Darthtrainspotter Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Looking for options on the following. Read a lot about the potential failings of pre soldered droppers on fish plates. Corrosion, loose connection, PVA from ballast getting in between the connection etc.could one solution, if you have already purchased a load of them (yep jumped in without any research), be to solder the fish plate to one end of the rail. Leave the other end as push fit in case of expansion issues. That way at least one end will have a long lasting connection. That way at least they won’t go in the bin. ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Cut off the dropper and just use them as fishplates. Don’t solder any part of them to the track, you will regret it eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 Awful things. Use wire directly onto the rail section, soldered, use fishplates purely to hold rails in alignment. You won't regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 I found it is a good idea to use flux when soldering, even though I use multicore solder. The solder seems to take qucker without melting the sleepers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_A Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 If you can't solder, then not a bad idea. If you can solder, then solder the droppers directly to the rail, preferably on the underside where it can't be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 The solder seems to take quicker without melting the sleepers..For any reader who are melting the sleepers, then the iron is applying too much heat and being held against the rail for too long..Why might this be........either:.Iron too big.Iron too higher wattage.Iron bit not clean.Cheap 'Lead Free' solder is being used and not the more expensive 'Lead / Tin' mix solder.Wires being attached have not been pre-tinned.The rail has not been pre-tinned.The rail is not Nickle Silver rail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Sorry don't agree. If the rail is dirty you will need to hold the iron on there longer for the flux in the multicore solder to take effect. This only occurs when the solder is molten, by using flux you do don't need to melt the solder to get the flux. It is the same reason on dirty PCB you use flux, otherwise the plated through holes tend to lift. I have managed to melt sleepers on old track, and I am using a professional temperature compensated Weller soldering iron. If you think about it, you are soldering nickel silver which is a really good conducter, which is supported by plastic sleepers that have a much lower melting point than solder. You have just been lucky and probably have only ever soldered clean track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Surely the whole point is the rail should not be dirty. Clean it first. That is the first rule of soldering. Soldering on to a dirty surface is bad practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Precisely.......Colin, if you take a few moments to read my 'How To Solder' tutorial meant for soldering novices. Then you will see that in it, I keep on emphasising the need for cleanliness of all parts of the soldering process for a successful soldering experience by a novice. My comment above was meant for the general readership (hence why I started with the "For any reader" phrase) and were just edited highlights of my tutorial. It was not aimed specifically at you. I just used your sentence as a 'trigger' for my comment as I thought that many others might have experienced sleeper melting when soldering..You have just been lucky and probably have only ever soldered clean track..No not lucky.....just 50 odd years of soldering experience in the electronics industry to call upon..If I had given my list just a bit more thought, then I would have added:.The surfaces being soldered are not clean and shiny.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Extra flux should not be necessary if the solder has a flux core. Any added acid flux must be cleaned off the joint after use. Good solder joint = Clean it, tin it, solder it. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 You can buy non wash flux comes in a push point pen. I have one and use it on my new rails even though they appear clean. I do know how to solder having been doing it for 58 years on a regular basis in the field I was employed in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I was aware of that type of flux, I was just pointing out that some need to be cleaned off. I didn't do any soldering in my second full time job but boy did I do a lot in my first one. 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_A Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I never had the need to use flux, but I use good old fashioned 60/40 multicore (not lead free) solder, and a fibreglass pen to clean the rail first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 All I am saying, is if you use separate flux you get a better joint, and in my opinion the solder takes quicker, so there is less chance of melting the sleeper. I must admit when I solder circuit boards, I don't use flux, but if it is something big I do, and yes I use multicore solder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 That’s fair enough Colin. I don’t use extra flux, keep things clean and don’t melt anything, except the solder. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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