Large Scale Central

Stainless and brass track--can you mix?

Track and Trestles
#1

Maybe a dumb question. I have all brass track and I’m thinking that maybe future expansions/replacements will be stainless, with the goal of eventually swapping out all the brass. Can you join brass and stainless? i’m thinking especially about rail clamps–can you use brass railclamps to join brass and stainless track? Or use brass clamps to join two piece sof stainless? I’m just wondering about dielectric effects and corrosion.

Also who makes stainless track? I know Aristo makes and sells it, and so does HRTrains. Anyone else?

#2
mike omalley said:
Maybe a dumb question. I have all brass track and I'm thinking that maybe future expansions/replacements will be stainless, with the goal of eventually swapping out all the brass. Can you join brass and stainless? i'm thinking especially about rail clamps--can you use brass railclamps to join brass and stainless track? Or use brass clamps to join two piece sof stainless? I'm just wondering about dielectric effects and corrosion.

Also who makes stainless track? I know Aristo makes and sells it, and so does HRTrains. Anyone else?


Mike, this is not a dumb question. First of all there are many types of stainless steel and brass compositions also differ. Please check this table for example http://www.rcboataholic.com/faq/corrosion.htm I think you can safely mix, because most types of stainless steel are not very far off most brass types in terms of electrochemical potential. But stainless steel will cause lower adhesion so bare this in mind, in Europe Revalda and Thiel make 332 code stainless steel I think but I have no experience with these so cannot advise. I found this document which seems to contain a lot of info: http://www.elmassian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=94 Hope this helps, Zubi

#3

No problem. It will work fine for you.

Some notice their trains run slower on the brass sections than on the stainless. As far a corrosion goes, it won’t bother anything.

#4

Yes, you can mix the two without any problems. I know a a few layouts around that have both. Like Tom said, you will notice the trains run faster on stainless.

-Brian

#5

Also, don’t worry about which clamps. I prefer all stainless clamps, but brass will work find on stainless, notice that the brass clamps have stainless screws!

Regards, Greg

#6

Please note that Greg said it correct, I how ever use AL clamps and find that I need to use AntiSeize available in Auto Parts stores. I find that the SS Screw will Bind in the AL or Brass clamp body. Otherwise
go for it!

Paul

#7

The important thing, if the profile is slightly different, is simply to make sure that the inside rail head tops line up…

#8

Brass and steel, you will get some electrolysis between the two metal, ever seen what eventually happens by joining copper plumbing to galv steel pipes?, best solution may be to use insulated joiners and jumper wires.

#9

I don’t think you need to worry about galvanic action. SS and Brass are mixed all the time. Copper and Glavinized Steel are two different animals. As far as clamps go, use the ones designed for SS Rail. As Mik says, the profile is slightly different. If you put Hillman’s clamps for brass rail over the stainless and tighten, you will break them with moderate tightening. Split Jaw also makes his SS clamps slightly different from his brass clamps. Split Jaw Brass Clamp on Brass Rail

(http://www.cvsry.com/images/SJC-Brass.JPG)

Split Jaw Brass Clamp on Stainless Rail

(http://www.cvsry.com/images/SJC-SS.JPG)

Hillman Brass Clamp on Brass Rail

(http://www.cvsry.com/images/HRC-Brass.JPG)

Hillman Brass Clamp on Stainless Rail

(http://www.cvsry.com/images/HRC-SS.JPG)

Did this research long ago when no one made clamps for the Aristo stainless rail.

#10

Thank you all this is great information