cutting track.. razor saw

Discuss model railway topics and news that do not fit into other sections.
Post Reply
aleopardstail
Posts: 1025
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:48 pm
Contact:

cutting track.. razor saw

Post by aleopardstail »

cutting track, I have the excellent Xuron vertical track cutters, perfect when laying track.

how about cutting track thats already down?

I tried a metal slitting disc, %$^&% trying that again, suffice it to say the bit of track has been replaced, cut about a four mm wide gap by the time it finished vibrating, good if you want a derailing device. one of the smaller carbon cutters did an "ok" job.

best results are from a razor saw, however while it does plain track rail nicely, and plastic and indeed cork, it really struggles with fibre glass PCB sleepers. to the point while the result is excellent you can cut two, maybe three joins before the blade is so blunt as to be useless.

are the blades really meant to be that soft?
User avatar
centenary
Posts: 810
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by centenary »

DCC Concepts do a cutter for track already laid.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/d ... ck-cutters

I used them to cut new unlaid code 75 Peco bullhead track but obviously made the cut as if the track was laid. You're cutting from the sides, rather than top and bottom that results in a kind of 'crush' cut.

The results are better than using a Dremel with the track cut clean and little to no burring for the bullhead rail joiners (I could never get the Peco ordinary rail joiners on the track as these joiners were all far too tight) to go on easily. Personally, I dont find the idea of sawing across code 75 track several times appealing but that's just my own preference.

I used Xacto razor saws for RC modelling. IMHO, the basic Xacto saws are made for cutting balsa wood and plastics, not metal rails and fibre glass \ resin unless very thin.
aleopardstail
Posts: 1025
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:48 pm
Contact:

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by aleopardstail »

centenary wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2024 11:06 pm DCC Concepts do a cutter for track already laid.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/d ... ck-cutters

I used them to cut new unlaid code 75 Peco bullhead track but obviously made the cut as if the track was laid. You're cutting from the sides, rather than top and bottom that results in a kind of 'crush' cut.

The results are better than using a Dremel with the track cut clean and little to no burring for the bullhead rail joiners (I could never get the Peco ordinary rail joiners on the track as these joiners were all far too tight) to go on easily. Personally, I dont find the idea of sawing across code 75 track several times appealing but that's just my own preference.

I used Xacto razor saws for RC modelling. IMHO, the basic Xacto saws are made for cutting balsa wood and plastics, not metal rails and fibre glass \ resin unless very thin.
interesting, looks like the Xuron vertical cutters I already have, which do a lovely job when you want a cut perpendicular to the rail. though very much has a "good" side and a "waste" side. sadly not suited to whats needed here as it also has to cut track crossing board edges at weird angles, on curves, plus has to go through pcb sleepers.

something to consider though
User avatar
Bufferstop
Posts: 13904
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:06 pm
Location: Bottom end of N. Warks line

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Bufferstop »

That doesn't sound like a "slitting disc" the ones I use came from Expo, they are very thin and will cut paper without putting them in the drill What you describe sounds like a thin grinding disk. The other bit you need is a rail clamp, a roller gauge will do but is difficult to hold, a block of wood with grooves to fit the rails is far cheaper and keeps your fingers further away from the disc,
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
Dad-1
Posts: 7680
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:05 pm
Location: Dorset - A mile from West Bay.

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Dad-1 »

I usually use a slitting disc in my Dremel.
You do need to check that the mandrel is true and that the disc rotates
in an accurate plane.
With laid track remember when you cut you can't get to 90 degrees because of the
grinders body. In that case cut from the side that will allow an undercut on what
you're going to match up to. That keeps any rail head gap to the absolute minimum.

My only complaint with cutting this way is the fragility of the very thin discs, so easy
to shatter them.



Geoff T.
Bigmet
Posts: 10666
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:19 pm

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Bigmet »

The first major accessory I quickly realised was necessary with a high speed rotary tool was a flexible drive. Makes a world of difference on so many tasks, including making neat perpendicular narrow cuts through rails. A small but heavy stand to hang the tool securely is the the further necessary accessory...
aleopardstail
Posts: 1025
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:48 pm
Contact:

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by aleopardstail »

Bufferstop wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2024 9:11 am That doesn't sound like a "slitting disc" the ones I use came from Expo, they are very thin and will cut paper without putting them in the drill What you describe sounds like a thin grinding disk. The other bit you need is a rail clamp, a roller gauge will do but is difficult to hold, a block of wood with grooves to fit the rails is far cheaper and keeps your fingers further away from the disc,
its a slitting disc, just seems to enjoy vibrating, the carbon ones are better but still not perfect.

