Filing Pointy Heads!

[pcarrell]

Please excuse my ignorance but, how do you file the rail heads on the points of a switch?

Bet you were wondering what this post was all about when you saw the subject, huh?[:)]

[davekelly]

You bet I was wondering! I thought you were talking about me! But then, I guess that would be Filing Pin Heads, or Filing Hard Heads, or Filing Dumb Heads or, well you get the idea.

[pcarrell]

A file wouldn't work on this head...maybe a grinder...

No really though, I know that you file them so that they make better contact with the rails and that way cars don't pick the points, but how do you go about doing it?

[Blind Bruce]

New turnouts should not need filing. If, by some chance they are misalligned, a very fine jewellers file may be used. Don't try bending them back in shape. It cannot be done sucessfully (at least by me) LOL
BB

[Jetrock]

I thought it was a thread about how to create a Zippy the Pinhead miniature for your layout!

Indeed, using a fine jeweler's file, gently make a smooth taper from the inside edge of the points of the turnout.

[selector]

I had a hard look at the points where I had all of my derailments. They were already laying quite nicely against the diverging rails, so I was kind of loath to mess with that surface. Instead, I chose to thin the leading edge of the point, but from the flang's perspective on the inside, as Jetrock, I think, was saying. I used a small file and just kept running it in one direction until the point really was a point, and just a bit tapered so that it was 'fattest' nearest the base, or the ties. That did the trick.

It will take some time to do each rail right. One thing I did was to take a piece of bamboo Bar-B-Que skewer and place it between the point and the dirverging rail. That kept the point away from the diverging rail and allowed me to put more oomph into each stroke and not have to worry about scoring the other rail. By oomph I mean about 6 more ounces of pressure, not 6 pounds. You'll break something if you lean into it too aggressively; hence my warning that you should resign yourself to the time it will take to do about 30-50 strokes, always watching to ensure you are not filing away all of your point!

[pcarrell]

I figured it was something like that. I had thought that I had read somewhere about tapering the top edge of the point rail in order to make it lay against the other rail better but as I have Micro Engineering guru's here before taking file in hand.

If anyone else would like to chime in with tips, I'm all ears!

Oh, and I'll put away the grinder now.

[pcarrell]

oops!

should say

...but as I have Micro Engineering switches, I thought I'd consult the guru's here...

I really should learn to read, don't cha think?

[davekelly]

pcarrell,

OK - I need to ask. Does the quote on your signature mean something along the lines of "don't just talk the talk - walk the walk."?

[Anonymous]

P Carrell,

Make sure that the points actually need filing. Many times the throw mechanism is not putting quite enough force on the points to keep them snug against the stock rails. Are you using the spring in your turnouts or did you remove it??? What are you using to throw the turnouts (switch motor, ground throw etc)?? Another trick is to spike the area around the points tightly so that nothing moves when you throw the switch except the points. Keep these spikes out of the way of moving parts.

[pcarrell]

davekelly,

EXACTLY! People around you should be able to tell there is something different about you before you open your mouth if you are truly in Christ. Not to say I'm perfect, just forgiven.

Trainnut1250,

Love the name by the way.

This was just something that I had heard a little about but only enough to be dangerous. I just want to only do this once, not fifty times, thats all.

You do bring up a good point though. I'll be using tortise switch machines and I planned on using caulk to secure the track. Since I am in Nscale and M.E. turnouts are not DCC friendly I will have to create a new throwbar from circuit board and that will eliminate that beautiful spring (gosh I hate to do that, but oh well, can't have everything).

I may just spike it anyways, can't hurt!

[davekelly]

pcarrell,

Way cool. Of course I think the general idea of that quote pretty much applies to everything - not just religeon. Wouldn't it be cool if everyone were like that?

Back to the topic at hand,

Selector,

I love that idea of using the bamboo skewer. Definately a great way to do the filing without messing up the rail or its connection to the ties. Those things are definately a whole lot cheaper than a new turnout!! It goes without saying that you are Jetrock are totally correct in using "gentle pressure" when doing the filing. Gentleness and taking your time are the keys to good trackwork. I've learned the hard way!

[selector]

Right there, too, Dave. I get anxious just trying to remember all of the "D'Oh!"s I have uttered.

As I said in another post: Sin in haste; repent at leisure. I was tired, late on evening recently and tried to change the volume on my BLI steamer. I forgot to ensure I had it in Ops mode, and everything went dead. I sweated, let me tell you.

The moral, especially when you are not completely familiar with what you are thinking of doing, is to stop. A quick recheck and forcing yourself to go slow will save dollars and all sorts of heartache.....and self-recrimination. (Who needs it, anyway?)

Thanks for the feedback, Dave. And, like you, I have a place for the philosophy in pcarrell's signature.

[pcarrell]

I hope its a good place!

[selector]

Er, uh,....yeah that was kind of ambiguous, wasn't it? Yes, most definitely a good place, one that I am very certain you would condone. [:)]

[pcarrell]

You know I just HAD to ask! [(-D]