Chop saw for cutting gauge 3 rail track

Check out this thread: 

https://ogrforum.com/...3#156701992596515903

Maybe OP should have stated O gauge 3 rail track. :-)

It is in the 3 Rail Traditional category.  Unless it got moved in the n=mean time.

Brendan

I use this small one from Harbor Freight.  It does a good job.  You need to file the cut after cutting the track.  Here's the link

https://www.harborfreight.com/...t-off-saw-61204.html

All;

       I use a metal cut off band saw to cut track. I have attached a link to one. I have used this saw for 30 years and I am currently using it building my new layout. I stand the saw arm straight up and use the small bed/table that comes with it. It does an excellent job of cutting the track and it does not shoot filing all over the place. I generally push a few Gargraves ties up to the place where I want to cut and use them as a guide. The blade is slow moving so you have good control and you are able shave off just a blade width of length if needed.

It works good enough that I usually sit on the layout laying track and measuring and then my wife will actually cut the track and hand it back to me.

The cost of the saw is quite a bit more than some of the other options but I already had this saw in my shop. The only thing I did was purchase a 24 tooth per inch blade for about $8.00. The saw came with a 12 tooth per inch blade and that blade would grab and distort the track but the 24 tooth does a great job.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...g-bandsaw-93762.html

Thanks;

idea-thinker

@Patrick1544 posted:

I use this small one from Harbor Freight.  It does a good job.  You need to file the cut after cutting the track.  Here's the link

https://www.harborfreight.com/...t-off-saw-61204.html

I used the same one, one of my better purchases, I got it on sale for $30.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I used the same one, one of my better purchases, I got it on sale for $30.

So do I. I have even found saw blades for it at HD and I can use it to cut small pieces of wood to size for a load, etc.

I use a hack saw gently secured in a vise for tubular track and have had no issues. I also saw Aristo and LGB track the same way. No issues. Mark

Many years ago I created a track miter box out of a one foot long two by four. I simply cut three long grooves to hold the track, ties up, and cut a perpendicular groove across the middle for the hack saw blade.  Although it only worked for straight track, it saved a lot of time and frustration.   

Use a Dremal tool with a disc cutting wheel. Saws will put stress on the rail prongs.

I used the Harbor Freight chop saw with a cutting disk, AAMOF the disk that came with my $30 purchase.  A great investment when building with Gargraves track, cutting the track was quick and clean.  Although I used the Dremel with the cutting disk for in-place fitting, it was quicker and more accurate to cut on the chop saw.

Any specific recommendations for Atlas track?

My prior layout used ScaleTrax which was easy to cut with my larger chop saw. Now I have a small Kobalt saw that I caught on sale at Lowes a year or so ago for just $99. Figure I'll look for the thinnest metal cutting blade available.

Blade thickness isn't a major consideration, you just have to allow for the missing material when you cut.   I've cut a bunch of Atlas with the same chop saw with the same cutting disk I used for my layout build with Gargraves/Ross.