Is there cheap way to make uncoupling tracks

There was an OGR article some time back... Maybe by Jim Barrett, where he bought and collected a bunch on the old and sometimes inoperable Lionel tubular uncoupling tracks which he purchased cheap.  Took the magnet out and re-installed on new track.

Or you could just get some chop sticks or a wooden BBQ stick and use that to uncouple the trains in the yard.

My wife absolutely loves it when I tell her we need to go out to eat somewhere because I need to collect something for the layout.  It's a win/win.

Ron

I can't remember when the article was published, but basically, you get hold of O-27 tubular uncoupling sections, cut out the uncoupler, surgically insert it into an altered piece of Gargraves and hook up the wires. Since O-27 is the same rail height (roughly) as the Gargraves it's a good fit.

Personally, I'm more of a fan of just manually uncoupling.

You can usually pick these up for a few dollars.  Look in the junk boxes under the tables.  Just remove the button and fit into a piece od GG.  It's very easy to do.

You can also buy small electro magnets cheap and fit them into gargraves

Any specs on the electromagnets so I know what to look for and where to get them?  What do you use to control them?  I am looking for something less clunky than the controllers Lionel makes.

Jim's excellent article was in run 245, which is available in the digital archives.  If any one questions the value of the premium membership, this is a great example of how the current subscription provides access to articles back a few years.   

Just another idea, and not as cheap as the other suggestions but Trainworld (a forum sponsor) has Atlas-O un-coupling sections for $12.99 - Here is the link  Charles Ro has them for $12.50, according to their price list, but I have no link, only a .pdf file.  Atlas-O is adaptable to Gargraves track, joiners available from Atlas.

Only other thing I can think of is convert to Kadee couplers, then you could use their magnets. Probably be more than the Atlas un-couplers though?

I got some Kadee's to test out, was thinking of that for my rolling stock for doing some switching. Not sure what I think about the magnets for un-coupling? Some folks say it's the only way to go for switching, but it looks like it will be a lot of work and somewhat of an expense changing all the couplers.  I am definitely not in the more experienced camp either.

Here are the specs on what I got you can find it on the bay, (12V DC 5.5 LB 2.5kg Electric Lifting Magnet Electromagnet Solenoid Lift Holding) They should work just fine with a small toggle or push button switch but I haven't had time to engineer it yet eh

The cheapest is to wind your own electromagnet high-school science project style.  Get a 1/4" steel bolt, magnet wire, and start winding.  Presumably you want this low-profile so as not to protrude too far below the track so making end-caps or a bobbin might be the biggest trick.

I just looked at my MTH uncoupling section's electromagnet.  It uses what appears to be #28 AWG magnet wire and has a total resistance of about 3.5 ohms which calculates out to around 50 ft if I did the math right.  3.5 ohms seems right since these things draw several Amps at nominal accessory voltage.

I'd ask chester7 to give his a try applying nominal voltage to confirm it works across the air-gap to the uncoupling disc on the coupler.  The eBay listing says current draw at 12V is 1/4 Amp which seems low to me for an uncoupling electromagnet. 

You can buy #28 magnet wire for a few cents per foot (eBay for example).  I also make electromagnets using colored/coated "beading wire" or "artistic wire" which you can find at local craft stores for making bead necklaces.  They come on spools in different gauges (including 28) and with the coupons these kinds of stores offer you can meet your "cheap" objective.