I can think of about a hundred better uses for flex track. Compared to copper wire, it isn't even a very good conductor.
Any hardware or home improvement store carries solid wire used for house wiring. A couple of feet will cost LOTS less than the equivalent length of flex track rail - and will be easier to solder to.
Using the proper material is always better in the long run than jury rigging. The latter is/should be reserved for temporary emergency repairs, to be re-done (right) at the first opportunity.
Chuck (Former aircraft maintenance tech/supervisor modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
jmk3438what do you guys think?
I think you should spend a couple bucks on wire and make your life easier. But if you want to solder 60 connections to a rail for lighting, have at it.
Its probably one of the silliest ideals I have heard on here in a long time, and that says a lot.
Jim
Do you have a spare USB cord? How about a wall-wart power supply to some long gone piece of electronics? Either one of those would supply you with 'free' wire.
While using track as power distribution will certainly work.... I personally feel it's the same concept as a Crescent Hammer, or a Phillips Hammer: Will work in a pinch, but whenever possible, use the right tool for the job.
Wire is cheap and all around you. I honestly can't fathom a situation where flextrack is more readily available than wire. :/
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
Soldering with plastic ties is awkward. You can get music wire or brass rod at a hardware store.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Not a waste of flex track if it's BRASS flex track...can find that stuff for CHEAP!
Actually, if you extend the leads from your lights a bit, you could get away with one piece of flex track. You only need an extra six inches on the leads at either end of the track.
My question is: Is this the only piece of track that you ever plan to build? If so, use the flex track.
If however you plan on building more modules then it would make sense to choose other materials that you can buy in surplus to your current needs. The 'now' surplus materials will prove to be far cheaper when you build your next few modules.
Its kind of like buying your deck nails one at a time because you are only nailing one board at at time.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
jmk3438Someone told me ( dioramas) that an easy way to wire lights for structures and lamps is to use flex track as your conductor and running multiple lights along side the flex track and right to the power source. So for example, I could have a 4 foot long flex track ( 2 pieces) and solder them together and run about 30 lights going across ( parallel) what do you guys think?
jmk3438 thought of that but I find it more convenient obtaining the track.
thought of that but I find it more convenient obtaining the track.
Weird! Go to any big hardware type store (Runnings Farm and Fleet comes to mind) and buy a tube of 1/16" soldering rods. The kind used for brazing. A 1 pound tube (50+ pieces) is under $5.00
LION uses them for lots of things. Even as guard rails on the layout!
You will also see a big spool of steel welding rod which is used for a machine fed welder of some sort, it looks just like copper wire. LION does use this stuff, but you must be careful with it, or all 500 feet of it will spring off of the spool all at once. It is a very stiff wire, but not as stif as piano wire. It will not work with switch machines. LIONS use it for bus wire, and other applications where a stiff where is required.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Why not just use two bare wires? Sounds like a waste of flex track to me.
Someone told me ( dioramas) that an easy way to wire lights for structures and lamps is to use flex track as your conductor and running multiple lights along side the flex track and right to the power source. So for example, I could have a 4 foot long flex track ( 2 pieces) and solder them together and run about 30 lights going across ( parallel) what do you guys think?
remember, I don't have a big layout and I forgot to mention, I don't have trains.......were talking a small diorama 4 feet wide by 12 inches. I believe 1 piece of flex is like 4.00 each. The wires will be soldered onto the flex (100 nickel)... purchasing welding rods may not be an option for me.