Soldering N Scale Flex Track

[Anonymous]

I have just purchased some N scale flex track and now looking at it am not sure how I will be able to solder something so small[?] Any suggestions or tips on how I could do this would be appreciated.

Thanx

Benajmin R.

[chaya]

'Tis easy. Use a small soldering iron, like an electrician might use, with a pointed tip. Silver solder is fine. Then buy an N-scale "soldering tool." I see one for sale at http://www.internettrains.com/n-scale-mlr-manufacturing-mlr-track-tools-n-scale.html.

The soldering tool holds your rails steady while you solder, so that if you melt any plastic the rails will not move. It also gives you a little opening to work in.

I then clip a heatsink onto the rail that I will be soldering, and then begin, making sure I can see very well even if it takes using a magnifying device. I work with quick little movements to give the plastic of the ties time to cool and harden between times.

First I "tin" both the parts to be joined by wiping a light coating of soldier over them. Then I hold the parts together and hold the iron near them until the solder melts again, joining the parts for me.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Here's another thread current on the layout forum:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23003
Includes a link to a good tutorial.

Wayne

[retsignalmtr]

when i solder rails together i put the joint together with a rail joiner. then i dab a little paste flux on the outside of the rails. then i use a 40 watt soldering iron which i touch to the bottom of the rail joiner and allow it to heat up to the rails and apply a little solder and let it run into the joint. by the way, use a good solder. not all solder is the same. i like to use the thinnest solder i can get because it melts and flows the fastest. the solder i have is just a little thicker than some heavy thread.