Steel or aluminium track

[Shaun TrewinnardParticipant @shauntrewinnard48432]

Opinions please:

I have built a 7.25 060 Holmside presently running on 1" angle iron, The flat face of course. I'm now thinking of obtaining some proper rails. Steel tyres have been fitted rather than relying the original cast iron wheels. Aluminium track is considerably cheaper than steel but …

I should be grateful for any advice please – Shaun

[Shaun TrewinnardParticipant @shauntrewinnard48432]

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Might be worth a punt

I used T6 aluminium for both my leadscrew nut and my small backgear cog and nave never regretted it

I'm not exactly mr gentle fingers either, they have put up with a lot of wear and stress

[John BaguleyParticipant @johnbaguley78655]

IMHO aluminium track is absolutely dreadfull stuff! I hate it. It soon gets a very greasy film on the top that reduces adhesion to next to nothing. Give me steel track any day!The only advantage apart from cost is that it gives quieter running than steel.

John

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Presumably the relative cost is for rolled profiles. Plain black iron strip 1/4 x 1 1/4 has the advantage of allowing welded spacers etc

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