A thread about screws

[rab]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-gauge-track-screws-500x6mm-Modelisme-ferroviaire-vis-pur-rail-N-track-pins/274565458653?hash=item3fed606add:g:z8kAAOSwdjdaBtxT&redirect=mobile

 

Track screws come up on Ebay regularly.

I like the idea of being able to remove

track fixings if changes are needed.

 

Has anyone used them, are they any good?

Edited November 8, 2020 by rab
Clarification of subject

[sir douglas]

I'm confused why the this thread title isnt "N gauge track screws", i was expecting some discussion point about forum threads

[rab]

7 hours ago, sir douglas said:

I'm confused why the this thread title isnt "N gauge track screws", i was expecting some discussion point about forum threads

It was my way of trying to attract interest to my question,

but i guess it's another case of tried hard, failed miserably.

[Torper]

You can change the thread title....

 

DT

[cypherman]

Hi all,

Curious as whether you can use them with 00 track. Tried to look for any listed as 00 but found none.

[Andymsa]

6 hours ago, cypherman said:

Hi all,

Curious as whether you can use them with 00 track. Tried to look for any listed as 00 but found none.

Fleischmann do some 

[Hibelroad]

They are just pan head screws aren’t they? If you use track pins instead it’s easy enough to lift the track. 

[ikcdab]

Well, the thread title caught my attention!

I dont model n gauge. The sleepers must be a max of 2mm wide, 2hich must make these incredibly fine screws with miniscule heads and threads. I'm struggling to see the advantage over pins.

[sir douglas]

11 hours ago, ikcdab said:

Well, the thread title caught my attention!

 

the title has been changed

[Hroth]

Well it caught my attention!

 

I'd not really thought about the use of screws as track fixing devices, let alone for N gauge, but back in the mists of time, Hornby Dublo recommended the use of half-inch roundheaded No3 screws for fixing three-rail track to the baseboard, something which I am going to take up as I bring my 3 rail layout back from storage...

 

As for using track screws with modern track, there's a certain attraction as it cuts down on the banging and the chance of whacking the rails or your fingers with a hammer.  I've just had a quick look at ebay, sellers recommend 6mm length for OO gauge, though I feel that another couple of mm would be more secure.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Model-railway-track-screws-various-lengths-and-gauges-screwdriver-track-pins/153529249418

 

They're not expensive, it could be worth getting a small packet just to experiment with!

[ejstubbs]

11 hours ago, Hroth said:

As for using track screws with modern track, there's a certain attraction as it cuts down on the banging and the chance of whacking the rails or your fingers with a hammer.

 

Another way to avoid such issues is not to use a hammer for pinning track, use a pin pusher.  It's what it's designed for.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pin-Pusher-With-Depth-Stop-PPU8175

[adb968008]

A thread about screws...

 

I bet thats rivetting.

 

 

(ok ok i’m off).

[cravensdmufan]

I have recently used track fixing screws for the first time on a new lift out section.  I wanted a really good strong method of securing the sleepers to the plywood base (I used approx. half a metre of Setrack leading up to the join and on the lift out section itself  for maximum rigidity) without using glue.

 

I used these from Layout4U   https://www.layouts4u.net/other-products/track-related-items/1-4mm-x-12mm-self-tapping-tracking-laying-screws  and they are excellent.   They do a couple of smaller versions as well.

Edited November 10, 2020 by cravensdmufan
Spelling

[Hroth]

8 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

A thread about screws...

 

I bet thats rivetting.

 

 

(ok ok i’m off).

 

I suppose you could use pop rivets with Hornby O gauge tinplate track.... 

 

13 minutes ago, ejstubbs said:

Another way to avoid such issues is not to use a hammer for pinning track, use a pin pusher.  It's what it's designed for.

 

True. If you have one. If you can find it.

 

But with screws you don't have to lever the track up to reposition or reclaim it.

Also, if you put a sort of "damp proof course" of thin polythene between the track and baseboard, then the ballast won't stick to the baseboard either! That would work with pins too, of course.

 

I appreciate that even small screws would be a visual problem as they would be proud of the sleeper when screwed down. Horses for courses, I suppose.