Rail joiner - Revision history

Dnevil: /* Drill Gauge */

2024-03-07T16:53:04Z

Drill Gauge

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:53, 7 March 2024
Line 13:		Line 13:
	== Drill Gauge ==		== Drill Gauge ==

	A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggests drilling the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. This makes it easier to drill the holes, and extends the life of the 5/16 inch bit. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.		A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggests drilling the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch center drill, 7/32 inch drill, and finally 5/16 inch drill. This makes it easier to drill the holes, and extends the life of the 5/16 inch bit. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">

Dnevil at 20:14, 17 December 2020

2020-12-17T20:14:32Z

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 File:Rail joiner formed dls.JPG|Formed rail joiner
 File:Railjoiners1x800.jpg|Rail joiners are often used in pairs.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 37: / Line 27: @@
 File:StarDrivePanHeadMachineScrew 10-32 18-8SS.PNG|Star (Torx) drive pan head machine screw, 10-32. Photo provided by <i>[https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Torx-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-Stainless-Steel-10-32-p/1100000.htm Albany County Fasteners]</i>
 File:T25 Torx 1050-700-2 300x283.jpg|T25 Torx driver tool for 10-32 pan head screws. Photo provided by [https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/torx-drive-power-bits/1050-700.htm Albany County Fasteners]
 </gallery>

Dnevil: /* Drill Gauge */

2020-12-17T20:12:24Z

Drill Gauge

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:12, 17 December 2020
Line 28:		Line 28:
	File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.12.jpg\|A simple rail joiner gauge can be made by drilling a hole in the center of two rail joiners, then attaching them together with screws, washers and nuts.		File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.12.jpg\|A simple rail joiner gauge can be made by drilling a hole in the center of two rail joiners, then attaching them together with screws, washers and nuts.
	File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.10.jpg\|A closeup of this rail joiner gauge shows that the center is spread slightly more than the tail by adding a washer on either side of the center nut. This allows the gauge to slide easily onto the end of the rail to be marked.		File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.10.jpg\|A closeup of this rail joiner gauge shows that the center is spread slightly more than the tail by adding a washer on either side of the center nut. This allows the gauge to slide easily onto the end of the rail to be marked.
			</gallery>

			== Hardware ==

			Ron Canfield, owner of the [[Windy Ridge Railroad]], suggests using pan head machine screws instead of hex head screws. He states that the hex head screws can be difficult to remove because of the lack of room for a socket or wrench to grab the head of the screw.

			<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
			File:StarDrivePanHeadMachineScrew 10-32 18-8SS.PNG\|Star (Torx) drive pan head machine screw, 10-32. Photo provided by <i>[https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Torx-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-Stainless-Steel-10-32-p/1100000.htm Albany County Fasteners]</i>
			File:T25 Torx 1050-700-2 300x283.jpg\|T25 Torx driver tool for 10-32 pan head screws. Photo provided by [https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/torx-drive-power-bits/1050-700.htm Albany County Fasteners]
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Dnevil: /* Drill Gauge */

2020-12-17T20:03:33Z

Drill Gauge

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:03, 17 December 2020
Line 23:		Line 23:
	== Drill Gauge ==		== Drill Gauge ==

	A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken ~~suggested to drill~~ the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. This makes it easier to drill the holes, and extends the life of the 5/16 inch bit. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.		A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggests drilling the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. This makes it easier to drill the holes, and extends the life of the 5/16 inch bit. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">

Dnevil: /* Drill Gauge */

2020-12-17T20:02:17Z

Drill Gauge

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:02, 17 December 2020
Line 27:		Line 27:
	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.12.jpg\|A simple rail joiner gauge can be made by drilling a hole in the center of two rail joiners, then attaching them together with screws, washers and nuts.		File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.12.jpg\|A simple rail joiner gauge can be made by drilling a hole in the center of two rail joiners, then attaching them together with screws, washers and nuts.
	File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.10.jpg\|A ~~close~~ of this rail joiner gauge shows that the center is spread slightly more than the tail by adding a washer on either side of the center nut. This allows the gauge to slide easily onto the end of the rail to be marked.		File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.10.jpg\|A closeup of this rail joiner gauge shows that the center is spread slightly more than the tail by adding a washer on either side of the center nut. This allows the gauge to slide easily onto the end of the rail to be marked.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Dnevil: /* Drill Gauge */

