rail zip

[bcrn]

has anyone used this before? have tried soldering up some rail joints, and it beads and rolls off. could it be the rail zip? how could i clean the area around the joint to stop this?

[BATMAN]

 You should always use some flux on anything you solder. There are many good soldering videos on You-Tube on how to solder you should check them out. There are also many videos on You-Tube that show you "how to solder track". Unfortunately, many of these experts are showing you the wrong way to do it, ending up with an unreliable cold soldering joint.

 First, watch some videos on how to solder, then when you watch videos on how to solder track you will know if they are doing it right or not. Yes, I think the Rail Zip is the problem, thus the flux.

 I have two electrical tech's in the family that took an interest in the layout and gave me a lesson on how to solder track joints. The biggest thing I learned was to use really high heat so you get in and out really fast. I bought a soldering station that gets really hot and use heat sinks. I bought a bundle of old used track at a train show to practice on as I wasn't willing to sacrifice my WS track to my learning curve. It was the best $2.00 I ever spent.

 Good luck.

 Brent

[bcrn]

hmmm. ive got the rosin core solder, i'll have to give this a go at some point, thanks. ps this is the firs time ive had issues without flux, this'll be an new experience.

[bucketlist]

You might try to clean it first. Isopropyl seems to to a good job. The flux will help remove contamination, but nothing beats starting with a clean joint.

[riogrande]

Two things probably are affecting it. As mentioned above, brush on some flux - I use Tix flux and brush it on the area I am going to solder.

www.amazon.com/TIX-FLUX-1-2-OZ/dp/B000HYQI00

I generally don't clean unless it's obviously corroded or dirty. I also use a cleaned and tinned pencil iron. I take the hot iron, and rub the tip in a wet sponge or rag, then melt a bit of solder on the tip.

I also put heat sinks on either side of the area being soldered to help avoid melting ties. If you don't have heat sinks like these (below), alligator clips will work as well, to draw the heat off.

[bcrn]

tried cleaning the joints with denatured alcohol, and laquer thinner, no avail. so, i'll try the flux ( first time for everything ) and stay away from the pencil soldering gun. ( fingers are allergic to ) thanks for the advice.

[riogrande]

Flux is made for helping solder flow onto metal and it really works. I used to have difficulty soldering too and eventually gave into the Schwartz and bought the Tix liquid flux and never looked back.