Gargraves 37" Phantom Stainless flex track Plastic or Wood Ties

Use the wood tie flex track.

I like the wood tie flex track, plus its easier to work with my poor soldering skills.

I think you need to grind a coating or plating off of GG to solder easy.

I have no experience with the plastic, but have to wonder if it is quieter. (e.g. I think Super O and Kline type track is quieter from the soft, dense, platic used).

Have used plastic tie SS and standard Gargraves with wood.  Unless you are doing an outside layout I would go with wood as its more realistic looking and easier to work with. Its also more economical. If you need a pre-bent curve Ross makes some really good ones.

Also Gar Graves makes a number of preformed curves in both wood and plastic ties. I agree with Dennis. I have both and the wood ties look better. The plastic seem more on the shiny side..............Paul

I guess I should have been more direct.

There is no GarGraves plastic tie flex track, so you really don't have a choice.

Personally I plan my layout so I can use the curved sectional track. Never had good luck bending flex track. I have both plastic and wood ties.

I've never had the plastic.  I purchased wood just because I thought having wood would be cool!  As far as bending the flex track I can do it easily now, but you do have to practice.  The best piece of advice that was given to me:  have patience and bend it slowly and gently.

I start by placing the flex track against my chest and bending it around my torso.  

You can see a video of the sharpest curve I ever bent on my Youtube channel!  A 24 diameter reversing loop used to turn snow equipment.  Who said O scale takes bigger curves than HO?  That curve is 12 radius!

Thanks again guys, great info !!!   

I think you need to grind a coating or plating off of GG to solder easy.

All that needs to be done to sold to Gargraves tinplate track is to scrape off a bit of the Phantom track's center rail blackening. I use a Dremel with a fiber wheel to do so. Nothing need be done to the outside rails. However, if. you are soldering to Gargraves stainless steel track, that's somewhat more difficult overall.

Regardless, you will need to remove the oily protective coating on all new Gargraves track. I use a cloth with either isopropyl alcohol or track cleaning solution.

I have a GG/Curtis/Ross layout - no flex except a couple of short, odd segments; had a smaller GG flex track layout before this one.

Flex track: never again. Buy the pre-formed curves and make life simpler. The curves will look better in most cases. Save the flex track for stretches here and there where you need a little finessing, or a long, gentle easement.

Voice of experience. The difference in cost will fade quickly.

D500, I agree with you. I do preformed curves now unless gar graves does not have a radius I want then I use the flex to make what I need.......Paul

My entire layout is GG  regular Flex track with wood ties.  I tried some SS pieces on my first layout but abandoned it because it was more difficult to bend and harder to solder.  I didn't/don't use templates but prefer to bend and screw it down as you go.  I have some photos of this procedure if you would like to see them and try this method.

Dennis

I have both GG flex on my new layout. SS with plastic ties is the easiest flex track I have used in any scale or gauge. A real pleasure to work with. Wood ties are not difficult to use......but not as easy as SS/plastic.

See it here..