when i build turnouts, i use about 5 pc ties. I glue them all down at the same time and sand down the wood ties to make everything even. tony koester's article said to sand the ties until the gaps are filled with dust. But this isn't possible with the PC ties because I'd end up sanding off all the copper. So i do the best i can to sand the wood ties without removing too much copper.
Any suggestions on doing this a better way? maybe some tape?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
If the wood ties and PC ones are close in thickness, glue down the wood ties leaving the PC one out, sand the wood ties all the while checking w/ the PC strip as a sanding guide. When your satisfied that the wood ties are flat yet still a touch thicker than PC, glue and position those PC solderable ones and weight to place into the glue to match the finished height. This will give you a flayt surface for turnout building and not damage the soldering surface.
If the PC ties end up slightly thicker after sanding of the wood ones, sand the backside of the PC until they match (allow for slight glue thickness or they can end up above the wood. You may need to scrape/ file off the previous glue from securing the wood before sizing the PC's.
This can be done as well spacing ties when using the FastTrax jig. Sample PC tie used as a guide to sanding and fitting.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
bogp40 glue down the wood ties leaving the PC one out, sand the wood ties all the while checking w/ the PC strip as a sanding guide.
thanks, hadn't thought of that