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A great way of solder wire to the rail.

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  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Sweden
  • 2,082 posts
A great way of solder wire to the rail.
Posted by electrolove on Saturday, October 22, 2005 8:54 AM
I always solder to the bottom of the rails like this:



It works great. But remember to just hold the wire when you bend it 45 degrees or the ties may come off. How do I know? [:D] The best you can do is to bend the wire before you solder it to the rail. First I add solder to the wire, then the rail. And then I just hold the wire against the rail and let the heat melt the solder until it comes together. It's strong and easy to cover with ballast.
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: North Idaho
  • 1,311 posts
Posted by jimrice4449 on Saturday, October 22, 2005 11:06 AM
Looks good but I like my way better...solder feeder to rail joiner and rail joiner to both rails, g iving you a 6 foot section electrically. Do this at every other rail joiner and you have electrically bullet proof track
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Poconos, PA
  • 3,948 posts
Posted by TomDiehl on Saturday, October 22, 2005 11:14 AM
That works OK if you put in the feeders while you're laying the track. I usually put them in after the track is down, the way the club wants to do it. I drill a hole for the drop between the tie ends, strip the end of the wire, bend it 90 degrees to be parallel with the rail, then another bend in it to press it against the web of the rail. I solder it here and they're darned near impossible to find after ballasting (I know, I've tried).
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown

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