gauge would be useful, managing ok with PCB sleepers and the track soldered to them so far to hold the gauge.

never had much luck with the rotary tool I have, got it for drilling holes in circuit boards and its utter pants for that, way too much vibration
FatController
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:31 pm

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by FatController »

I agree with Bufferstop on a cheap i.e. free, cutting guide, made from from an offcut with two grooves cut to match the rails. I've been using the same block of wood since I can't remember! But then for the cut itself, I favour an Xacto razor saw - Dremels are great but I do like the slow control that a razor saw brings. Don't skimp by using an old one, as then the cut will take for ever - a nice newish one will have the cut done in a jiffy - and I find that just cutting one way to start with rather that to and fro also helps.
But that's me - other opinions are also available - as you can see!
Cheers
Al
aleopardstail
Posts: 1025
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:48 pm
Contact:

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by aleopardstail »

FatController wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2024 1:14 pm I agree with Bufferstop on a cheap i.e. free, cutting guide, made from from an offcut with two grooves cut to match the rails. I've been using the same block of wood since I can't remember! But then for the cut itself, I favour an Xacto razor saw - Dremels are great but I do like the slow control that a razor saw brings. Don't skimp by using an old one, as then the cut will take for ever - a nice newish one will have the cut done in a jiffy - and I find that just cutting one way to start with rather that to and fro also helps.
But that's me - other opinions are also available - as you can see!
Cheers
Al
have noted the razor saw goes through the actual rail beautifully, from past experience they will go through PCB other than fibre glass like the proverbial chainsaw through the proverbial puppy, though will less mess.

do have a wood cut block somewhere I made for C80 N gauge stuff, they are good for straight track cuts, good to hold for dressing with a file too

for now I'm just accepting for the cuts that cross the board on an angle I will be getting through a fair few blades, good track cutters are perfect for stuff not yet stuck down but for the board crossing the track needs to be down and solid pre-cut to get the alignment
User avatar
stuartp
Posts: 1248
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by stuartp »

Miss out the sleepers across the actual join, i.e. lay the last full one either side but not the one you're going to saw through at an angle. Cut with the razor saw and then fill the part sleepers in later (cut with a hacksaw or similar on the bench).

Hone made wooden block is invaluable, just rub it on the track to mark where the slots need to go, and if you're doing anything with a slitting disc please use safety glasses.
Portwilliam - Southwest Scotland in the 1960s, in OO - http://stuart1968.wordpress.com/
aleopardstail
Posts: 1025
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:48 pm
Contact:

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by aleopardstail »

stuartp wrote: Sat Jul 13, 2024 11:42 am Miss out the sleepers across the actual join, i.e. lay the last full one either side but not the one you're going to saw through at an angle. Cut with the razor saw and then fill the part sleepers in later (cut with a hacksaw or similar on the bench).

Hone made wooden block is invaluable, just rub it on the track to mark where the slots need to go, and if you're doing anything with a slitting disc please use safety glasses.
did think about that, however the track is on a curve, and indeed a gradient, I'm basically laying it, soldering it solid then cutting to keep the alignment

and yes on the safety glasses, that one I am well aware of and both have, and wear, them

main PitA is cutting fibreglass sleepers, really should have bought plain strip instead of the nice pre-made ones, cut to size and added a slit. thhe older style boards cut far easier
peterws
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:31 am

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by peterws »

I bought a pair of razor saws from my local train shop. They had detatchable handles, and seemed of poor quality considering the price. I used them to cut up an old J72 body, to make it into an 0-4-0. I used a hacksaw for the metal chassis, and the loco works darned well as a 4 wheeler even with that split chassis. One of my favourites. here it is on my old layout . . .

https://youtu.be/usgUAjHj6qE
User avatar
Mountain
Posts: 6391
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 3:43 pm
Location: UK.

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Mountain »

That's great!
Bigmet
Posts: 10666
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:19 pm

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Bigmet »

Love the 'toast rack' coaches.
Kindling
Posts: 123
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:36 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: cutting track.. razor saw

Post by Kindling »

peterws wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 11:45 pm here it is on my old layout . . .

https://youtu.be/usgUAjHj6qE
Despite the low resolution, I have always loved this film, including the expressive music. Interesting layout with freelance stock, perfect for watching trains go by.
Post Reply