Fast Tracks

I am having real problems with soldering rail to the pcb ties . I am using code 100 rail making On30 turnouts .

I am cleaning everything methodically, and using lots of flux but I can't seem to get the solder between the rail and the tie. I make great looking joints but they don't have any strength. I have also tried tinning the rail and tie but that isn't very succesfull either as then the rail doesn't sit in the jig properly.

Can you tell me what I am doing wrong ?

Thanks

Murray

P.S. love the point blade and frog forming tool - so quick and easy to use

Solder joints that look good, but have no strength are a sign of a "cold joint"

Cold joints are formed when there is not enough heat to properly get the solder to flow onto the surfaces. Code 100 rail, being on the large size, will take a good source of heat to succusfully solder. I find using a 35 watt iron will supply the heat I need.

Occasionally I do have trouble getting a good solder joint, but find if I clean the tip well, with a brass brush, it usually will eliminate the trouble. Having a very clean iron tip, all the time while soldering, will greatly increase the ease of getting a good solder joint. I find that I clean the tip with a brush quite often while soldering.

_________________
Cheers!

Tim Warris
Fast Tracks
http://www.fast-tracks.net
service@fast-tracks.net

Hello Murray,

Sorry your having problems.

Heres a few suggestions,
1. try a higher watt iron,
2. Use tix flux,
3. wire brush the pc ties until they gleams or shines,
4. wire brush the bottom of the rail until it gleams. shines
5. wipe tip of iron on soft damp sponge, tin tip.
6. Insure rail is seated in the channel properly, I have some micro engineering track that I have to take the edge off the rail base with a couple of strokes from 300 grit sand paper, (emery cloth) before it seats properly on the pc tie tops. Just a manufacturing tolerance. not fast tracks fault. most rail fits nice and tight, but I do have instances where the rail base is just a 1/4 hair wider than the rest, and it doesn't want to seat in the channels of the jigs.

If the solder isn't flowing under the rail, like Tim says its the heat.
35 watts ought to do it. insure the tip is tight, you may want to clean the threads of the tip to insure they are conducting heat as well. If the solder flows when you touch it to the tip of the iron, then it should flow when you place it on the rail and pc ties.
Last question:
Are you placing the iron on the rail top, or on the junction between the web and tie?
Thats where I'd place the iron. that way the only place to heat up is the flange of the rail and the pc tie.

Rob

Thanks Tim & Rob for your help.

The heat was the problem . I turned my variable temperature iron up another 50 degrees (celcius) and my joints are much stronger

Thanks

Murray