What is this material please?

[Ian White]

I would like to purchase some strips of this (without pre-drilled holes):



for use in some handmade bullhead OO9 pointwork. My intention is to drill holes in it and insert 'upside-down' rivets - to which I will solder point blades.

Unfortunately I have no idea what material it is - and therefore a similar amount of knowledge on where I might buy some!

Any help would therefore be gratefully appreciated...

[grovenor-2685]

Looks like printed circuit board material without the copper.
You could just as well use with copper so long as you cut insulating gaps.

[JFS]

I believe it is known as glass reinforced expoxy and it is the core of PCB as Keith suggests. I use it - though in much thinner form - for tiebars and I wrote an article for Scalefour news - issue 181 - which included details of where I obtained it.

Best Wishes,

[Guy Rixon]

Glass-reinforced material has a reputation for destroying tools, unless the tools be carbide. Cloth-reinforced epoxy, of which Tufnol is a name brand IIUC, may be easier to work with.

[Philip Hall]

Yes, cutting the stuff has its problems. After cutting up a few hundred PCB sleepers for my storage yard, I had one very blunt table saw blade despite it being a specially hardened one. I then changed to a diamond blade which solved the problem, and it still continues to cut, if a little ragged.

Ian, I do use the plain fibreglass sheet for tie-bars and I might have some left over. I could possibly spare some but I'd have to look it out. PM me with the thickness you require and I'll have a burrow.

Philip

[Ian White]

A huge thank you to everyone who has responded - much appreciated.

Philip - many thanks for your kind offer. I will see if I can source some for purchase, and - in the hope it's alright with you - come back to you if I fail!