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Again, I moved the ties around and the track (rail) moves. Otherwise it seems to me like you are fighting the ties. I only did some soft curves with mine. Then I returned them to straight. I did not have kinks.

Smack the edge against something straight (a solid countertop for example).

Use the same technique but reversed until you get it straight.

Easy peazy!

Jay

Guess I'll play with the ties and give that block of wood technique a go until I get the stuff perfectly straight again.  Thanks guys.

I recall reading online (maybe on here) about someone using an aerosol dry lubricant on ME track which put a light powdery coating of maybe Teflon? graphite? - and it freed up the ties to slide on the rails easily. Then when done, it came off easily by blowing with spray gun, compressor or air duster can. Didn't affect painting or electrical contact. But I can't seem to find it now, sorry.         

Pete,

When Norm Buckhart was selling his P:48 flex track, made for him by ME, he recommended using an aerosol with silicone.  I forget the brand but it's fairly common.  Seems like he told me he was buying it at Home Depot.

Jay

Thanks Jay, that sounds like it.  I do recall it was someone whose advice I would gladly take!  Perhaps it was dry lube for garage door tracks or similar? I need to cut back on the vodka...   

The brand is Blaster Dry Lube.  They make many varieties - if they have plain, try it.  If not, the one with graphite or Teflon should be OK.  AVOID the ones with oil, grease, or penetrating type.   Norm told me abut it when I had difficulty curving his weathered P:48 rail.

Thanks for the Dry Blaster tip.  I played with one of the pieces and although slightly time consuming, the block of wood tool + numerous tie adjustments got the piece back to just about perfect.

Now only if I didn't run out of roadbed. Oh well, can fix up the rest of the track and design the control panels until more arrives.

Although I have read the various complaints, I've never had any problem straightening or bending ME flex track. Don't be in a hurry, just carefully apply hand/finger pressure, and eyeball it frequently to see where more effort is needed.

Ironically, the problem is the same as with Gargraves wood tie flex. You have to keep pressing it against a straight edge, alternating sides , and re-aligning the ties eventually gets the kinks out. Shooting the rail/tie connection points with silicone lubricant speeds up the process. WD40 works, but leaves an oily residue.

Gregg,

Where can I get Blaster Dry Lube?

Thanks,

Ed

Ed Kelly posted:

Gregg,

Where can I get Blaster Dry Lube?

Thanks,

Ed

Amazon

Ed Kelly posted:

Gregg,

Where can I get Blaster Dry Lube?

Thanks,

Ed

I got mine at Home Depot.  Our Lowe's (Kansas City) did NOT carry it.

rex desilets posted:

Ed Kelly posted:

Gregg,

Where can I get Blaster Dry Lube?

Thanks,

Ed

Amazon

Home Depot has it.

Dick

Was just going thru a bunch of digital images and ran across this can that I used on the P:48 weathered flex track.