Rail Clamps or just Joiners ??

You may have read my recent introduction to railclamps, delayed because I am using mostly code 250 rail, and I only just found out about code 250 railclamps. My main reason for clamping was to sort out bad rail joints in my flexitrack, by bad I mean from the point of view of alignment. I did a particularly poor section only yesterday, and have only just test run a loco on that section. Another problem I have been having is voltage drop, and to sort this out I was going to try to insert self tapping screws on the joint, which was going to be a very long job. I do not solder wires across the fishplates. To my surprise this newly clamped section runs not only smoothly but also shows no sign of any voltage drop. I have noticed that removed rail joiners manage to get a lot of fine muck trapped inside, I am hoping that the clamp will not suffer the same. Whether I will replace all my fishplates, rail joiners, or not remains to be seen, but I am a clamp convert from now on
 
Glengrant said:
You may have read my recent introduction to railclamps, delayed because I am using mostly code 250 rail, and I only just found out about code 250 railclamps. My main reason for clamping was to sort out bad rail joints in my flexitrack, by bad I mean from the point of view of alignment. I did a particularly poor section only yesterday, and have only just test run a loco on that section. Another problem I have been having is voltage drop, and to sort this out I was going to try to insert self tapping screws on the joint, which was going to be a very long job. I do not solder wires across the fishplates. To my surprise this newly clamped section runs not only smoothly but also shows no sign of any voltage drop. I have noticed that removed rail joiners manage to get a lot of fine muck trapped inside, I am hoping that the clamp will not suffer the same. Whether I will replace all my fishplates, rail joiners, or not remains to be seen, but I am a clamp convert from now on
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Yes, that's one of the benefits of clamps Cyril, there isn't room for any crud to accumulate because they're ........ errrrrrrrrr ........ clamped. :bigsmile::bigsmile:
People use copper grease to get around this accumulation problem and improve conductivity with standard joiners, but using clamps negates it. Good for points too - makes them easier to remove for routine maintenance etc. :thumbup:
 
I still reckon that a dab of copper paste/LGB graphite paste between mating surfaces is a good thing even if you are using clamps directly to rail or over joiners. I even use the stuff on any connection all the way from the indoor controller to the LGB clamp type track power connection, discovered major cause of voltage drop there this year :@. Cured by dismantling, a good clean, fine wire brushing and pasting prior to reassembly.

Max.
 
railclamps, best thing sinsce sliced bread:thumbup:
 
The only downside to rail clamps is the cost on a big layout.
Aristo with scres works fine most of the time and is much cheaper but every now and then a fishplate will crack usually on a curved section and I always replace with a clamp.

I am a splitjaw fan myself but I don't expect it makes much difference.

AC
 
a rail clamps for life.. not just christmas:rolf::rolf:
jokeing aside,i am useing the original railclamps from the very 1st railway,over 12 years ago, at a new house/garden/railway.. so far, ive clamped every bit off track, and ive still got some left.. ,ive not bought any new clamps for Lazy Grange Bay..3
 
From experience I think it is essential to use clamps, at the very least, for stretches of track that take a bit of getting to if anything goes wrong such as in tunnels, close to buildings, behind bushes, under benches or decking etc etc.
Also, as has been said before on many forums, use them for points/switches as it does make it so much easier to sort out a recalcitrant point rather than having to lift track all around it to separate joiners (ask me how I know :wits: ) . I did not do this when I first laid my track 5 years ago and I now regret it bitterly and will be fitting clamps to every point/switch, now and in the future.
 
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