Been "off track" or "side tracked" for awhile but back on it today. I started the work for the power taps today. With an 84 foot lap length I decided on power taps every 20 feet. In the early 80's I restored a 1/24 track built by Dave Smith of Salem. A friend of mine Hugh Ellsworth helped me with the track and designed this type of power tape for copper tape tracks. I have not seen any other style that to me works or looks better. This system is easy to install although it looks harder than it really is. Thanks again Hugh! -------------------Bill
First I lay out where the tape will be in relation to the guide slot.
Then I drill a hole on either side of the slot.
Using my Dremel mounted in a router base attachment I route from the hole up next to the guide slot where the copper tape will lay.
This is the "ditch" or recess I end up with from the hole up to approximately 1/8 inch from the guide slot.
I use a piece of copper plated welding rod with a bend in the top portion as the conductor between the copper tape and the power supply.
The copper rod extends through the hole below the track. The tape is laid below the horizontal bend in the rod so that when the rod is pulled down into the recess the tape is captured below the rod. I then apply solder to the rod and tape within the recess.
So today I got one power tap done, and the lap counter dead strip section.