Menards O Gauge track.

I have not used it yet, plan to. But I know my O-72 track is 16 pieces for a full circle.

My large layout is 100% Menards track except  for the switches. The new batch fits much better than the first batch when it was released.  I haven't  had any problems with a single piece.

GTP posted:

Anyone use there O gauge tubular track? Are they any good? I thinking of getting some 0-96 curve track, there site claims it takes 16 pieces of tubular track to make a circle, has any done it? Lionel fast track says it requires 32 pieces of .096 circle track to make a complete circle.  Whats says? 

I've seen some O96 track pieces at my local Menard's.  As they're fairly lengthy dudes (somewhere around 18" long), I wouldn't be surprised at all that they only require 16 pieces for a full circle.

GTP posted:

... there site claims it takes 16 pieces of tubular track to make a circle, has any done it? Lionel fast track says it requires 32 pieces of .096 circle track to make a complete circle.  Whats says? 

The Menards O-96 sections are 22.5°(16 to a circle), the FasTrack sections are only 11.25°(32 to a circle).

banjoflyer posted:

"Don't you hate math? 

Mark

 

Actually, in my case, I kinda' revel in math and trig.

But then again, I'm a glutton for punishment! 

About three years ago I purchased some Menards "O" gauge tubular track.  It's appearance did not come up to what I had been used to from Lionel and K-Line.  In that purchase were 30" straights.  That was a mistake on my part.  They were too long to be useful for my purpose and cutting them was not the problem, but the rigidness was.  I cut them in a jig and once cut they lost some of their rigidity.  

So I had two full cases of 30" straights that I had not opened and tried selling them.  They went to the buyer and he complained so loudly that I had to refund his money and pay for shipping back to me.  I did not want to risk a blemish on my Ebay rating.  His argument was that the track would ruin his locomotives.  Anyway, I only use Williams or Lionel tubular track nowadays.  

I used Menards track for my current layout except for Lionel switches and RCS/UCS sections. I am pleased with it. One thing I found was that before I painted the rail sides I had to clean off the side, I think they had a protective on them.  Added wood ties and ballast, and it looks pretty good.

Well I went and looked at the tracks at Menards, decided to purchase what i needed for a 0-96 circular track , can't beat the price and a rebate to boot. Thanks for all the replies. By the way I purchased the 24 track case on line was less than buying individual 16 tracks at the store. I'll have a few extra 0-96 track.  Dave

It is my understanding that the school system has decided that 'Pi' 3.1416....to infinity and beyond is much to complicated to remember so the new 'Pi' is '3'.  I could be wrong but that is what I was told.  I am not sure your locomotive will be able to make the leap across the gap that will be left in the circle.

Bill DeBrooke posted:

It is my understanding that the school system has decided that 'Pi' 3.1416....to infinity and beyond is much to complicated to remember so the new 'Pi' is '3'.  I could be wrong but that is what I was told.  I am not sure your locomotive will be able to make the leap across the gap that will be left in the circle.

So then, the earth's dimensions will be affected by the change in Pi.....   lol   Would that make getting from here to there quicker then ?

Dan Padova posted:

Bill DeBrooke posted:

It is my understanding that the school system has decided that 'Pi' 3.1416....to infinity and beyond is much to complicated to remember so the new 'Pi' is '3'.  I could be wrong but that is what I was told.  I am not sure your locomotive will be able to make the leap across the gap that will be left in the circle.

So then, the earth's dimensions will be affected by the change in Pi.....   lol   Would that make getting from here to there quicker then ?

It could mean the next time we try to go to the moon we'll end up on Mercury.

Dan Padova posted:

About three years ago I purchased some Menards "O" gauge tubular track.  It's appearance did not come up to what I had been used to from Lionel and K-Line.  In that purchase were 30" straights.  That was a mistake on my part.  They were too long to be useful for my purpose and cutting them was not the problem, but the rigidness was.  I cut them in a jig and once cut they lost some of their rigidity.  

So I had two full cases of 30" straights that I had not opened and tried selling them.  They went to the buyer and he complained so loudly that I had to refund his money and pay for shipping back to me.  I did not want to risk a blemish on my Ebay rating.  His argument was that the track would ruin his locomotives.  Anyway, I only use Williams or Lionel tubular track nowadays.  

As Cabinet Bob said above, the Menards track of the last couple of years has been improved.  I can vouch for that based on my own experience of Menards track in 2017.  It has constantly been in service with no issues.  So, its not really accurate to reply based on the three-year old track.

RadioRon posted:

Dan Padova posted:

About three years ago I purchased some Menards "O" gauge tubular track.  It's appearance did not come up to what I had been used to from Lionel and K-Line.  In that purchase were 30" straights.  That was a mistake on my part.  They were too long to be useful for my purpose and cutting them was not the problem, but the rigidness was.  I cut them in a jig and once cut they lost some of their rigidity.  

So I had two full cases of 30" straights that I had not opened and tried selling them.  They went to the buyer and he complained so loudly that I had to refund his money and pay for shipping back to me.  I did not want to risk a blemish on my Ebay rating.  His argument was that the track would ruin his locomotives.  Anyway, I only use Williams or Lionel tubular track nowadays.  

As Cabinate Bob said above, the Menards track of the last couple of years has been improved.  I can vouch for that based on my own experience of Menards track in 2017.  It has constantly been in service with no issues.  So, its not really accurate to reply based on the three-year old track.

That's a good thing.  Especially since their track is not too expensive.

I'm banking on Menards track being good as I have purchased a lot of it due to lack of good quality track at a reasonable price being available. All that I have purchased seems to be plenty rigid.  

My loop was tight enough to roll down the hall

I coulda' spun it like a quarter 

I carried it from room to room like a suitcase 

I stood on it 

I haven't even had to reseat pins 

I've used the o72 and 30" straight. Side by side with my lionel track, you can't tell difference.  And since lionel doesn't make tubular anymore , plus the menards track is half cost of lionel

I have used Menard's straight tubular track and found that the ties are not spaced the same as Lionel track ties. So if you are using rubber roadbeds as in my case,Menard's track will not fit. Not sure if there are other incompatibilities.

I'm satisfied with Menard's track.  I purchased their O31 curves, and 10 and 30-inch straights a few weeks ago for the Christmas floor loop, and it's been fine.  It's been much more reliable than what I was using in the past (Lionel's Fails Always Stopping Trains-rack).

I'm all Gargraves.....but when I was in a Menard's I looked at the track....seemed very well made. Just IMHO from handling it.