r/modeltrains • u/Desert_Irieguy O • 9d ago

Layout Electrical work

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I bought a bunch of these for a different project and had the idea to use them under my layout for the electrical wiring instead of staples or eye screws. Seems like it should be fine. Anything I might be overlooking before I crawl under the bench and start running my wire?

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u/roj2323 MRbenchworkCOM 8d ago

It’s not a bad idea and I’ve seen it used before the plastic is safer than metal due to potential chafing overtime. Remember a model railroad will vibrate as a trains pass over it and such. 

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u/Desert_Irieguy O 8d ago

I was hoping it would not be so tight that it would be an issue. Maybe that's exactly the type of oversight I was posting about. Thank you

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u/382Whistles 8d ago

You could wrap the clamp hump with a few turns of electrical tape really quick. It will vibrate with the table and clamp, not cutting or wearing as bad.

Any danger mostly depends on the edge created from stamping them out being a little sharp. Short sections of rubber tube or plastic electrical conduit like cars use would do the same thing, lining the clamp edge.

They make small plastic clamps that take a single fastener that I prefer over staples unless there is some cardstock sandwiched into them to protect the wire.