crossing baseboard joints

[steve howe]

Is there a recognised approach for cutting rails that cross baseboard joints at an angle? i.e on a curve?

Using a very fine razor saw or thinnest cutting disc, should you a) make a straight cut across both rails following the line of the joint which would give rails with slightly angled ends; or, b) cut each rail individually at right angles to the rail where it crosses the joint?

Never had this situation before so curious to know if there are any hard and fast rules!

Steve

[John Donnelly]

I used a razor saw (for me it gives a much neater cut than a slitting disc) to cut in line with the board join so the rails are cut at an angle.

John

[Rod Cameron]

Before you lay the track, you could put a layer of thin card between the board ends so that the 'wastage' due to cutting with the razor saw is compensated for when you remove the card. And don't have the adjacent rail ends needing to be electrically isolated from each other in case the rails expand and touch.

[Tim V]

I think it was Peter Denny who said don't cross baseboard joints at an angle - or someone of that vintage.

Best avoided.

[steve howe]

I think it was Peter Denny who said don't cross baseboard joints at an angle - or someone of that vintage.

Best avoided.

Good advice in theory......

joint.jpg

Steve

[Tony Wilkins]

Hi Steve.
I certainly prefer to cut the rails at 90 degrees regardless of the angle of the track to the baseboard joint.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5707&start=550#p84139
Regards
Tony.

[Philip Hall]

Hi Steve,

I thought my preference was for 90 degrees but it turned out I cut mine at an angle. Photos attached. I cut across with a razor saw and then cleaned up the rail ends with a substantial chamfer to the top and sides. It makes a lovely noise as the trains go over it! Rail is soldered to Kings Cross brass chairs and then to several layers of PCB. This is a 'non visible' part of the railway so robustness and strength scored over appearance. This joint is one of two on a 'lift out' section, which is removed almost every time access to the room is required. The gaps are a bit bigger in winter and a trifle tight in summer but even with the big gaps there is no problem.

It works very well, even at highly unprotoypical speeds. When taking the photos I tested it (just for fun) with two close coupled Bachmann Bulleid carriages fitted with turned down Bachmann wheels. At around 100mph they just glided across, so I think in your yard you should have no problem with anything coming off.

Philip

IMG-5605.jpg

IMG-5606.jpg

[Paul Willis]

Surely cutting at other than 90 degrees is just the equivalent of an expansion joint in CWR?

Ducks and runs from the theoretical puritan police

Best
Paul

[Richard Oldfield]

Hi Steve,

I certainly prefer to cut the rails at 90 degrees regardless of the angle of the track to the baseboard joint.

Tony has got this absolutely spot-on (in my opinion) based on my experience on the exhibition circuit with Mostyn.

Damage will happen and what you need is to be able to repair it quickly and accurately. If you cut the rail parallel to the board edge you will make it difficult to repair any damage without relaying across the board joint again (because of the challenge of replicating a subtle angled cut).

Cutting the rail at 90 degrees enables you to just lift one length of rail and replace it.

The most recent Mostyn 'crime scene' ....

IMG-20230128-WA0006.jpg

Cheers,

Richard

[davebradwell]

I'll just throw in that no matter what orientation you make the joint, if rail is fixed at both ends of the board, don't forget to allow for expansion somewhere in between.

DaveB

[Philip Hall]

I'll just throw in that no matter what orientation you make the joint, if rail is fixed at both ends of the board, don't forget to allow for expansion somewhere in between.

DaveB

Agreed, very important. When the track was laid across the lift out section, which is about 4ft long, it was done in early spring, so fishplated expansion joints (as with the rest of the track elsewhere) of 0.75mm approx (1/32") at half metre intervals were incorporated. In the summer, the board itself and the track expand to a very tight fit, and last winter there were quite large gaps, not enough to cause trouble but delightful clickety-clicks as the trains passed over!

Philip

[Tony Wilkins]

The most recent Mostyn 'crime scene' ....

IMG-20230128-WA0006.jpg

Cheers,

Richard

Ouch!
Regards
Tony.

[Julian Roberts]

Damage will happen

Yes I agree, and it's such a bore, when it is surely easily preventable?

20230814_090853.jpg

[Richard Oldfield]

Hello Julian,

Damage will happen

Yes I agree, and it's such a bore, when it is surely easily preventable?

Please do enlighten me, how will an end protector (Mostyn has very substantial 9mm ply ones spaced 3mm away from the board ends), easily prevent a sideways impact like the one shown in the image in my posting?

Puzzled, but willing to learn ....

Cheers,

Richard