Some steel rail came with some free stuff I got. I am thinking of cutting into prototypical lengths for loads, yard and trackside scenery.
Did a quick search, but found nothing on cutting it. My feeling is that it is too hard for rail nippers. Is the best way to cut it a Dremel cut off tool?
Am I correct thar rails were 39' long and most often carried in gondolas?
Thank you,
Richard
I agree about the rail nippers being too delicate.
A cut-off tool would work. Or you could use a more "aggressive" diagonal cutter, and use a grinder to make the ends flush and square.
Yup, 39' long. I'd go with gons, though flats would work as long as you block it so it can't slide off the ends.
Ed
A cut-off disc would work well, but you could also do a quick job of it with a hacksaw...clamp the rail in a bench vise with 39' (HO) plus a bit, projecting from the vise, and have at it. It will likely be faster than the cut-off disc. You could use the cut-off disc to remove burrs from the cut ends, but a needle file could do the same job, too.
Wayne
I'd probably use my 4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel. Clean up the ends with a file. Dremel will work too, as with the hack saw.
Mike.
My You Tube
I'd have to say I agree with some good repeating advice confirming your original first instinct Richard.
Sometimes I prefer the step up from carbide. I bought a bunch of these when they were cheap.
Whenever in doubt, I get the industrial diamonds out. They cut clean
Especially when cutting near finished work that could be jacked from a kickback of a primitive edge.
TF
All the answers seem to assume this is steel rail and is HO scale. If it is steel it would be rusted to some extent. It might just be Nickel silver. Confirmation of the scale might offer additional methods
Your feelings are correct. The Xuron rail nippers are made to cut brass or nickel silver. Cutting steel will dull rail nippers badly. Cutting disk in a Dremel works. Hacksaw, razor saw, Zona saw all work if you get the finest tooth blade they make. Saws work best if you secure the rail in a vise.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
ndbprrAll the answers seem to assume this is steel rail and is HO scale.
Actually, the O.P. said it was steel.
Years ago, I bought some steel rail for use on the two track skip bridge of the blast furnace that I was building...
The rail was blackened, and while I eventually abandonned the project, I had lots of that rail left. Some of it ended up near the car shop in Lowbanks...
...and 50 years later, it shows only minor rusting.
I used the same steel rail for the crane and its runway behind the Lowbanks engine shop (it was originally built for the casthouse of the blast furnace, but I modified it to better ressemble some of the cranes that I operated)...
I used fine sandpaper to remove the blackener from the railtops, and there's no rust showing, even after all this time.
This photo, showing a pack of rare earth magnets clinging to the rail, confirms that it is actual steel rail...
Thankk you for all the suggestions. Now to figure out how to mount my vice with a stop so I don't have to measure eachone.
Thanks again,
PS: Thanks to the moderator that moved this for me.
Anyone using cut off discs should wear eye protection.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Track fiddlerWhenever in doubt, I get the industrial diamonds out.
Agree 100%
BigDaddyAnyone using cut off discs should wear eye protection.
Agree 100% again.
-Kevin
Living the dream.