Track Cutter

wrote

They are effectively side-cutting shears. The cut is extremely clean, but does squash the cast-off side of the cut.

Track cutters are infinitely superior to either razor saw or slitting disc, although both have their place for specific jobs.

John.

I've had three (Xuron ones) over the past 6/7 years and after a while they have all broken one of the cutting jaws!

"Nick Palette" wrote

I've had one break after around five years use, and it was replaced no questions asked. Equally so I use to replace razor saw blades regularly and slitting discs break too.

In this day and age nothing is designed to last indefinitely.

John.

John Turner said the following on 12/08/2005 13:43:

One thing to note is that they are designed to cut through the height of the rail, not the width, although in practise there isn't a lot of difference.

That's very true. The last time I decided to get my electric mower repaired, I was gobsmacked to find there was only one lawnmower repair shop within 50 miles of London, and that one is only hanging on until the owner retires.

Apparently, when your blades get blunt you are just supposed to buy a new lawnmower.

Similarly, I just took my VCR into a local shop for adjustment, and the owner laughed. 50 pounds for him to even look at it, and he strongly suggested I just went to Tesco and bought a new one for the same money.

Back to the Xuron track cutter, greatest thing since sliced bread. Mind you, I haven't found a slice of bread to be much good for cutting track.

Cheers, Steve

"Paul Boyd" wrote

This makes me laugh. As you say the approved method is to cut through the height of the rail, but only for OO-gauge. It's the opposite for N-scale for some reason.

John.

Why?

R.

On 12/08/2005 16:27, Richard wrote,

Because Xuron say so. Dunno why they say so, though :-)

In my experience it's much easier to fit the rail joiners if you follow the instructions! Cutting the width leaves a burr on the bottom of the rail that sometimes needs filing off

Nigel

Something I've long wondered. How does a cutting disc in a drill manage to make a vertical cut in track? Doesn't the body of the drill get in the way and leave the disc spinning an inch or so above the track? Or do you mark the rail then remove it from the sleepers?

If I'm cutting "for length" that is, to actually lay track, I cut from the side. If I'm making an insulation gap on previously laid track a slightly of vertical cut is of no importance. No longer use cutters or a saw, disks for everything!

Martin, you cannot imagine how much it cheers me up to know that! We certainly do live in a high cost economy over here, but by way of compensation, we do have multiculturalism, so that's OK.

Just by way of a passing note, when it was proposed to abolish retail price maintenance over here, one of the last ditch defences was that pensioners might get distressed if they bought a television in one store, only to find out that someone else had got it cheaper somewhere else. Yes, it was seriously put forward that the British people would actually prefer higher prices, as long as everyone else was made to suffer. And I think there is more than a grain of truth in that idea.

Cheers, Steve

I use a mini-drill with a flexible shaft.

I submit that on or about Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:43:47 +0100, the person known to the court as "John Turner" made a statement ( in Your Honour's bundle) to the following effect:

I must get one - I've been using a Proxxon diamond cutting disc, which is noisy but very clean.

Guy

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