just have to try some rail cutters. I have never used the rail nippers, but if they cut like some of you say, then I will be impressed.
If you take care of rail nippers and do NOT use them for cutting anything else, you will be very pleasd with the results they give you.
As Randy says;"they are meant for cutting soft metal". For cutting piano wire, use a small hard steel nipper, with smaller blades, or you will ruin your "rail cutter". ( I know from experience!) Bob Hahn
After past layout struggling with a 'track saw' and a razor saw, the rail nippers were a godsend. Clip, clip, the rail's cut. I have the Xuron brand, a quality tool that should last forever. They are only meant for cutting soft metal, cutting something like music wire will quickly nick and dull the edge and ruin them.
Do you NEED them? No. But they sure make life easier.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thirty-odd years ago I took inexpensive diagonal-cutting pliers and filed the outer face flat with a big mill file. I have been using them to cut rail ever since.
I have also used a fine-toothed saw, when the rail was already fixed in place.
No matter how the rail was cut, the top and inner face of the railhead should be touched up to remove any burrs or irregularities. While doing that, it's a good idea to put a small bevel on the top inside corner of each railhead, on both sides of every joint. Dressing the rail base will make it easier to install rail joiners. Even rail fresh out of the package almost always has burrs on the ends.
Specialty rail nippers don't guarantee a perfect rail end. Only dressing the end with a file can do that.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
SleeperN06I noticed that everyone is always using special Track Cutters in all the track installing videos & photos that I've seen. I looked at them at the LHS and I just can't see much difference in the actual cutting edge compared to my diagonal cutters.
Both flush cutting pliers and rail nippers have a flat side and an angled side, you cut with the flat side towards the piece of rail you are cutting and the angled side towards the "waste" rail.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
DIDO! on what markpierce wrote. I've been an auto tech for 30 years (modeling for 35) and have purchased cutters from all the tool companies to use on rail. But nothing would cut flush. Had to file to get the end of the rail flat. Then came along the rail nippers, just what I needed. Makes track work cleaner, neater, and faster. Now I have many (side) cutters in my tool box. But thats OK, we techs can never have too many tools!
Well, you need something to cut rail. If you don't have a a proper saw, you'll need a rail cutter (which creates one square edge and one crushed edge). Regardless, a rail cutter is quick and simple to use compared to any saw. I'd say it is a great investment.
Edit -- I'm assuming your diagonal cutters won't create a squared, uncrushed edge. If you do, you already have a "rail cutter."
Mark
I noticed that everyone is always using special Track Cutters in all the track installing videos & photos that I've seen. I looked at them at the LHS and I just can't see much difference in the actual cutting edge compared to my diagonal cutters.
Am I missing something or should I pay the $10 for a pair?
I have maybe 10 diagonal cutters of various sizes and shapes. I do like my Atlas track saw and they are perfect for certain tasks, but I don't use them for everything.