TexChem Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 (edited) I have reached the point in track laying where I need to cut the track across baseboard joints - secured to copper clad. I have a Dremel and have used the standard disk which is supplied by Dremel. While it works well, the gap left behind is larger than I would like. Accordingly, I am looking for suggestions on where to source thinner disks or alternative methods to cut the rail. Appreciate your collective wisdom. Tex Edited April 17, 2019 by TexChem Fixed typo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dhjgreen Posted April 17, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2019 I use these, you will need the speedclic adaptor too. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-2615S456JC-SpeedClic-Metal-Cutting/dp/B001DHAT00/ref=asc_df_B001DHAT00/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=232020729251&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10266797749820432166&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046658&hvtargid=pla-420702613119&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexAshton Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 A good quality razor saw will leave a nice fine gap and is less likely to damage the track ends. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted April 17, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2019 (edited) 20 minutes ago, TexChem said: I have reached the point in track laying where I need to cut the track across baseboard joints - secured to copper clad. I have a Dremel and have used the standard disk which is supplied by Dremel. While it works well, the gap left behind is larger than I would like. Accordingly, I am looking for suggestions on where to source thinner disks or alternative methods to cut the rail. Appreciate your collective wisdom. Tex There is a trick to that, but it sounds like you have probably gone beyond the point at which you can do it. Before laying the track across the board joint, insert a couple of penny washers between the two boards. Lay the track, cut the rails, separate the boards and remove the washers, When you re-join the boards, voila, smaller gaps between the rail-ends. John Edited April 17, 2019 by Dunsignalling 4 2 5 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted April 18, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2019 (edited) 23 hours ago, TexChem said: I have reached the point in track laying where I need to cut the track across baseboard joints - secured to copper clad. I have a Dremel and have used the standard disk which is supplied by Dremel. While it works well, the gap left behind is larger than I would like. Accordingly, I am looking for suggestions on where to source thinner disks or alternative methods to cut the rail. Appreciate your collective wisdom. Tex I've been through exactly the same thing. Dremel do various thicknessess of disc so it's possible that their thinnest version might be acceptable to you. I sourced some 0.75mm 38mm dia discs from B&Q (after I had already cut my rails with a thicker disc...) Then at a show last year I found some 0.5mm thick diamond-coated cutting discs. Sorry, but I can't remember who was running the stand and a few quick Google searches don't return any products quite the same. The advice that came with them was to "go slowly". I haven't tried them yet. P.S. Watch out for the shards of metal kicked towards your face when using one of these discs because they can get into your eyes. I found that out the hard way (even though I wear glasses). Edited April 18, 2019 by Harlequin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 I would prefer to use a razor saw to cut the rail. A slitting disk (the thinner the better) will do the job but as well as making a fairly wide cut, which is not only due to the thickness of the disk but also a result of vibration due to bearing slop in the drill, the cut will be at a more or less appreciable angle due to the thickness of the drill body. A razor saw will allow you to make a thin cut that is at right-angles to the rails. Whichever you use, go slowly and wear eye protection as mentioned above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 18 minutes ago, Hroth said: ... a result of vibration due to bearing slop in the drill, the cut will be at a more or less appreciable angle due to the thickness of the drill body. IMO if your drill's got bearing slop, it's time to get yourself a new one. Be that as it may, a more vertical cut may be obtained by the use of the Dremel flexy drive. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexChem Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 On 17/04/2019 at 12:01, Dunsignalling said: There is a trick to that, but it sounds like you have probably gone beyond the point at which you can do it. Before laying the track across the board joint, insert a couple of penny washers between the two boards. Lay the track, cut the rails, separate the boards and remove the washers, When you re-join the boards, voila, smaller gaps between the rail-ends. John Great idea - but unfortunately, too late. Will keep in mind for the next time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexChem Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 7 hours ago, Harlequin said: I've been through exactly the same thing. Dremel do various thicknessess of disc so it's possible that their thinnest version might be acceptable to you. I sourced some 0.75mm 38mm dia discs from B&Q (after I had already cut my rails with a thicker disc...) Then at a show last year I found some 0.5mm thick diamond-coated cutting discs. Sorry, but I can't remember who was running the stand and a few quick Google searches don't return any products quite the same. The advice that came with them was to "go slowly". I haven't tried them yet. P.S. Watch out for the shards of metal kicked towards your face when using one of these discs because they can get into your eyes. I found that out the hard way (even though I wear glasses). Thanks for the tip - I am a chemist, so I use eye protection by second nature/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexChem Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 7 hours ago, Hroth said: I would prefer to use a razor saw to cut the rail. A slitting disk (the thinner the better) will do the job but as well as making a fairly wide cut, which is not only due to the thickness of the disk but also a result of vibration due to bearing slop in the drill, the cut will be at a more or less appreciable angle due to the thickness of the drill body. A razor saw will allow you to make a thin cut that is at right-angles to the rails. Whichever you use, go slowly and wear eye protection as mentioned above. Do you use a guide to maintain the angle of the cut? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Moss Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 On 18/04/2019 at 16:42, Harlequin said: I've been through exactly the same thing. Dremel do various thicknessess of disc so it's possible that their thinnest version might be acceptable to you. I sourced some 0.75mm 38mm dia discs from B&Q (after I had already cut my rails with a thicker disc...) Then at a show last year I found some 0.5mm thick diamond-coated cutting discs. Sorry, but I can't remember who was running the stand and a few quick Google searches don't return any products quite the same. The advice that came with them was to "go slowly". I haven't tried them yet. P.S. Watch out for the shards of metal kicked towards your face when using one of these discs because they can get into your eyes. I found that out the hard way (even though I wear glasses). 'BOYES - for value' do the diamond cutting discs in their modelling/craft corner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir TophamHatt Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 This helped me too - good post! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 I use a fine X-acto razor saw for baseboard joints and for insulating gaps in points etc. I start with a fine knife edged needle file and make a shallow 'notch' in the rail so that the saw doesn't slip (well, not to much anyway!). The rail ends need a bit of fettling with a small file to remove burrs etc. if you can. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 Razor saws must have come on a ways since I tried this...my Exacto lasted ONE cut of PECO "N" gauge rail, back in 1978, before being completely blunt. I just assumed it was the wrong tool to use... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted April 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 24, 2019 I use a Dremel, a 32mm x 0.5mm slitting disk and one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dremel-2615057532-Right-Angle-Attachment/dp/B0002SMNW8/ref=asc_df_B0002SMNW8/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=226152056294&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12457281461845357823&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007237&hvtargid=pla-421602825803&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 Never mangled the end of the track and get a very good cut - better than I ever achieved with a razor saw. Roy 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted April 26, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 26, 2019 Where multiple tracks cross a baseboard joint, I couldn't get a razor saw in without trying to cut loads of rails at once, so a Dremel with a flexi-drive was the only tool that would get in there. I soldered the rails to glued down pcb strips before cutting them. Seems okay so far, but I had to be careful to cut the rails square in both vertical and horizontal planes. Not easy with a Dremel under my arm and holding the slitting disc to try to make sure that it didn't snag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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