Bill,
I got curious and googled di-electric grease. Just about died when I saw the price!
This is what I use - electrical joint compound.
Every industrial electrician will be throwing out half used tubes every day. Head down to your local electrical supply outlet and ask for it. PLP is an Australian company so it’s likely in stock.
Cheers
N
That’s a lot of rail Mike!
I think you have a fairly wide fluctuation in temperatures in Chicago if I remember correctly. We experience 0 to 45 degrees centigrade in Adelaide.
Do you have issues with rail buckling or are you using some expansion rail?
Hi Bill , yeah it gets cold here (below zero) and hot too in the summer months. I had a spot that buckled during the summer sometimes , it was between two cement road crossings . I put a expanding rail section between them and the problem was solved .
Nice to see you posting at LSC again Mike!
Hows the E-Biking these days ?
Thanks Mike…
I’ll chance it for now as the garden bed is pretty small, but if it happens, what should I be looking for in a good expanding rail segment?
My track ,two 180ft loops just float on stone and I haven’t noticed much movement…
I have been using USAT conductive lubricant for a long time. Works for me.
I know this is a long thread and I admit I didn’t read the whole thing.
My layout goes through the four seasons, has been down a long time and is entirely clamped.
Split type clamps failed all the time.
Solid clamps never failed.
Just my observation…
Thanks Sean,
That’s good to know. I am bucking the trend in Oz and floating my track on stone too. Electrical cable tray and zip ties are quite popular here.
Hi John,
What would be an example of a solid clamp?
Something like this:
Hi Rooster thanks , i’v been watching . The bikes were great this summer .
Sean is right , let the track float if possible and ballast it . I like “chicken grit” . I think the expander track was Aristo but I don’t remember.
SplitJaw also has an expander track. We have an LGB one. We found that pickup shoes got caught on it, though, so we removed it.
Eric
John,
That’s what I thought it might look like, but I’ve only found Piko and their profile looks more square than wedge. Is there a brand associated with the wedge profile you’re showing in the picture?
Thanks Eric,
I’ll avoid an expander until I need one.
I think John’s picture is an original Hillman clamp. Hillman’s business was sold, I don’t recall who picked it up.
I prefer Split Jaw clamps at switches for ease of installation.
JRad is correct. Mine are all hillmans. There was a knock off on Ebay but I haven’t looked on Ebay for years. And the Aristo top screw types are also great for removing switches.
