Fast Tracks

Hi there,

Built a #8 turnout skeleton on Monday this week. It's now Thursday and I'm realizing that I forgot to wash the acid flux off the turnout on Monday. Given the dire warnings by Tim et al about washing off the flux lest it eat the copper and allow for a fragile turnout (especially on the throwbar) I am wondering if I should relegate the just-washed turnout to the demo table or whether I can still use it in the layout?

Just how long can a turnout sit without being washed and still be usable?

Thanks!
Jon

Hi,

I have found it takes a few weeks before some corrosion might show up. Sometimes never, it depends on several factors in the environment where the turnout is being used.

I have found that in addition to washing the turnout, using a brass brush and cleaning the PC board and rails will remove all the remaining flux, and prevent any corrosion.

Painting the turnout will also seal the solder joints from the elements and prevent corrosion.

So you should be fine to clean the turnout up and using it after a few days.

_________________
Cheers!

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

I wash the turnouts soon after building. One of the first ones I built had corrosion show up a few weeks after washing. It was then I started using a baking soda paste as a second wash immediately after a dish soap/hot water bath. I scrub with a stiff nylon brush both to wash then and to apply the baking soda. The baking soda is let set on the TO for 5 to 10 minutes then is rinsed off with hot water spray. So far no more corrosion. This method does cause the solder joints to turn from a bright silver to a shiny grey. It does not adversely affect the joints any that I can tell.

littletree