Gluing track to cork

Jan 22, 2005 27 Replies

Hi, Using code 83 HO scale track. Years ago I tried carpenters glue and it held well. But when it came time to break it up, I simply pulled the track and out it came as if nothing were holding it. I wonder, now. Should I make it a more PERMANENT bond to the cork, say, using liquid nails? Or how about something in between?



Thanks! Mike



Might try Woodland Scenics "Scenic Glue", I'm getting to love the stuff.

Greybeard

Have you thought of superglue? You can later dissolve the joints with acetone nail polish remover. Tricky joints say, on curves can be "kicked" into instant gap filling bonding with a pinch of baking soda.

The white glue just held the track in place mechanically rather than bonding to the plastic. If you want to do a better job of gluing, use bathtub caulking or contact type glues to hold the track in place. FWIW, if the old track held in place well, why try to "improve" things with a more tenacious glue as pulling up track will just be harder. Ballast also does a good job of keeping the track in place. Personally, I haven't had the problem as I handlay all of my track. Takes a while but the end result is really nice, especially since you can make the turnouts to fit tight locations without problems.

-- Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

Have you tried the clear silicon based caulking products such as silastic? I run a bead along the track centre line, and then spread it very, very thin (but don't scrape it all off). Then I lay the track on top of it. I have plenty of time to work the track into position, and then when I'm happy with it, I press it down. If possible, I lay a board on top and gently clamp it down. It only requires about 10 minutes to 'set' enough to lay the next section. If you do need to lift the track later on (after the silastic has hardened, but before ballasting) just run a thin blade along under the sleepers. The remaining adhesive can then be picked off quite easily.

If you find that the silastic oozes up between the ties, then you're laying it too thick. It can be messy, so take your time, and keep it off your fingers or you may get it all over the rails.

This isn't a permanent bond, but it will hold up to track-cleaning, and a fair bit of abuse (more than you should be giving your track). Once you've ballasted, the ballast will hold the track securely.

Regards, Ron

Because there are no environmentalist wackos to state that there is? Look at what "Global Warming" is doing to the east and northeast this weekend? The audacity that man can destroy a world that a God has created!! What hubrous!

Cheers to you for a great question!!!!

Because there are no environmentalist wackos to state that there is? Look at what "Global Warming" is doing to the east and northeast this weekend? The audacity that man can destroy a world that a God has created!! What hubrous!

Cheers to you for a great question!!!!

Great, Ron, thanks! Will pick some up today at Home Depot!

I use WeldBond with the Woodlands scenic foam roadbed, and it works great.

Kevin Brant Ontario, Canada

The word is "hubris". You reckon a god created the world - did you happen to catch his or her name? I have a few complaints...

It seems strange that the rest of the Western World seems to accept Global warming as *real* and *is* happening. You only have got to take core sample from the Antartic to see that the amount of c02 in the atmosphere is increasing since the Industrial Revolution.

Arh well, thats the American way don't worry about the rest of the world I am allright jack screw you. Go to war to keep the price of oil low so you dont have to give up your SUV's. Pay lipservice to concept of democracy eg the other sept 11.

Sorry but that how the rest of the world sees the US.

Simple go and sue god.

According to the story, he has nine billion names, and by the time you finish addressing your complaint, there won't be anything to complain about.

CL

And the Antarctic evdence shows conclusively that this is due to Man's influence?

CL

Compare c02 rates pre and post industral revolution.

Which story? The one by Arthur C. Clarke? :-)

Now we have a CO2 hole!?

Gee, dunno; but we got an a$$hole in the Whitehouse.

Invalid assumption.

Using that same logic we can conclude that the New Madrid Earthquake was the cause of the WWI, and WWII.

"Compare the rates of world wars pre and post New Madrid quake."

Try _these_ comparisons: Compare the CO2 rates prior to and post organic life... or contemporary CO2 percentages on Earth, Mars, and Venus. Looks more like oxygen is the "pollutant".

What does that prove?

Ayup. Your gold star for the day is in the Post...

CL

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