2020-12-17T20:01:54Z

Drill Gauge

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 17 December 2020
Line 23:		Line 23:
	== Drill Gauge ==		== Drill Gauge ==

	A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggested to drill the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.		A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggested to drill the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. This makes it easier to drill the holes, and extends the life of the 5/16 inch bit. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">

Dnevil: /* Spall Slip Joiner */

2020-12-17T20:00:45Z

Spall Slip Joiner

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 17 December 2020
Line 19:		Line 19:
	File:Slip on rail joiners west coast rail 2.jpg		File:Slip on rail joiners west coast rail 2.jpg
	File:Slip on rail joiners west coast rail 1.jpg		File:Slip on rail joiners west coast rail 1.jpg
			</gallery>

			== Drill Gauge ==

			A simple drill gauge can be made with standard rail joiners as shown in the photos below. Use a felt tip pen to mark the holes on the web of the rail to be drilled. Never drill the holes with the gauge in place, as it will tend to enlarge the gauge's holes over time. The idea comes from Texas railroad builder Ken Smith. Ken suggested to drill the hole in three steps: 1/8 inch, 7/32 inch, and finally 5/16 inch. The hole is oversized to allow [[Rail expansion\|expansion and contraction]] of rail.

			<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
			File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.12.jpg\|A simple rail joiner gauge can be made by drilling a hole in the center of two rail joiners, then attaching them together with screws, washers and nuts.
			File:KenSmith RailJoinerGauge 2020-12-15 16.29.10.jpg\|A close of this rail joiner gauge shows that the center is spread slightly more than the tail by adding a washer on either side of the center nut. This allows the gauge to slide easily onto the end of the rail to be marked.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Dnevil: /* Spall */

2020-12-17T19:51:47Z

Spall

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 17 December 2020
Line 11:		Line 11:
	</gallery>		</gallery>

	== Spall ==		== Spall Slip Joiner ==
	From [http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/Resources/policies_procedures/TM_Encyclopedia_v.4-13.pdf Train Mountain Encyclopedia, v 4-13 (PDF)]:		From [http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/Resources/policies_procedures/TM_Encyclopedia_v.4-13.pdf Train Mountain Encyclopedia, v 4-13 (PDF)]:

Dnevil: /* Side screw */

2020-11-05T21:25:22Z

Side screw

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:25, 5 November 2020
Line 9:		Line 9:
	File:Rail joiner formed dls.JPG\|Formed rail joiner		File:Rail joiner formed dls.JPG\|Formed rail joiner
	File:Railjoiners1x800.jpg\|Rail joiners are often used in pairs.		File:Railjoiners1x800.jpg\|Rail joiners are often used in pairs.
	~~File:Scott Sumner completed insulator set.jpg\|[[Track insulator\|Track insulators]] laser-cut from acrylic. Photo by Scott Sumner.~~
	~~File:Scott Sumner insulator set installed on main at AVWRR.jpg\|Laser cut acrylic insulators installed at the [[Annetta Valley & Western Railroad]]. Photo by Scott Sumner.~~
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Dnevil: /* External Links */

2020-11-05T21:24:50Z

External Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 5 November 2020
Line 27:		Line 27:
	* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=83810 "Rail Joiner Maker", <i>Chaski.org</i>]		* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=83810 "Rail Joiner Maker", <i>Chaski.org</i>]
	* [http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/Resources/policies_procedures/TM_Encyclopedia_v.4-13.pdf Train Mountain Encyclopedia, v 4-13 (PDF)]		* [http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/Resources/policies_procedures/TM_Encyclopedia_v.4-13.pdf Train Mountain Encyclopedia, v 4-13 (PDF)]
	* [https://www.livesteamstation.com/product-page/accucraftrideon-rail-joiner-set-1-rail "West Coast Rail Joiner", <i>LiveSteamStation.info</i>]		* [https://www.livesteamstation.com/product-page/accucraftrideon-rail-joiner-set-1-rail West Coast Rail Joiner, <i>LiveSteamStation.info</i>]
	* [http://www.bigbootsrr.com/rail,_track__switch_tracks.html <i>Big Boots RR</i>]		* [http://www.bigbootsrr.com/rail,_track__switch_tracks.html Spall/Slip Rail Joiners <i>Big Boots RR</i>]