Some basic truths I learned wiring feeders

eve_9d9

New Member
Im in the depths of wiring a buss line and feeders at the moment (actually taking a break right now) and figured Id share my experiences, so here they are....

1. the day after you spend a fortune on copper wire for your buss, youll find some in the garbage at work that would have worked just as well

2. soldering a wire the diameter of a human hair to a 1:160 scale length of track with 1:1 scale soldering iron is the the most frustrating thing a human can do

3. dont check if your soldering iron is getting hot by grabbing it between your fingers real quick......you can be the fastest person on the planet, youre still getting burned...

4. run your feeders before you ballast the track.....

Im sure there are more of these to come.....stay tuned and pray for me......
 
N

nachoman

#1 is definitely true. I come across free scraps of wire between 1-2 feet long all the time.

Kevin
 

nkp174

Active Member
Never solder under the layout with shorts on....wall1

My parents cats used to chew the wires under the layout...
my parents could always tell when I was soldering by the "OUCH!"s coming from under the layout. That was before I learned how to solder properly.

How do it correctly? Pick up flux and solder...and use a soldering iron...not a gun. Apply flux to the wire and the rail. Heat up the wire until touching it with the solder causes the solder to flow onto the wire. Next, heat up both the wire and the rail at the spot where you will be soldering...and the solder will then flow from the wire onto both. You don't generate enough extra molten solder to cause the dreaded drops of molten solder. :p
 

RailRon

Active Member
Of course you know where you just put down your soldering iron. But never pick up a hot iron without SHARPLY LOOKING AT IT!

Invariably you will grab the iron at the wrong end! :eek::curse:...
:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

Ron
 

Renovo PPR

Just a Farmer
Unplug a large freezer full of frozen fish to plug in your extension cord for your iron. Forget to plug it back in.
 

nkp174

Active Member
Leaving your hot iron on the floor and having your dog thinking it is a new toy. I did this one.

Wow! I've always been concerned about my cats doing that...but they're generally good about avoiding hot things...still, I could see them accidentally doing that.
 

Renovo PPR

Just a Farmer
The problem is a dog is not as smart as a cat. The cat will check it out first. The dog will just pick it up then figure out what he has after the fact.
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
The problem is a dog is not as smart as a cat. The cat will check it out first. The dog will just pick it up then figure out what he has after the fact.

Actually, when the cat realises that the soldering iron is a tool, and therefore somehow related to useful work, it avoids it. ;) Most dogs, on the other hand, know how to solder, but they're lacking that all-important opposable thumb. Still, they remain eager to help. :-D

Wayne
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
Actually, when the cat realises that the soldering iron is a tool, and therefore somehow related to useful work, it avoids it. ;) Most dogs, on the other hand, know how to solder, but they're lacking that all-important opposable thumb. Still, they remain eager to help. :-D

:mrgreen:Very nice, DocWayne!:mrgreen:
 
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