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Laying K flex track?
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Offline tim01433  
#1 Posted : 20 October 2008 03:47:34(UTC)
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tim01433


Joined: 17/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 145
Location: , Oklahoma
I'm getting ready to lay the flex track, and need advice. Is it possible to stagger the joints, or do I have to trim the rail after it becomes longer due to bending? I've laid 100's of feet of standard HO flex, and have also handlaid track for over 25 years, but this K track is new to me.

Thanks, Tim
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#2 Posted : 20 October 2008 05:01:41(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
here are my tips on laying K-track:

http://layout.mixmox.com...20020106Ktrackcuttingjig
http://layout.mixmox.com/1/laying-track

bending will typically make one running rail longer than the other. One can stagger them if you want, I place them in place and then mark where to cut with a sharpie pen.
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline rschaffr  
#3 Posted : 20 October 2008 05:07:33(UTC)
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rschaffr

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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 5,181
Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
I also cut them even so the next piecs starts out with the rails even. If the curve is not too extreme and you only have a few ties to feed the next track through, I suppose you could stagger them.
-Ron
Digital, Epoch IV-V(K-track/CS3/6021Connect/60216051), Epoch III(C-track/6021/6036/6051)
http://www.sem-co.com/~rschaffr/trains/trains.html
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Offline tim01433  
#4 Posted : 20 October 2008 06:13:01(UTC)
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tim01433


Joined: 17/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 145
Location: , Oklahoma
Thank you Dale for the informative link!

Tim Schreiner
www.prancingponysales.com
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Offline Goofy  
#5 Posted : 20 October 2008 16:55:13(UTC)
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Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,277
When i did had an Marklin layout for many years ago,i did used K flextrack.

I did used Xuron scissors,by cutting flextrack.

After that did i using an file,by file on the sides of flextrack.

Placement flextrack on the board as useful.

Fasting flextrack with screw or nail.

Keep on by connecting with severals tracks.

Placement ballast on the tracks and some material to finish work,to look like from after prototyp.

To feeding power to the tracks,i connecting under the tracks.

You can also cut some millimetres at the top of sleepers and soldering on it,by connecting it to the next powerfeeding as closest as possible.

It´s enough by using 0,25 mm as the powerfeeding to the tracks between them,when you are using flextrack.

0,25 mm can been holding up to 5-6 amps by using power.

Goofy
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#6 Posted : 20 October 2008 18:12:52(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

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Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
and I forgot to mention that the clamps made by Krause are really useful for holding the flex track in shape. (Krauseklemme)
I also would place it into the Merkur ballast and pin that down and then mark the cut lines for curved track.
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline WelshMatt  
#7 Posted : 20 October 2008 18:53:44(UTC)
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WelshMatt


Joined: 06/10/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,345
Location: ,
You can buy gauges/guides to make smooth curves from a variety of sources, or just draw the curve onto the board with a pencil, nail, and bit of string. I would say that the two best ways to cut it are a Dremel-type thing with a cutting disk or a Xuron track cutter. The latter is probably easier to use if you're making lots of cuts in situ.
Matt from Wales.

When you pay Range Rover prices, don't accept Lada quality
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Offline tim01433  
#8 Posted : 23 October 2008 19:59:45(UTC)
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tim01433


Joined: 17/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 145
Location: , Oklahoma
The track is coming out great, and now I'm having trouble soldering to the rails. I have jumper wires soldered to the center pegs without problems, but the rail itself won't solder?

Tim
www.prancingponysales.com
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#9 Posted : 24 October 2008 01:21:59(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
soldering k-Track: though some will say its possible using special flux paste etc, there is a much easier way.
Buy some cheap rail joiners at your local train store - they are made of metal that can be soldered.
Slide one onto each track length to which you need to make an electrical connection. (Either as a supply or as an s88 feed) You need to cut some plastic off the ties so that the rail joiner sits low enough.

The Märklin rail joiners also take solder easily, scratch then clean with a small screwdriver then solder. You only have to add roil joiners where there is no existing joiner already.

See the last image at http://layout.mixmox.com/1/laying-track
in the center of the far rail you can see such a track joiner - that is connecting that rail to an s88

soldering to the 'red' (center) pole of track is trivial and can be seen in the earlier images.


Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline tim01433  
#10 Posted : 24 October 2008 04:32:04(UTC)
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tim01433


Joined: 17/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 145
Location: , Oklahoma
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DaleSchultz
<br />soldering k-Track: though some will say its possible using special flux paste etc, there is a much easier way.
Buy some cheap rail joiners at your local train store - there are made of metal that can be soldered.
Slide one onto each track length to which you need to make an electrical connection. (Either as a supply or as an s88 feed) You need to cut some plastic off the ties so that the rail joiner sits low enough.

The Märklin rail joiners also take solder easily, scratch then clean with a small screwdriver then solder. You only have to add roil joiners where there is no existing joiner already.

See the last image at http://layout.mixmox.com/1/laying-track
in the center of the far rail you can see such a track joiner - that is connecting that rail to an s88

soldering to the 'red' (center) pole of track is trivial and can be seen in the earlier images.






This is a good idea, and works well. I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Apparently K track rail is Aluminum.

Tim Schreiner
www.prancingponysales.com
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#11 Posted : 24 October 2008 05:16:53(UTC)
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DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
the very first K-Track (2100 series - hollow rail) may have been Al - not sure, but it is junk and to be avoided.
The second series of K-Track (2200 series - solid rail) is stainless steel and is excellent. Flex track (2205) is the good stuff.
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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