How do you do it? I can't seem to get solder to stick to my Atlas C55 track. What am I doing wrong. I tried two different types of solder and all I did was ruin a piece of flex track.
-Joe
Soldering rail
A quick search of our
A quick search of our forums comes up will several threads on this subject, and from memory there are some good tips on soldering track, and links to soldering tips in general.
Search is your friend 
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Bryan
Clean and HOT
Bryan,
I know that there are some very good ideas on this.
I think that one of the biggest problems is DIRT, and too small of a solering iron.
Get the rails clean, then use good flux. Use a solder iron that has about 25 to 30 watts. Let it get hot then tin the tip then apply the tip to the rail and it should get hot very quick- add solder and get the tip off the rail. If you hold the tip on the rail too long it will transfer the heat to the ties and melt them.
Hope I did not step on any toes.
I looked in the search but
I looked in the search but I couldn't find anything that answered my question specifically. I guess I should say that the solder sticks to my feeder wires but will not stick to the track at all. Is there a specific solder I should use. I use a non lead one, does that matter. I've always been terrible at soldering and try to avoid it as much as possible.
-Joe
As Woodone stated, clean
Radio Shack
Get some small solder form you local Radio Shack store.
Rosin core- Not sure if it is no lead or not but it works as well as any I have used.
If the solder is flowing ( sticking) to your wire and not the rail, you are not getting the rail hot OR IT IS DIRTY.
Must be clean, or the solder will not flow or stick.
Soldering
Yes, as woodone says, get a fine rosin core solder. The rosin somehow cleans the metal and increases solder flow. In fact, I keep a tube of rosin around and paint the area I intend to solder with a thin coat of rosin, using a small brush. (This is in addition to using rosin core solder.) Also, it is important to heat the joint you intend to solder BEFORE you flow any solder on to it. Just put your soldering iron on it for a few seconds, then flow your solder, keeping the joint hot. Solder will not adhere well to cold metal.
Joined: 2004-09-22